1. America Claims an empire
Chapter 10
America Claims an empire

2. Imperialism in America
Section 1
Imperialism in America

3. American expansionism
Imperialism the art in which stronger nations spread their political, economic, or military control over weaker nations
Americans had wanted to expand their nation and by the 1880’s they began to do so
European nations had been Imperialistic powers for centuries and had spread into many different lands.
Africa was the most popular place for European nations to spread towards in this time as only 2 nations remained free (Ethiopia and Liberia)
In Asia Imperialistic powers competed for lands in China
There were 3 main principles that fueled American Imperialism:
1. Desire for military strength
2. Thirst for new markets
3. Belief in cultural superiority

4. Reasons for American Imperialism
Alfred T. Mahan (Naval Officer) encouraged the government to increase their Naval Power in order to compete with these other nations on imperialistic moves.
The United States became the worlds 3rd largest Naval power by 1890
Americans needed new markets for their products they consumed so they needed to branch out and find more countries to be able to export goods to
Americans also felt their culture was superior to other cultures and it was their duty to spread their civilization and Christianity to other parts of the world

5. The U.S. Acquires Alaska and Hawaii
In 1867 William Seward arranged for the United States to buy Alaska from the Russians for 7.2 million dollars
Many people in the House were skeptical of the purchase of Alaska but in time it proved to be a very good buy because of the many minerals it produced for the United States
Alaska eventually became the 49th state in 1959
Hawaii was a very important place that the US had used for sugar trade ever since the late 1700’s
Hawaii had a tax free agreement in all trade with the US until the McKinley Tariff in At the is point Hawaii asked for annexation to the US so they would not have to pay this.

6. The U.S. Acquires Alaska and Hawaii
US Military and economic leaders eventually persuaded Hawaii to setup a military base at Pearl Harbor which was very crucial in refueling of ships traveling across the Pacific towards Asia
In 1898 under the direction of President William McKinley Hawaii was annexed into the United States as an American territory
In 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state in the United States

7. The Spanish American War
Section 2
The Spanish American War

8. Cubans rebel against Spain
Spain used to be one of the biggest imperialistic nations in the world.
By the late 1800’s Spain had lost most of their territories.
Cuba was still under Spanish control and the US had interest in purchasing Cuba and Spain told them they would rather Cuba sink to the bottom of the ocean that sale to the USA.
Cuban’s revolted against the Spanish unsuccessfully but were successful in getting slavery abolished in Cuba
Americans invested in the sugar cane industry in Cuba and the Spanish did not like this
Cuba revolted again and many Americans wanted to support the Cubans

9. War Fever Escalates
This war was one of the 1st to be publicly printed in the newspapers
This was called a “headlines war”
The newspapers were used to give American sympathy towards the Cuban rebels.
This type of journalism is known as “yellow journalism” they exaggerate the story in order to persuade readers to one side or the other.
The big theme of this war was the phrase “Cuba Libre” or “Free Cuba”
President McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to go to Cuba and bring home and Americans that were in danger and also to protect any American property
The ship exploded in the Harbor of Havana killing more than 260 men and the newspapers who were pro-war immediately blamed it on the Spanish

10. War with Spain Erupts
On April 20, 1898 Congress allowed President McKinley to declare war on Spain in Cuba
The 1st battle of the Spanish-American War took place when the Americans invaded The Philippines under the Command of Commodore George Dewey
In August 1898 The Spanish troops in the Philippines surrendered to the Americans
In Cuba more poorly trained American troops volunteered and were sent to attack the Spanish.
The Rough riders were one of the most notorious groups of this era with their leader Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt.
The Rough Riders won the most famous land battle in Cuba at San Juan Hill

11. Treaty of Paris
The United States and Spain signed an armistice (cease-fire agreement) on August 12, 1898
December 1898 The US and Spain met for peace agreements and to draw up a treaty
Treaty of Paris :
Freed Cuba from Spanish control
Islands of Guam, Puerto Rico, and West Indies were turned over to the United States from Spain
The US bought the Philippines from Spain $20 million.

12. Section 3
Acquiring New Lands

13. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was a new territory that was split in how they wanted the US to handle them
Some Puerto Ricans wanted statehood into the United States
Some Puerto Ricans wanted freedom but protection by the United States
When Puerto Rico was taken over it was ruled by the military until Congress could decide the best actions for them.
The Foraker Act was passed in 1900 which ended military rule in Puerto Rico and setup a civil government
In 1917 Congress extended the right for Puerto Ricans to have US Citizenship

14. Cuba
The Teller Amendment was passed in 1898 when Cuba was set free basically stating that the USA had no intentions of taking over Cuba
The American troops remained in Cuba and although they would influence politics they also assisted many poor Cubans and provided for them
Cuba made a new Constitution but the Americans required that the Cubans add the Platt Amendment to the Constitution
Cuba could not make treaties that might limit it’s independence or permit a foreign country to control any part of it’s lands
The US reserved the right to intervene in Cuba
Cuba was not to go into debt that it’s Government could not repay
The US could buy or lease land in Cuba for naval stations and refueling stations.