1. Chapter 20 The United States Looks Overseas

2. Key Terms for the Chapter
Isolationism
Avoiding involvement in other countries’ affairs
Imperialism
Building empires by imposing political and economic control over peoples around the world

5. The Turner Thesis Frederick Jackson Turner
Created idea that western frontier defined American History
expansionists believed that overseas was the new frontier and would bring new riches and power

6. Economic Growth
Expansionists argued that future prosperity depended on building up trade
U.S. had a powerful industrial economy and produced more than Americans would buy

7. Economic Growth
There was a fear that if U.S. did not expand it would be shut out of global markets and denied raw materials
Alfred T. Mahan stated that the key to strong trade was a powerful navy

8. United States Looks Overseas
Purchasing Alaska
1867 The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (about 2 cents an acre)
Alaska was full of resources (gold and oil)
Alaska Gold Rush of

10. Spreading American Values
In the late 1800s many Americans believed that Americans of the “Anglo-Saxon race” were superior to “lesser races” in other nations
Argument was Americans had a divine duty to spread Christian values and western civilization around the world.

11. Gaining Foothold in the Pacific
Expansionists had interest in various Pacific islands, and saw them essential for expanding influence and trade

12. Samoa

13. Gaining Foothold in the Pacific
Samoa
U.S. had interest in Samoa to use as coaling stations for ships
Other European countries also wanted Samoa and Britain, Germany, and the U.S. almost went to war
In 1899 the U.S. and Germany divided the islands
People in Samoa had no say in the matter.

16. Gaining Foothold in the Pacific
Hawaii
U.S. saw Hawaii as a military outpost in Pacific
1893 American planters and 50 U.S. Marines overthrew Queen Liliuokalani.
President Grover Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii because the revolt had been illegal
on July 7, 1898 Hawaii became a territory of U.S. when it was annexed by President William McKinley

18. Hawaii

22. Carving Up China
Late 1800s China lost a war and European powers wanted to take advantage of China’s weakness
European power and Japan started dividing China into spheres of influence (areas where another nation has economic and political control)

25. Carving Up China
At first, U.S. were not part of the activity, but U.S. officials feared they would be excluded from trading with China
Secretary of State John Hay called on nations to keep an “open door” policy in China.

26. Carving Up China Boxer Rebellion
A secret Society called Righteous and Harmonious Fist was formed to try and combat foreigners in China
Became known as Boxers because of their ceremonial exercises that resembled shadowboxing
In spring of 1900 the Boxers began a rebellion to expel foreigners

27. Carving Up China
The boxers attacked and killed westerners and Chinese Christians.
European powers and the U.S. sent in 18,000 troops with modern weapons and crushed the rebellion

29. The Spanish-American War
Cuba had been under Spanish control since 1492
After Centuries of being under Spain’s harsh control Cuban’s started to rebel
First rebellion started in 1868 and lasted 10 years, but was unsuccessful

31. The Spanish-American War
Cubans started another rebellion in 1895
To stop the revolt the Spanish began a policy of reconcentration (movement of large numbers of people into detention camps for military or political reasons)
200,000 Cubans would die in these camps due to poor sanitation and starvation

32. The Spanish-American War
Cubans, led by Jose Marti, asked for help from the U.S.
Marti was a leader of the rebels, but was killed in Cuba before he was able to see Cuba free from Spanish rule

34. The Spanish-American War
Many Americans wanted to help the Cuban rebels, but U.S. government was resistant to send troops
Americans wanted to help Cuba to protect their investments
Americans had over $50 million in sugar plantations, railroads, and iron mines

36. Yellow Journalism
yellow journalism- A sensational style of reporting that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news

37. The Spanish-American War
Newspapers swayed public opinion towards war by using Yellow Journalism
Led by Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal

44. The Spanish-American War
U.S. declares war
-February 15, 1898 the Maine sinks and the United States declares war on Spain

45. Spanish-American War The U.S. Goes to War
April 20, 1898 the U.S. declares war on Spain
The first main battle of the war took place in the Philippines
May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a small fleet of ships to Manila Bay and sank the entire Spanish squadron
The U.S. did not lose a single ship or life

48. Spanish-American War
The Filipinos were also fighting for independence from Spain
Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of the Filipino rebels
Instead of giving independence to the Filipinos the U.S. took control of the islands

50. Spanish-American War War in the Caribbean
Most of the fighting took place around Santiago and at sea

52. Spanish-American War War in the Caribbean
U.S. troops were poorly trained, but eager to fight
One of the best known units was the Rough Riders, which was led by Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt led a successful charge up San Juan hill, which became the most
celebrated event of the war

54. Spanish-American War
Once Spain surrendered Cuba, American troops invaded and quickly took control of Puerto Rico

56. Spanish-American War December 1898, a treaty was signed
Cuba received its independence
Puerto Rico, Philippines, islands of Guam, and Wake islands became territories of the U.S.

62. The United States and Latin America
Panama Canal
The Isthmus of Panama was chosen because it was only 50 miles wide
perfect location to shorten trips from the West Coast to the East Coast

63. The United States and Latin America
U.S. offered Columbia $10 million and $250,000 yearly rent to build the canal
Columbia did not accept the deal

66. The United States and Latin America
Panamanians started a revolution against Columbia
U.S. sent gunboats and Marines to support Panama
Panama gains its freedom and the U.S. received the land to build the canal

67. “Gun Boat Diplomacy”

70. The United States and Latin America
Fighting Disease
First obstacle to building the canal was overcoming diseases
Malaria and Yellow Fever (carried by mosquitoes)
William C. Gorgas

71. The United States and Latin America
Constructing the Canal
Construction involved three main tasks
Cut through a mountain
Dam a river
Build locks

78. The United States and Latin America
Canal Was finished August 15, 1914 (six months ahead of schedule)

79. The United States and Latin America
Wielding a “Big Stick” in Latin America
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
It was the job of the U.S. to protect the Western Hemisphere from European nations
When neighbors of the U.S. got into disputes with foreign nations, the U.S. had the right to intervene and restore order

81. The United States and Latin America
William Howard Taft believed in dollar diplomacy
Taft wanted bankers and businesses to invest in Latin America
Dollar Diplomacy led to many military interventions because the U.S. had to protect its investments

82. The United States and Latin America
Relations With Mexico
1911 Mexico entered into a violent revolution
President Woodrow Wilson believed U.S. foreign policy should support democracy throughout the world, and hoped Mexico would develop its own democratic government

83. The United States and Latin America
The United States had trouble staying out of the conflict
1914 an incident in Tampico, Mexico led to U.S. sailors being arrested
Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa) kept entering New Mexico and raiding towns. (Killed 18 Americans in one raid)