Imperialism  Late 1800’s – US becomes an Imperialist power (Stronger nations control weaker ones) Want more influence in the Pacific 2 main groups wanted this – Farmers and Industrialists  Fueling this belief is: Desire for military strength Thirst for new markets and land to expand to Need more resources for industry Social Darwinism – Civilize the inferior nations with: ○ ReligionTechnology ○ MedicineDemocracy

The Purchase of Alaska  1867 – Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (less than 2 cents an acre) Seward’s Folly Seward’s icebox

The Purchase of Alaska  1959 – Alaska becomes a state (rich in timber and minerals)  1968 – discovered the largest oil field in North America there

The Annexation of Hawaii  Hawaii was the halfway point between California and the Philippines  1820’s – US missionaries founded schools and churches in Hawaii  Their descendants became sugar planters – a very successful enterprise

The Annexation of Hawaii  1867 – US built a naval base in Pearl Harbor  Became a refueling station for US ships  Important to protect our boarders and protect our commerce.

The Annexation of Hawaii  Mid-1800s - US owned sugar plantations made up ¾ of Hawaii’s wealth Dramatically increased sugar production  By the 1900s, foreigners and immigrant laborers outnumbered native Hawaiians 3 to 1

The Annexation of Hawaii  The Queen took steps that removed property qualifications for voting to lessen the control and power of the sugar planters.  US planters overthrew the Queen using the help of American marines on a nearby ship in Honolulu They arrested her and put her under house arrest.  Made Sanford B. Dole president.

The Annexation of Hawaii  President Cleveland ordered that the queen be restored to her throne, but when Dole refused to surrender, Cleveland officially recognized the Republic of Hawaii  August 12, 1898 – the US annexed Hawaii Hawaiians never voted  1959 – Hawaii became the 50 th state

American Interests in Cuba  1854 – US tried to buy Cuba from Spain Spain refused - said they would rather see Cuba sunk at the bottom of the Ocean  1870’s – US invested in Cuban sugar plantations

American Interests in Cuba  1895 – Jose Marti led a revolution against the Spanish occupation of Cuba  Used scorched earth policy to destroy anything that might be of use to Spain Destroyed US-owned sugar plantations Hoped to provoke US intervention  Americans were split: Businessmen supported Spain to protect their investments Others support Cuba’s fight for independence

American Interests in Cuba  General Valeriano Weyler was sent to restore order for Spain  He was given the nickname the Butcher Moved 300,000 Cubans into concentration camps (many women and children) Thousands died from hunger and disease

Moving Toward War  Reporters like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer exaggerate tales of Spain’s brutality to gain support for Cuba “Yellow Journalism” – sensationalized news to enrage readers Said that wells were purposely poisoned and that children were being thrown to the sharks

Moving Toward War  Many criticized President McKinley for trying to avoid war with Spain  Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, called McKinley a coward who had “less backbone that a chocolate éclair.”  February 1898 – Spanish Minister DeLome criticized McKinley The “DeLome Letter” was leaked to the press and sparked US outrage

Moving Toward War  McKinley sent the U.S.S Maine to Cuba to bring home US citizens who were in danger from the fighting  February 15, 1898 – the USS Maine exploded in Havana, Cuba More than 260 US soldiers were killed

s Looking at this picture how do you think American citizens felt? Tell me specifics about this picture that pull your emotions.

Moving Towards War  US newspapers blamed Spain No one knows what really happened  Public opinion turned in favor of war Spain tried to make peace and agreed on Congress’s demands  “Remember the Maine” became the US war cry  April 20, 1898 – US declared war on Spain

The Spanish-American War  April 30, 1898 – 1 st battle took place in the Philippines (A colony of Spain)  Commodore George Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet Filipinos supported the US because they also wanted independence from Spain  August 1898 – Spanish forces in the Philippines were forced to surrender.

The Spanish-American War  Dewey becomes a national hero for this  The battle for Cuba was more difficult US had small professional army The 125,000 volunteers were unprepared

The Spanish-American War  Many officers were former Civil War veterans who spent more time reliving the “glory days” than training their men  Lacked adequate supplies and effective leaders  Few modern weapons  Woolen uniforms – in the tropics!

The Spanish-American War  June 1898 – US blockades Cuba and sent 17,000 soldiers to Santiago  Included 4 African- American regiments and the “Rough Riders” Volunteer cavalry unit led by Teddy Roosevelt and Leonard Wood The men were made up from all different classes: ○ Cowboys, rich polo players, and ex-convicts

Cuban Blockade

The Spanish-American War  July 1 st, 1898 – US win the Battle of San Juan Hill (most famous battle) Rough Riders led the charge (without their horses) with the 10 th Calvary Roosevelt was declared a war hero – later helped him politically  July 3 rd – US destroyed the Spanish fleet in Cuba  July 25 th – US invades Puerto Rico

The Spanish-American War  August 12, 1898 – “The Splendid Little War” ends Lasts only 16 weeks 379 battle casualties, 1,662 wounded, 2,061 died from disease (mostly malaria and yellow fever)

The Spanish-American War  The Treaty of Paris of 1898 Grants Cuba independence Spain gives the US Guam and Puerto Rico US buys the Philippines for 20 million The US officially becomes an Imperialist power

Rebellion in the Philippines  Many Filipinos believed the US had promised them independence  February 1899 – Emilio Aguinaldo leads an unsuccessful revolt against the US Revolt lasted 3 years (so long because of guerrilla war tactics)

Rebellion in the Philippines  It was a very nasty war – Americans would find people mutilated with Bolo knives (machetes) and American soldiers would slaughter and burn entire villages of women and children 20,000 Filipino casualties 4,000 US casualties Cost nearly $400 million (20X what they paid for the island)

Rebellion in the Philippines  After the war we sent millions of dollars into these islands to clean it up, better health care, factories, schools, and roads.  July 4, 1946 – US grants the Philippines independence

Debate over American Expansionism  Several prominent Americans including William Jennings Bryan, Mark Twain, and Andrew Carnegie founded the American Anti-Imperialist League. The League opposed the annexation of the Philippines on grounds that it was the antithesis of America’s founding principles. The League launched a series of court challenges regarding the right of the U.S. to rule areas outside the continental United States

The Panama Canal  US wanted a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Bring our 2 navies together  Wanted a canal in Panama to create this shortcut, but Panama is owned by Colombia.  However, Colombia would not allow us to build the canal. At the time many Panamanians wanted their independence from Colombia.

The Panama Canal  Panama and the United States made a deal. US would assist Panama in their revolution if they allowed us to build a canal.  1903 – US agreed to pay Panama $10 million to build the canal (negotiated by President Teddy Roosevelt) US would lease the canal for $250,000/year

The Panama Canal  Cost $380 million to build  5,600 deaths (from diseases or accidents)  September 7, 1977 – President Jimmy Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty Returned control of the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999

Building of the Canal

Roosevelt Corollary  The Roosevelt Corollary:  Europe loaned Latin America money for railroads  US feared Europe would take over if these nations couldn’t pay off their loans Teddy Roosevelt declared the US would be an “International Police Force” in the Western Hemisphere (protect our economic interests) Us would oversee the collection of these debts Roosevelt held that negotiations (Speak softly) were key to any relationships but if negotiations were not fruitful, then U.S. would use its military to enforce order (the Big Stick). “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”