Global Power And the United States

In the beginning… Prior to 1898: United States did not do much on the world stage Countries like Britain, France, and Germany had large overseas empires Alfred Thayer Mahan

Examples of Imperialism Spanish American War Occupation of Puerto Rico, Samoa, Hawaii Occupation of the Philippines Great White Fleet Roosevelt Corollary Panama Canal

What To Do With the Philippines? Debate breaks out in US What should we do with this new possession? Imperialists Keep the Philippines Social Darwinism Anti-imperialists Give the Philippines their independence Self-determination

Imperialists—Economic Trading partner, buyers of U.S. goods Need trading partners after American industrialization Close to China and the huge market there

Imperialists—Military An important naval base Key to projecting American power Goes with other island naval bases in the Pacific Hawaii Guam Samoa

Imperialists—”Civilization” Pres. McKinley: “Christianize” the Filipinos (!?) Government Commission: American rule “will prove the greatest blessing to the peoples of the Philippine islands.” “White Man’s Burden”

Anti-Imperialists—American Values Fought the war to free the Cubans from the Spanish Have to stick to American principles Freedom Democracy Anti-colonial Anti-Imperialist League “We maintain that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Anti-Imperialists—Other Reasons Philippines are too far away / too difficult to control Racism: don’t want millions of people of color added to American population

The Result? US decides to keep Philippines Fights war with Filipinos that want independence More costly than Spanish-American War Guerrilla warfare 3+ years 4,000 US soldiers dead, perhaps 500,000 Filipinos (mostly civilians) Gives Philippines independence in 1946 (after World War II) Emilio Aguinaldo

Significance Clash of imperialists and anti-imperialists U.S. is now a colonial power Joins other major powers in the world An empire that stretches from the Caribbean Sea all the way across the Pacific Ocean

Significance continued…. Different types of diplomacy (relations with other countries) Big Stick Diplomacy—TR Use military to intimidate other nations Hawaii, Japan, Panama Dollar Diplomacy—Pres. Taft “Substitute dollars for bullets” Build strong economic ties with Latin America Moral Diplomacy—Pres. Wilson “The force of America is the force of moral principle” Spread democracy and promote peace (by force if necessary)