Transcript US Imperialism

US Imperialism
The Spanish-American War
Causes and Effects of the First American Conflict of the 20th Century
Cubans War for Independence
• Cubans, recognizing the weakening of the Spanish
government, begins rebelling for their own
independence.
• Supported by many Americans invested in Cuba as a
new trading partner, Jose Marti leads a civil war.
Yellow Journalism Adds to the Cause
• American newspapermen, Joseph
Pulitzer and W.R. Hearst
“sensationalize” stories about the
Cuban.
• Known as “yellow journalism,” the
press creates sympathy for Cuban
efforts.
• The main purpose of yellow
journalism is to sell newspapers, but
it also stoked the fires of war.
“Yellow Journalism” & Jingoism
Joseph Pulitzer
Hearst to Frederick Remington:
You furnish the pictures,
and I’ll furnish the war!
William Randolph Hearst
Spanish Ambassador Insults U.S.
• The Spanish Ambassador to
the U.S., Enrique Dupuy de
Lome, writes a letter calling
McKinley weak and stupid.
• Hearst publishes the letter,
calling it the “Worst Insult to
the U.S. in it’s History.”
• American nationalism is
enflamed.
U.S.S. Maine Sent to Cuba
• The U.S. warns Spain to end this rebellion quickly.
• Due to the outcry brought on by the yellow journalism,
President McKinley sends the U.S.S. Maine to Havana
harbor to protect American citizens in Cuba.
U.S.S. Maine Explodes
• The U.S.S. Maine in Havana
blows up after coming in
contact with a mine, killing
266 navy men.
• With newspapers fueling the
flames of war with the cry
“Remember the Maine,”
McKinley asks Congress to go
to war.
WAR in the Philippines!
• In the Philippine Islands,
Commodore George Dewey
launches a surprise attack against
the once formidable Spanish Navy,
wiping them out with zero
American casualties.
• In another fight against
imperialism, Philippino’s led a
successful ground attack against
the Spanish.
WAR in Cuba!
• Unlike the Philippines, the
ground war in Cuba did not
come as easily.
• U.S. troops were not well
trained, used obsolete
weapons, and wore heavy wool
uniforms.
• Many men became sick from
rotted food and contaminated
meat.
Rough Riders Take to the Ground
• A new regiment made up of
mostly westerners who were
prepared for difficult conditions.
• Led by Teddy Roosevelt, the
Rough Riders take Kettle and San
Juan Hills to secure the high
ground.
• After a failed attempt by the
Spanish fleet to escape, the
Spanish sought to surrender.
End of the “Splendid Little War”
• The U.S. and Spain end the war by signing the Treaty of Paris.
• Part of the treaty was that Spain would surrender Cuba, Puerto Rico,
Guam, and the opportunity to buy the Philippines.
• America gave control of Cuba back to the Cubans, but did take control
of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
The
“Rough
Riders”
Remember the Maine
and to Hell with Spain!
Funeral for Maine
victims in Havana
The Spanish-American War (1898):
“That Splendid Little War”
How prepared was the US for war?
In 1867, Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska
from Russia for $7.2 million.
• Critics mocked “Seward’s Icebox” and “Seward’s Folly”
as a far off and useless frozen tundra.
• But valuable resources, including timber, and oil, were
found.
• Alaska also doubled America’s territory.
• The purchase price set at $7.2 million, or about 2
cents per acre
• In the 1790s, Americans planters established
sugar cane plantations in Hawaii.
• In 1887, these planters gained control of the
government from King Kalakaua.
• In 1891 the king died and his sister became
Queen Liliuokalani. She resented the power of
the white minority and abolished the constitution
that had given them political power.
• In 1893, with the help of U.S. Marines, the Queen
was dethroned.
• In 1897, President McKinley backed annexation
when he took office.
In 1898,
Congress
voted to
annex
Hawaii.
Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani
Hawaii for the
Hawaiians!
The United States expanded
overseas after 1850.
1853
Commodore Matthew Perry’s fleet entered Tokyo Bay,
persuading Japan to trade with the United States.
1867
Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from
Russia.
1867
The United States obtained Midway Islands in the Pacific.
1898
Congress approved the annexation of Hawaii.
1898
The Spanish-American War gave the U.S. control of the
Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Imperialists justified their actions based on beliefs
about their own racial, national, and cultural
superiority.
Social Darwinism was the belief that life consists of competitive
struggles in which only the fittest survive. Social Darwinists felt that
certain nations and races were superior to others and were therefore
destined to rule over the inferior people.
Americans embraced Social Darwinism because they had long believed
that God had granted them the right to settle the frontier. They spoke of
their “Manifest Destiny.”
In 1899, China was being exploited by European powers.
Britain, France, Germany, and Russia each carved out spheres of
influence, or zones in which they enjoyed special access to ports
and markets.
• U.S. Secretary of State John Hay announced that the United
States expected “equality of treatment for commerce” in China.
• This Open Door Policy, or desire for free trade, guided future
U.S. actions.
Some Chinese joined secret societies in response to the
growing influence of outsiders.
• They celebrated traditional Chinese culture.
• They condemned Chinese converts to Christianity.
• One society was nicknamed the “Boxers” by Europeans
because its members trained in the martial arts.
In 1900, Chinese secret societies began attacking foreigners and
missionaries.
• A multinational force from the United States, Europe, and Japan,
put down this Boxer Rebellion.
• The Chinese government was forced to pay for damages done
during the rebellion.
• This raised nationalist anger and contributed to a 1911 revolt
against the Emperor.
It eventually took 20,000 soldiers, including 2,000 Americans, like
these in the Forbidden City, to put down the Boxer Rebellion.