1. An Emerging World Power 1890-1917
Chapter 11

2. The Roots of Imperialism
Imperialism is when nations seeks to extend their political, military, and economic control over weaker nations
Is the United States imperialistic today?
In the late 1800s America decided to follow Europe’s imperialistic behavior into Japan
Europe used these countries to extract resources like oil, iron, and tea
America already had lots of resources, so instead of stripping the country of resources, they wanted to be able to sell their excess manufactured goods in these countries

3. The Roots of Imperialism
New countries to trade with meant prices could stabilize since they would have new places to sell the goods
Albert Beveridge said “Today we are raising more [crops] than we can consume. Today we are making more than we can use…Therefore we must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital, new work for our labor.”
Why would finding new markets help?

4. The Roots of Imperialism
Imperialists knew that if we were going to expand it would require going into the oceans to do so
Alfred T. Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History to explain that America’s need to build a large navy
He also said we needed foreign bases to have places to stop for refueling, etc.
By 1900 the U.S. had the 3rd largest navy in the world

5. The Roots of Imperialism
Imperialists supported the idea that America was superior and therefore they should exert their influence on the “lesser” nations
Social Darwinism, survival of the fittest, was widely accepted
Manifest Destiny, or the idea that God wanted America to expand, was also widely accepted—especially because many felt God wanted Christianity to expand to these nations

6. The Roots of Imperialism
Since America already had “sea to shining sea” they had to look to the Pacific Ocean if they wanted to keep with their westward movement
Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan, who had denied everyone access to their ports
Perry was allowed there by showering the emperor with gifts
Perry showed them that they had fallen behind in the world of technology and that they should open trade with America
They said yes, and haven’t looked back…

7. The Roots of Imperialism
In 1867 Sec. of State William Seward purchased Alaska for $7.2 million
This was called “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox”
It double the size of the United States
Turns out, it was a smart purchase…there is an amazing amount of the world’s oil supply under Alaska AND it was handy to have that area in fighting the Cold War against Russia in the 1900s
Why did people criticize him for the purchase?

8. Alaska

9. The Roots of Imperialism
America had been trading with Hawai’i since the 1790s
Christians had set up missionaries, churches, and schools
Americans had also set up sugar plantations there
They convinced King Kalakuaua to amend Hawai’i’s constitution to limit voting rights to wealthy, white planters

10. The Roots of Imperialism
The American’s grew concerned about their power
America had a tariff on imported sugar which meant Hawaiian sugar was more expensive than American sugar
King Kalakuaua died and his sister Queen Liliuokalani took over who was Anti-white
She abolished the constitution

11. The Roots of Imperialism
The American planters called for the U.S. minister of Hawai’i, John Stevens, to bring in the Marines
They successfully seized power and established a new government
Sanford Dole asked Pres. Benjamin Harrison to annex Hawai’i
Senate didn’t approve before Pres. Cleveland was inaugurated
He ordered an investigation and refused to sign the annexation because of the “reprehensible conduct of the American minister”
Pres. McKinley supported annexation of Hawai’i so he signed and Hawai’i became a territory in 1898

12. Hawai’i

13. The Spanish-American War
Spain had been an impressive imperialistic nation in the s
By the end of the 1800s it was left with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba
The Cubans regularly rebelled against Spain for independence
José Martí led a war for independence
Spanish Gen. Weyler put the Cubans into reconcentration camps which killed many of them

14. The Spanish-American War
Many Americans felt sympathy for the Cubans
Since Spain was being so brutal and because America remembered breaking away from their mother-country
America also saw Cuba as an excellent source for new trade if they were stabilized
The press supported Cuba with sensational stories
Yellow journalism were exaggerated stories used to gain support for the rebels
William Randolph Hearst was the leader in publishing these stories

15. The Spanish-American War
McKinley sent the U.S.S. Maine down to Havana to protect the Americans who lived there
A Spanish Ambassador wrote a letter stating that McKinley was weak and stupid, Hearst published the letter
“Worst Insult to the United States in Its History” read the headline
Jingoism, or aggressive nationalism, was fueled by this article

16. The Spanish-American War
The intensity grew when the Maine blew up in Havana killing 266
An investigation was done by the Navy and they declared that it was a mine that had blown up the ship
Years later it was reinvestigated and it appears that it was actually an accident

17. The Spanish-American War
Spain agreed to make concessions and end concentration camps but it was too late
On April 11, 1898 America declared war on Spain to force it to end hostilities with Cuba
It included the Teller Amendment which said the U.S. would NOT annex Cuba
Many Americans joined the military
Most would be shipped out to the Pacific Ocean

18. The Spanish-American War
Commodore George Dewey led the Americans in battle against the Spaniards in the Philippines
400 Spanish died, 0 Americans
Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino nationalist, was successfully beating the Spanish army on land
U.S. Marines captured Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

19. The Spanish-American War
T. Roosevelt stepped down as Sec. of the Navy and led the Rough Riders into battle
They charged San Juan hill and won impressive victories
The Spanish tried to escape but the Americans had created a blockade to prevent them
Frantic but unable to move, they surrendered

20. The Spanish-American War
Many of the soldiers waiting to be sent to Cuba gathered in Tampa, FL
They were given obsolete weapons and spoiled food due to inefficient and corrupt officials
In the end 3000 Americans died in the Spanish American war, but only 380 died in battle
The war was nicknamed “a splendid little war” because it proved America’s ability to easily beat a European power

21. The Spanish-American War
However a new dilemma was created…what to do with Spain’s former territories?
The Treaty of Paris forced Spain to give Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam up as well as sell the Philippines to the US for $20 million
Americans disagreed as to whether the US should control these areas (could control Cuba because of the Teller Amendment)
Anti-imperialists said it violated American principles to retain the Philippines, imperialists said it was only right to protect and educate the Filipinos

22. The Spanish-American War
Keep the Philippines came down to one vote
We kept the Philippines until the mid-1900s
The anti-imperialists were not happy
They put up William Jennings Bryan to run against McKinley
McKinley chose T.R. to be his V.P. candidate since he was a hero
McKinley easily won reelection, reaffirming that people supported imperialism
1900 opened with America as a new empire and strongly involved in world affairs