1. Toward an American Empire

2.  U.S. expansion shifts after 1890 & the defeat of the Plains Indians  Strategically placed islands taken, initially intended as colonies

3.  Domestic concerns dominated the post-Civil War years  But the1870s brought new interest in areas beyond U.S. boundaries

4.  Expansion abroad sought to gain markets  Evolutionary ideas encouraged expansion to give “guidance” to native peoples elsewhere  Missionary spirit (see Josiah Strong's popular Our Country, published in 1885)

5.  Expansionist foreign policy  Acquisitions: Alaska, Midway Islands  Efforts to erode European influence in Latin America ◦ Diversion of Latin American trade from Europe through a series of reciprocity treaties ◦ U.S. support of Venezuela against Great Britain

6.  1875--U.S. allows free importation of Hawaiian sugar  Queen Liliuokalani retaliates for McKinley Tariff, attempts to reduce U.S. influence  1893--American settlers pull off coup  1898--Hawaii made U.S. possession  1872--U.S. granted port facilities in Samoa  1899--U.S. shares control with Germany

8.  Alfred Mahan argues that overseas markets are essential for industrial surpluses  Large merchant marine, strong navy needed  1889--Secretary of Navy Benjamin Tracy supervises a program of naval construction  CARNEGIE’S INVOLVEMENT  U.S. gains offensive capability at sea

9.  The war increased overseas possessions  It also gained the U.S. recognition as a “world power”  Many more Americans became convinced they had a special destiny

10.  February, 1895--rebellion in Cuba  "Yellow press" whips up U.S. sentiment to favor Cuban independence  McKinley gains Spanish concessions  February, 1898--explosion of the Maine  April 19--Congress declares Cuba independent  April 25--U.S. declares war on Spain

11.  U.S. regular army small, ill-prepared  Problems of equipment and supply  Most soldiers fight in National Guard units

12.  African Americans serve in army Guard units  Black troops resist segregation  African American soldiers win 26 Certificates of Merit, 5 Congressional Medals of Honor  Overt racism in Philippines

13.  May 1--Commodore George Dewey captures Manila Bay  June--Cuba invaded  July--Puerto Rico occupied  August 13--Philippines surrender

16.  Fate of the Philippines was the thorniest issue at the peace negotiations  December 1898--Treaty of Paris ◦ Cuba independent ◦ U.S. takes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines

17.  Debate over annexation of the Philippines  Opponents formed the Anti-Imperialist League  February, 1899--ratification of peace treaty makes U.S. a colonizing nation

19.  1898-1901--Emilio Aguinaldo leads Philippine independence movement  “Water Treatment”  1901--U.S. replaces military with civil rule ◦ local self-government permitted ◦ schedule established for independence  July 4, 1946--Philippine independence

21.  Supreme Court permits selective application of Constitution to new territories  Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico organized as territories, inhabitants made U.S. citizens  Navy controls Guam  Cuban constitution ends U.S. occupation, but:  Platt Amendment gives U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs

22.  March, 1900--"Open Door" policy in China ◦ no European nation should carve out a sphere of influence in China and exclude others from trading in the area  Policy opens the potential for later conflict with expansion-minded powers in Pacific

23.  Teddy Roosevelt a war hero  Re-establishes Republicans as majority party  U.S. soldiers stationed outside the country