1. Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Essential Question: Why did the US get involved in Latin America?
Standard: SSUSH14 The student will explain America’s evolving relationship with the world at the turn of the twentieth century.
Explain the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and anti-Asian immigration sentiment on the west coast.
Describe the Spanish-American War, the war in the Philippines, and the debate over American expansionism.
Explain U.S. involvement in Latin America, as reflected by the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and the creation of the Panama Canal.
Bell work
Notes: Imperialism
Activity: Imperialism

2. Chinese Excluded
American labor unions fought to exclude Chinese from working
They would work for lower wages
1882 – Chinese Exclusion Act
Prevented Chinese laborers from entering into the country.

3. Imperialism
The end of the 19th Century marked the height of European imperialism – much of Africa and Asia was under European control
Under imperialism, larger, more powerful nations dominate weaker nations economically, politically, culturally, and militarily to feel powerful
Imperialism grew due to several factors: industrialism in Europe created a need for raw materials, a sense of nationalism or devotion to one’s country, advances in military technology, missionary motives

4. Americans get in the game
When he left office, George Washington warned of foreign entanglements
After the idea of manifest destiny was fulfilled, the U.S. had to look internationally to expand its borders – the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 and began looking to the Pacific – the Midway Islands and Hawaii were annexed
The U.S. also took a role in Latin America

5. Arguments for American Expansion
The primary argument for expansion was economic – the Americans had built a strong industrial economy but needed more markets to sell their goods to
those who favored a strong Navy also wanted expansion – the fleet left over from the Civil War were rotting and expansion provided the perfect excuse to build a new fleet – expansion
others believed that expansion was necessary to continue American vitality – the frontier was no more and people were looking for more reasons to expand

6. Strengthening ties to Latin America
three incidents brought America fully into Latin America:
1891- a mob in Chile attacked a group of American soldiers on leave and 2 were killed – the government forced Chile to pay $75,000 to the families of those killed
1893 – a rebellion broke out in Brazil and President Cleveland ordered Naval Units to Rio de Janeiro to protect U.S. shipping interests
Britain and Venezuela disputed the ownership of a piece of territory between Venezuela and British Guiana – the U.S. disapproved of British involvement due to the Monroe Doctrine
Britain eventually backed down, realizing that they needed to stay on friendly terms with the U.S.

7. Trouble in Cuba
Cuba’s first rebellion against Spain was in 1868 – the Spanish put the rebellion down
In 1895, after the island’s economy collapsed, the Cubans rebelled again
The Spanish concentrated the rebels into camps – the prisoners, including women, children, and the elderly, lived in horrible conditions, but the Presidents Cleveland and McKinley refused to intervene
American newspapers demanded intervention in Cuba – sometimes the stories about Cuba got exaggerated, this was known as yellow journalism
This is the beginning of conflict with the Spanish that will lead to war

8. Spanish American War and Expansion
1. February 1898 – American newspapers published a stolen letter from the Spanish ambassador in Washington, Depuy de Lome
The letter describe President McKinley as “weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd”
The press used this as an opportunity to stir up anti-Spanish fervor
2. Shortly after this, McKinley ordered the ship the USS Maine to the Havana harbor to protect American citizens and property
On February 15, 1898, an explosion sank the Maine, killing more than 250 American sailors
The blast was probably an accident, but the American public blamed Spain – the papers helped stir this up and called for war

9. 3. Another of Spain’s colonial possessions, Philippines, was also rebelling
Then Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt planned for war with Spain without the President’s permission – he thought the Philippines could be a key base to protect Asian trade
In late March, McKinley sent a list of demands to Spain – it included compensation for the Maine, an end to concentration camps, a truce in Cuba, and Cuban independence
Spain accepted all but the last term
With the battle cry “Remember the Maine!” the U.S. declared war a few days later

10. The Spanish American War Begins
The first battle of the war was fought in the Philippines on May 1, 1898 when a surprise attack was launched on the Spanish fleet in the Pacific
The entire fleet was destroyed in 7 hours
Meanwhile, the army was gathering in Tampa, FL to prepare for an invasion of Cuba, including the most famous group, the Rough Riders
The Rough Riders were led by Theodore Roosevelt and were made up of a variety of different men
The U.S. blocked the Spanish fleet from escaping the Santiago harbor

11. Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in 2 famous battles, Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill
The Spanish fleet tried to escape on July 3 and was destroyed by the U.S. Navy
The war was quickly over and the Treaty of Paris was signed in December 1898
The terms of the treaty: Spain recognized Cuba’s independence and gave the U.S. the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam

12. The Panama Canal
The Spanish American War showed the U.S. the need for a shorter way between the Atlantic and the Pacific
Groups had tried and failed before to build a canal on the isthmus of Panama, then controlled by Colombia
The U.S. decided that this was the best place to build the canal

13. Colombia was waiting for its lease to the first owners to expire so they could charge more money
The U.S. backed up a rebellion by Panama against Colombia so they could get the land at a cheaper rate
The U.S. recognized the independent Panama and in return got a permanent grant of land to build the canal
Construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1914
Many people, especially in South America, disagreed with the methods used to get the canal land

14. Big Stick Diplomacy
 “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” – Theodore Roosevelt, 1901
Roosevelt’s big stick was the US Navy – this threat of force allowed Roosevelt to conduct an aggressive military policy

15. Roosevelt Corollary
Dec and 1905 – Roosevelt issued messages to Congress that were amendments to the Monroe Doctrine
The corollary said that the US did not want any more territory
Roosevelt said the US wanted the neighboring countries to be “stable, orderly, and prosperous”
The US would only step in when the governments of neighboring nations collapsed and outside governments became involved