IMPERIALISM

IMPERIALISM
1-When a strong nation creates a sphere of influence and
dominates a weak nation politically, militarily, and
economically
-Social Darwinism for nations
2-Strong nations become imperialist because they need natural
resources and market places
3-Europe (Germany, Russia, Great Britain, and France)
focused on Africa and Asia
4-The United States focused on the Western Hemisphere
(North and South America) as established by the Monroe
Doctrine and China

REASONS FOR AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

1-Competition with Europe
2-James Blaine: the US needs new marketplaces in China
3-Reverend Josiah Strong: the US needs to “Christianize”
and civilize the “weaker race” of the world
-“white man’s burden”
-Christian missionaries were sent around the world
4-Theodore Roosevelt: the US needs to spread democracy
around the world

ALFRED THAYER MAHAN

1-Navy admiral
2- Influence of Seapower Upon History (1890)
-strong nations have strong navies
-strong navies are used to protect ocean trade
routes; US needs new markets overseas **
3-Recommended that the US build a more powerful,
technologically-advanced navy
-Germany and Great Britain followed this advice, too
4- Great White Fleet
-nickname for the new American navy
-ships were painted to distinguish them from other
nation’s navies
5-Jingoism: aggressive nationalism
-using the threat of military force to get what you
want
HAWAII
1-Hawaii was an independent kingdom in the Pacific Ocean
2-American whites settled in Hawaii beginning in the 1820s
-started sugar and pineapple plantations
-recruited workers from Japan and the Philippines
-Native Hawaiians became a minority
-Whites became most powerful political force
3-1887: The US signed a treaty with Hawaii to use Pearl
Harbor as a navy base
-Hawaii is on the trade route to China
4-1893: Liliuokalani became Queen of Hawaii
-wanted to disenfranchise whites and restore political
power to native Hawaiians
-overthrown by whites and put under house arrest
5-Sanford Dole became President of the Republic of Hawaii
6-Because of Alfred Mahan -US annexed Hawaii July1898
 CUBA
1-Cuba and Puerto Rico were still Spanish colonies
2-Cuba began to fight for its independence from Spain
-Spain set up concentration camps where it tortured,
starved, and executed Cubans
3-Americans living in Cuba were harassed by the Spanish
-newspaper stories told of American women being
raped and American-owned businesses being shut
down
4-The USS Maine was sent to Havana Harbor, Cuba, just in
case Americans needed to be evacuated

YELLOW JOURNALISM
1-Sensationalized, irresponsible, and exaggerated news
reporting to gain more newspaper readers
-more readers mean newspapers can raise the cost to
advertise in their newspapers
2-Two biggest newspaper tycoons:
-Joseph Pulitzer competed against Hearst
-William Hearst: his famous quote to photographer,
“you provide the pictures, I’ll provide the
war”
3-Jose Marti was a Cuban freedom fighter, but moved to New
York City to become a journalist
-he was able to gain American public support for
the Cuban people
-Americans want to go to war against Spain

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)

1-The USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor in Feb 1898
-Yellow journalists blamed the Spanish for blowing
up the Maine
-Yellow journalists whipped up American support
for going to war against Spain
2-President McKinley opposed going to war
-Theodore Roosevelt called McKinley a coward
-Assistant Secretary of the Navy
3-Teller Amendment: The US will help fight for Cuba’s
independence from Spain
-Spain declared war on the US
4-The Philippines: very modern Spanish colony in Asia
-Rudyard Kipling writes “The White Man’s Burden”
-also fighting for independence from Spain
-on the trade route to China
-captured by US Commodore George Dewey
-aided by Filipino Emiliano Aguinaldo
-Filipino-American War will last until 1902
5-Cuba
-Tenth Cavalry: Buffalo Soldiers led by General
John Pershing
-Rough Riders: Volunteers led by Theodore
Roosevelt (TR)
-Battle of San Juan Hill TREATY OF PARIS OF 1898
-most famous battle, TR became a hero 1-Spain recognizes Cuba’s independence
-Battle of Santiago: The US destroyed the Spanish -The US will occupy Cuba until 1902
navy in July 1898 2-The US gains the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico
-The US captured Puerto Rico in July 1898 -With Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines, the US
now has a permanent naval presence to protect the
6-Because of Alfred Mahan -- US annexed Hawaii July1898 Pacific trade route to China
-Pearl Harbor Naval Base is now American 3-UNITED STATES IS NOW AN IMPERIAL NATION!!
-US can protect its Pacific Ocean trade route to
China
 PLATT AMENDMENT
1-US will protect Cuba’s independence;
-Cuba is a protectorate under the US
2-The US will have imperial power over Cuba
3-The US will lease Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in perpetuity
-US now has a permanent naval presence in Caribbean
-US can focus on building canal through Panama

THE INSULAR CASES

1-Anti-Imperialist League: Some Americans opposed the
United States gaining new “colonies”
-Mark Twain wrote The War Prayer to oppose the
Filipino-American War
2-The Insular Cases
-collection of court cases against America creating
new colonies
-Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution and
the Bill of Rights do NOT apply to the people of
the new lands America gains, unless Congress
passes a law saying so

DR. WALTER REED

1-American Army doctor stationed in Cuba
2-6600 American soldiers killed in war
-600 from war wounds
-6000 from malaria and yellow fever
3-Reed found that mosquitoes cause malaria and yellow
fever and developed a vaccine

EFFECTS OF THE WAR

1-Theodore Roosevelt becomes a war hero
2-The US becomes an imperial power (top 5) in world
3-The US now has a protected trade route to China

THE OPEN DOOR POLICY & CHINA

1- Issued by Secretary of State John Hay
2- Warning to Europe to open up China to American trade
-the US now has naval bases in the Philippines
-U.S. wants a “sphere of influence” in China
-U.S. needs new markets overseas & equal
access in China
3-Boxer Rebellion
-Chinese uprising against European occupation
and imperialism
-the US helps Europe put down the rebellion

THE ELECTION OF 1900

1-McKinley is re-elected President
-Vice President is Theodore Roosevelt
-Democrat William Jennings Bryan lost again
2-McKinley became third president to be assassinated
3-Theodore Roosevelt becomes President

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY PANAMA CANAL (1903-1914)

1- TR’s enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine
1- Gunboat Diplomacy was used against Colombia
2- Known as the Big Stick or Gunboat Diplomacy
for Panama to gain its independence
3- Protects the independence of small Caribbean nations from
2- The US built the Panama Canal
rebellions or European takeover
3- Effects:
4- Keeps American imperialism intact in Western Hemisphere
- Shorten travel time and trading patterns
5- TR would regularly have the US Navy, (“Great White
- Travel costs are lowered
Fleet”) travel the world to show off American power
- US Navy has a short cut between East & West coasts