Transcript American Imperialism - Mr. Ryan Teaches History

American
Imperialism
Background
• By the 1890’s, America was bursting
with opportunity, and ready to expand:
• Manifest Destiny: The idea that the world was the United
States’ for the taking; Manifest Destiny first emerged when the
United States expanded its borders westward to the Pacific Ocean.
The idea never died, and the next logical step was to plant the flag
all over the globe.
• Commerce: American industry was looking for more consumers,
and workers were always looking for work and striking against
cuts to wages and hours. Global trade was seen as an answer to
both issues.
Near Wars
• 1889: American and German navies nearly fight over territory in SAMOA.
• 1891: 11 Italians lynched in New Orleans; US settles with Italy.
• 1892: 2 Americans killed in a bar in Valparaiso, Chile. Chile pays a
settlement to the US.
• 1890’s: US and Canada nearly fight over seal-hunting rights near Alaska,
which had become a US territory in 1867.
• 1895: Britain and Venezuela get involved in a boundary dispute. US
President GROVER CLEVELAND invokes the MONROE DOCTRINE to
try to stop British from fighting over land.
Monroe Doctrine
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Introduced by JAMES MONROE, 5th President of United States, on
December 2, 1823.
Written by JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or
interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts
of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention.
At the same time, the doctrine noted that the United States would
neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the
internal concerns of European countries.
“The occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which
the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the
American continents, by the free and independent condition which they
have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects
for future colonization by any European powers.”
‘Hey you…wanna fight?’
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After 50 years without a fight against a foreign country (1848 – Mexican
War), Americans might have been looking for a fight.
Five “near wars” were not enough. Americans wanted the USA to seize
territory and prove to the rest of the world that the country was ready to
be a SUPERPOWER.
In the PACIFIC…
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America annexed HAWAII in 1898, but had been tied to the Island since
the early 1800’s.
America eventually engaged in war with Spain. The SPANISHAMERICAN WAR (1898) resulted in the United States gaining territory
in both the Pacific and the Caribbean.
• In the Pacific, the United
States gained the Philippines
and Guam as a result of the
Spanish-American War.
•The USA was also pursuing
trade with CHINA and JAPAN
In the CARIBBEAN
• USA gained Puerto Rico
and was able to build a
canal in Panama as a
result of the SpanishAmerican War.
• “Yellow Journalism”
created dramatic news of
atrocities where there
were none, and led the
American public to cry
out for war against Spain.
Caribbean Conquest
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American forces were outnumbered by the Spanish, but the condition of
the Spanish ships and military were poor at best, while the American
battleships were still relatively new.
Hostilities began after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor;
260 American sailors died in an explosion that many blamed on Spanish
treachery.
Amid public outcry, President WILLIAM McKINLEY asked Congress for
permission to use force in Cuba.
USA was not prepared for war. Luckily, Spain was even less prepared.
US forces were outnumbered 7-1, but managed to win because of naval
superiority and the actions of the famed “ROUGH RIDERS,” a group of
ex-convicts, college students, and cowboys organized by Teddy Roosevelt.
The TREATY of PARIS ended the war, and awarded the USA the
PHILIPPINES and GUAM in the Pacific, and Puerto Rico in the
Caribbean.
Cuba was granted independence, and Spain was paid $20 million for its
losses.
Pacific Problems
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The American Navy scored a decisive
victory over the Spanish fleet at
Manila Bay during the SpanishAmerican war. This crippled the
Spanish navy. This was about the
only good thing that happened in the
Philippines for the USA.
After the Philippines were granted to
the United States, a three-year
rebellion was launched against the
USA by Filipino rebels. It took 4000
American lives.
Big issues for America included the
fact that the Philippines and Guam
were so far away, and they were
culturally so different from the USA.
Hawaii had been more familiar, so
annexation of the islands was far
easier for the USA.
The Aftermath
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America’s new empire meant new rules in Latin America:
PLATT AMENDMENT (1901): Cuba was forbidden from entering any
treaty that might endanger their independence.
In addition, to prevent European gunboats from landing on Cuban shores,
Cuba was prohibited from incurring a large debt.
If any of these conditions were violated, Cuba agreed to permit American
troops to land to restore order.
Lastly, the United States was granted a lease on a naval base at
Guantanamo Bay.
Independent in name only, Cuba became a legal protectorate of the United
States.
‘Speak softly and carry a
big stick’
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As President, TEDDY ROOSEVELT added the ROOSEVELT
CORROLARY to the Monroe Doctrine.
– Basically said that the USA could become involved in the Caribbean
or Latin America whenever it felt the need.
– Europe was to remain across the Atlantic, while America would
police the Western Hemisphere.
– First test was in 1905 in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; USA
invaded the island nation, seized its customs houses, and ruled the
Dominican Republic as a protectorate when debt to European
creditors became a problem until the situation was stablilized.
– Bred resentment toward the USA in Latin America
– By the end of the 20th century, USA had intervened 35 times in Latin
America.