1. America
Claims an Empire

2. American Foreign Trade: 1870-1914
1. Economic Interests
American Foreign Trade:
U.S. wants to open up new markets that will import U.S. goods.
U.S. wants to gain access to new raw materials to feed growing U.S. industries.

3. 2. Military/Strategic Interests
U.S. should build up its merchant fleet
To protect the merchant fleet, the U.S. needed refueling stations and bases throughout the world

4. 3. Social Darwinist Thinking
The White Man’s Burden
As the greatest race, it is the white man’s burden (job) to educate, civilize, and uplift the “lesser” races of the world.
The Hierarchy of Race
There are superior and inferior races in the world.

5. 4. Religious/Missionary Interests American Missionaries in China, 1905
Believed it was their Christian duty to spread the faith to “heathen” lands around the world.

6. 5. Closing the American Frontier
All land on the North American is claimed.
America would have to look elsewhere to find new markets and sources of raw materials.

7. Purchase of Alaska
In 1867 William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million
Critics dubbed this “Seward’s folly”

8. The United States
Takes Hawaii

9. U. S. Missionaries in Hawaii
Missionaries were the first Americans to establish a presence in Hawaii.
Goal: Bring Christianity to the “savage” island people.
Imiola Church – first built in the late 1820s

10. Sugarcane in Hawaii
Other Americans arrive in Hawaii to become sugar plantation owners.
Hawaii’s economy flourishes with 1875 treaty that allows sale of Hawaiian sugar without a duty.
White planters force Bayonet Constitution on Hawaiians
Only wealthy white planters can vote
Pearl Harbor is given to U.S.

11. Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani
Liliuokalani comes to power and states she will get rid of the Bayonet Constitution.
Hawaii for Hawaiians!!!

12. U. S. Business Interests In Hawaii
McKinley Tariff hurts Sugarcane planters
Desire to become U.S. territory to avoid tariffs
1893 – American businessmen led an uprising against Queen Liliuokalani
Sanford Ballard Dole becomes the President of the Republic of Hawaii

13. Bill Clinton signs a formal apology to
the Hawaiians on November 23, 1993

14. China

15. Spheres of Influence
Great Britain, Russia, France, Germany and Japan carved out spheres of influence.
U.S. is the last imperial power to arrive in China.

16. The Open Door Policy Secretary John Hay.
Give all nations equal access to trade in China.
Guaranteed that China would NOT be taken over by any one foreign power.

17. The Boxer Rebellion: 1900 The Righteous and Harmonious Fists.
Disliked foreign imperialists.

18. Japan

19. Commodore Matthew Perry Opens Up Japan: 1853
The Japanese were isolated for hundreds of years.
Everything changes when Commodore Matthew Perry arrives.

20. Treaty of Kanagawa: 1854
Perry’s modern fleet and weapons intimidate Japan.
They realize that resistance is futile.
Japan’s ports open to U.S. trade.

21. Spanish -American War

22. Background of Cuba
Cuba is one of Spain’s last colonies in the western hemisphere.
Want independence and begin revolting.
Leaders are exiled and some come to the U.S.

23. Valeriano Weyler’s “Reconcentration” Policy
Real and exaggerated reports of Spanish misrule.
Americans become sympathetic for Cuban cause.

25. William Randolph Hearst
“Yellow Journalism”
Joseph Pulitzer
“You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war!”
William Randolph Hearst

26. De Lôme Letter Dupuy de Lôme, Spanish Ambassador to the U.S.
Criticized President McKinley as weak
Insult to national pride
Leads to increasing tension between Spain and U.S.

27. In 1898 battleship Maine exploded in Havana, Cuba
266 Americans die & ship sunk
It was there to protect Americans and their investments

28. Remember the Maine and to Hell with Spain!
Funeral for Maine victims in Havana

29. The Spanish-American War (1898): “That Splendid Little War”
The “Rough Riders”

30. Dewey Captures Manila!

31. The Treaty of Paris: 1898 Cuba was freed from Spanish rule.
Spain gave up Puerto Rico and the island of Guam to the U.S.
The U. S. paid Spain $20 mil. for the Philippines.

32. Cuban Independence? Platt Amendment (1903)
Teller Amendment to war resolution promised Cuba would not become a colony, BUT
Cuba essentially becomes a U.S. colony in every way but in name
Platt Amendment (1903)
Cuba was not to enter into any agreements with foreign powers that would endanger its independence.
The U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary to maintain an efficient, independent govt.
Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for naval and coaling station.
Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt.
Senator Orville Platt

33. The Philippine-American War

34. Dewey in the Philippines
Despite U.S. promises to Filipinos during the Spanish-American War, the island nation is not granted independence.
Philippine resistance against U.S. begins.
Dewey and U.S. adopt same methods of control as Spain had used (concentration camps).

35. Emilio Aguinaldo
Leader of the Filipino Uprising.
U.S. supported his independence movement against Spain, then declared him an outlaw.

36. Aftermath of the War
U.S. appointed a governor, who would appoint the upper house of the legislature
Filipinos would select lower house
The Philippines did not become an independent country until July 4th, 1946.