1. AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER Chapter 22

2. END OF ISOLATION
Imperialism = building an empire by founding colonies and conquering nations
Isolationism = avoiding involvement in the affairs of other countries
By the late 1800s, many Americans believed the U.S. needed to expand to keep our economy strong and a strong Navy to protect our interests
Imperialism grew between 1870s and 1914 because nations wanted to find sources of raw materials to help industrial growth

3. SEWARD’S FOLLY
Secretary of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867
Many Americans called this “Seward’s Folly” (mistake) because they thought Alaska was nothing but a frozen wasteland with no resources
Alaska did indeed become a source of fur, timber, minerals, gold, and eventually oil

4. HAWAII
1875 – treaty allowed American sugar planters to ship sugar to the U.S. from Hawaii without paying a tax (duty-free)
Many American sugar planters became rich in Hawaii
Bayonet Constitution (1887) – planters forced Hawaiian king to sign a constitution at gunpoint; this gave more power to the planter-controlled parliament
In 1891, Queen Liliuokalani proposed a new constitution to return power to the monarchy
1893 – Marines removed Queen Liliuokalani from power
1898 – U.S. annexes Hawaii as a territory

5. JAPAN Japan was isolationist in the mid-1800s
The U.S. wanted to open Japan’s trade markets in the mid-1800s because we wanted to be ahead of the Europeans in securing trade agreements with Japan
President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan in 1853 to attempt a peaceful alliance – it didn’t work
Perry returned in 1854 with warships to persuade them to open trade with the U.S.
1858 – both countries signed a trade agreement

6. CHINA
Spheres of Influence = areas of economic and political control set up in China by Russia, Germany, Britain, and France; allowed these countries to control resources in specific areas of China
Open Door Policy = Secretary of State, John Hay, wanted European powers to allow them equal access to China’s millions of consumers
Boxer Rebellion (1900) = Chinese society of Boxers wanted foreigners out of their country so they massacred 300 foreigners and Christian Chinese; U.S. and European military forces defeated the Boxer rebellion

7. YELLOW JOURNALISM
At first, the American press concealed (hid) the conflict between Spain and Cuba so readers’ sensibilities (feelings, emotions) weren’t hurt
Yellow Journalism = to attract readers, controversial (exaggerated) stories are printed to lead to high profits
Americans felt ready to take action outside of their borders since the U.S. was growing and becoming more powerful
All this contributed to our entry into the Spanish-American War

8. CAUSES OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
The de Lôme letter - Spanish minister to the U.S. made fun of President McKinley
Sinking of the USS Maine – our battleship was sunk in February 1898 in Havana Harbor, Cuba; no one knows exactly how it was sunk, but the American press blamed Spain
McKinley inspired Americans by telling them to “Remember the Maine!”; he also asked Congress for $50 million to prepare for war
Cubans were rebelling against Spanish rule
Congress issued a resolution in April 1898 declaring Cuba independent; this angered Spain
Teller Amendment = U.S. has no interest in controlling Cuba; Spain still declared war on us

9. WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES
*Note – this was part of the Spanish-American War
Filipinos, like Cubans, rebelled against Spanish rule
American Commodore Dewey sailed into Manila Bay, Philippines in May 1898 and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Fleet
In August 1898, American troops supported Filipino rebel leader, Emilio Aguinaldo
Aguinaldo’s forces and Americans took control of Manila

10. WAR IN THE CARIBBEAN
U.S. soldiers faced many challenges such as yellow fever, other diseases, lack of weapons and ammunition, improper clothing
Rough Riders – Colonel Theodore Roosevelt’s (future President) soldiers who became national heroes after capturing Santiago, San Juan Hill, and Kettle Hill, Cuba
The Rough Riders were volunteers from all walks of life; they were Native Americans, African-Americans, college athletes, cowboys, miners, and ranchers
July 1898 – U.S. invades Puerto Rico and defeats Spanish forces
August 12, 1898 – Spain signed a cease-fire agreement; U.S. wins war

11. UNITED STATES GAINS TERRITORIES
Anti-Imperialist League – group that opposed the creations of an American colonial empire; the group failed
Cuba became independent
Spain gave the U.S. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines for $20 million
Platt Amendment – gave U.S. the power to intervene in Cuban affairs and prevented Cubans from making treaties

12. PANAMA CANAL
President Theodore Roosevelt had U.S. troops help Panama fight for its independence from Colombia
He encouraged a local uprising against the Colombian government; Panama became independent after a revolt
In 1803, Panama grants the U.S. the ability to build the canal in $10 million
1904 – construction of the Panama Canal begins
There were many obstacles, such as the spread of yellow fever and malaria and the use of dangerous equipment and explosives
August 15, 1914 – Panama Canal is officially opened

13. BENEFITS OF THE PANAMA CANAL
Easier transportation
Connected Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Gave us more power and influence in Latin America
Better trading and military bases
The East Coast of the U.S. benefited the most

14. ROOSEVELT COROLLARY
President Roosevelt was a strong leader with an aggressive foreign policy
Roosevelt Corollary (December 1904) = an extension of the Monroe Doctrine that warned U.S.-influenced nations that we would get involved if they did not repay their loans
Famous Roosevelt quote – “Speak softly and carry a big stick”; this meant the U.S. promoted peace but would use the military to protect its interests

15. DOLLAR DIPLOMACY
President William Howard Taft also acted to protect U.S. interests in Latin America
He used dollar diplomacy which meant influencing governments through economic, not military, intervention
He believed in using business rather than force

16. MEXICAN REVOLUTION
In 1910, many Mexicans revolted against the harsh rule of the dictator Porfirio Diaz
More than 120,000 Mexicans immigrated to the U.S. between 1905 and 1915 to avoid political persecution
Francisco “Pancho” Villa was a rebel leader who killed 17 Americans in New Mexico
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson sent General John J. Pershing and 15,000 soldiers to Mexico in a effort to catch Pancho Villa
Pershing failed to capture him and withdrew his troops
A new constitution began to bring order in Mexico in 1917