1. Notes Overview Learning Targets Beginnings of Imperialism
A need to be a world power
Japan, Pacific Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii
Economic Imperialism
Spanish American War
Causes of War
Yellow Journalism
Taking the Philippines
Defeating Spain
Effects of winning the war
US Foreign Policy
The problem with imperialism
Expanding to China
Boxer rebellion
Showing off our power
Latin America
Puerto Rico
Cuba
Panama Canal
McKinley/Roosevelt/Taft/Wilson
Big Stick Diplomacy
Dollar Diplomacy
Moral Diplomacy
SWBAT – Explain the significance of early imperialism.
SWBAT – Justify US imperialism methods.
SWBAT – Critique the problems with imperialism.
SWBAT – Evaluate the types of US diplomacy during the early 1900s.
SWBAT – Defend a position on US diplomacy during the early 1900s.

2. Beginnings of Imperialism
Europe begins the practice of imperialism as we know it during the US Civil War. They need resources to compete with each other economically and militarily.
Easiest way to do this was take over weak neighbors. i.e. Austria-Hungary.
All major world powers did it. The US was late to the game.
The US had resources, but needed places to sell because of our abundance. New markets were crucial.
We also don’t want to be weaker than European nations.
1867 – US buys Alaska. Has timber, oil, natural resources. Increases our reach west.
1889 – US builds the Pan American highway between the Americas.
1898 – US claims Hawaii as a territory.

3. The Spanish American War
Yellow Journalism
Spain by 1890 – former world power, owns Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa, and the Philippines.
US is investing heavily in sugar and other products in Cuba and doesn’t want to lose that $$$
Cuba wants freedom. Our newspapers use yellow journalism – “fake news” to sell papers for money, but end up convincing Americans to go to war with Spain.
The battleship Maine was sent to Cuba to protect American businesses. It blew up killing 266.
Newspapers immediately blamed Spain, and America entered a war with Spain.
We start in the Philippines and surprise them. We win easily. Then we take Guam and Puerto Rico. Cuba comes last. Spain surrenders and we get everything except Cuba. We leave them alone, but grow businesses there.
An Emerging Empire

4. United States Foreign Policy
The Philippines didn’t want us there, and fought back using guerilla warfare. Showed the US the cost of this type of warfare, but the US won. Told Philippines they will be free. Didn’t happen until 1945.
China – gave the US dollar signs in their eyes. If we could sell our goods there, we could make a boatload of money.
Spheres of influence activity –
The US wanted in on access to sell stuff to China. Europe wasn’t having that.
The Boxer Rebellion – Chinese people that hated the foreign presence and control in their cities. Fought against the foreign powers, but lost. The emperor was forced to pay for damage they caused.
The US decides to tell Europe to give China control of its economy and have free trade for everyone.
US also negotiates end to Russo-Japanese war. Sends a fleet of warships around the world to show we are strong.

5. Latin America and US Diplomacy Methods
Puerto Rico – must pay taxes, no equal rights as Americans.
Cuba - The Platt Amendment: an amendment to the Cuban Constitution that did the following: Cuba couldn’t sign a treaty with another world power without American ok, had to lease navy stations to US, and gave US right to intervene in Cuba to keep order.
Theodore Roosevelt ( ) – favorite African proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
Meaning – have a strong military to compete with other countries in the world.
Columbia owned Panama in the late 1800s. Tried to bully the US into paying more for it. TR sent our navy there and Columbia backed off. “big stick”
Building the Panama Canal:
The US would pay Panama rent for it, but made billions off it until This set the stage for economic imperialism.

6. Latin America and US Diplomacy Methods
Taft ( ) – selected by TR to replace him. Switched to “dollar diplomacy.”
Wanted an increase in American investments in Latin America. Investors invested in plantations, mines, oil wells, railroads and more. This caused tensions to rise and sometimes the military was used to secure those investments.
Wilson ( ) – won after TR created a new party and stole votes from Taft. Wanted “Moral Diplomacy.” Wanted an end to economic imperialism… kind of.
He didn’t want to look like the European style of imperialism.
Used military to protect American investments in Haiti, DR, and Mexico.
War is Brewing overseas…