1. Becoming a World Power
The
Chapter 5

2. Becoming a World Power Why It Matters
The US continues to project power through its Navy
The Panama Canal still serves as a major route for world commerce
Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa still maintain strong ties with the US

3. Becoming a World Power Learning Targets
Students will be able to explain the reasons and the ways in which the US expanded into the Pacific
Students will be able to explain the causes and results of the Spanish-American War
Students will be able to explain the changes in diplomacy in Asia and Latin America

4. The Imperialist Vision
The closing of the American West – What now?
Rise of European Imperialism – Why not US?
Desire for new markets
Imperialism – economic/political domination of a strong nation over weaker ones
Protectorate – imperial power allows local rulers to stay in control but protect them from rebellions/invasions
Many Americans wanted to develop overseas markets to keep America strong

5. The Imperialist Vision
Feelings of Superiority
Social Darwinism – survival of the fittest
Anglo-Saxonism – belief advocated by historian John Fiske that English-speaking countries had superior character
Also advocated by Josiah Strong including Christian missionary ideas

6. The Imperialist Vision
Expansion in the Pacific
1852 Opening of Japan – Commodore Matthew Perry
Japan opened two ports to US
Annexation of Hawaii
Rest and refit for American shipping
American missionaries
American planter class
Queen Liliuokalani – nationalist
Queen overthrown
Planter-led provisional government
US initially refused annexation

7. The Imperialist Vision
Trade and Diplomacy in Latin America
US called for conference with Latin American nations
Pan-Americanism - Idea that US and Latin America should work together
US wanted to lower tariffs and establish system to work out differences
US rejected

8. The Imperialist Vision
Building a Modern Navy
Americans more willing to risk war in defense of American interests overseas
Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan – wrote The Influence of Sea Power on History – a nation needed a navy and overseas bases to be strong
Idea pushed by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt

9. Spanish-American War
Cuba was Spanish colony – they declared independence and revolted
Revolt collapsed – rebel leader Jose Marti living in exile in US worked to get revolution going again
Americans had invested heavily in Cuban sugar plantations, mines, railroads, etc.
American tariff on sugar devastated Cuban economy
Cubans revolted once again, gained control of part of Cuba, and declared independence 1895

10. Spanish-American War
Official US policy under Cleveland was neutrality but American people supported Cuban rebels
Yellow Journalism - exaggerated stories of Spanish atrocities in papers published by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer helped sway American public opinion

11. Spanish-American War
Harsh Spanish policies used to break rebellion including use of concentration camps
Cuban rebels used guerrilla tactics – destroyed US property hoping US would enter war on their side
New US President McKinley pressed Spain to fix problem
Jan McKinley sent navy warship to Havana, Cuba – USS Maine

12. Spanish-American War
Feb 1898 – US newspapers printed letter from Spanish ambassador, Enrique Dupuy de Lome
Letter insulted President McKinley
USS Maine exploded in Havana harbor killing 266 American sailors
US clamored for war against Spain

13. Spanish-American War Jingoism – an attitude of aggressive nationalism
Many Republicans jingoistic including Theodore Roosevelt
US demanded Spain give Cuba independence – Spain declared war
First attack by US was on Spanish fleet in Philippines, a Spanish colony

14. Spanish-American War
US Asiatic Fleet under Commodore George Dewey quickly destroyed aged Spanish fleet
US also seized island of Guam
US troops, assisted by Filipino rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo, captured Manila
When it became clear that the US was not going to give up the Philippines, Aguinaldo went to war with US

15. Spanish-American War
US Army too small to wage war – several thousand volunteers needed
US troops poorly trained and supplied
Some US commanders veterans of Civil War (North and South)
Largest battle in Cuba was attack on San Juan and Kettle Hills
Rough Riders – volunteer cavalry regiment led by Colonel Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt

16. Spanish-American War
Heaviest fighting done by veteran US Army troopers of all- black 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments (Buffalo Soldiers)
US also victorious in invasion of Puerto Rico
Spain surrendered August 1898

17. Spanish-American War
Some American wanted US to keep all territory won in war – others did not want US to become imperialist power
Ultimate decision was to annex Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico but allow Cuba its independence
Spain was paid $20 million
Spanish-American War brought together North and South in common cause

18. Spanish-American War Filipino rebellion was brutal on all sides
US used some of same tactics as Spanish in Cuba
US governor of Philippines, William Howard Taft, tried to make peace with Filipinos by building schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, etc.
US captured Aguinaldo and Philippines finally ended its rebellion in 1902
Philippines finally granted independence in 1946

19. Spanish-American War
Foraker Act – made Puerto Rico unincorporated territory with no political rights
Puerto Rico eventually became a Commonwealth in 1947
Platt Amendment - Cuba independent but could not make treaties with other countries, US had right to intervene, US allowed to buy/lease military bases

20. New American Diplomacy
Election of 1900
Republican nominee = William McKinley
Democratic nominee = William Jennings Bryan
Sep 1901 – McKinley assassinated by anarchist
Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, 42 years old, became youngest president

21. New American Diplomacy
US had grown – had world’s 3rd largest navy and bases all over Asia
Chinese market focus of American commerce
Europeans and Japan had carved up much of China’s coast into Spheres of Influence – areas in which they controlled economic development
Open Door Policy US wanted free trade / pressured Europe to open Chinese ports to US

22. New American Diplomacy
Boxer Rebellion 1900
Secret Chinese societies wanted foreigners out of China
Boxers (Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists) – also wanted to kill Christian converts
Boxers attacked Christian missions and foreign merchants and diplomats
Chinese government secretly aided Boxers
Mixed army of Europeans and Japanese put down rebellion

23. New American Diplomacy
President Roosevelt helped negotiate peace ending Russo- Japanese War
1906 – Won Nobel Peace Prize
1907 Gentlemen’s Agreement – Japan agreed not to issue passports to America
Great White Fleet – 167 American battleships sent on world tour to show military might

24. New American Diplomacy
The Panama Canal
Canal through Central America seen as vital to American power
1901 Hay–Pauncefote Treaty – treaty with Britain giving US exclusive right to build canal
Two possible sites: Panama and Nicaragua
French company already began dig and failed
US attempted to buy land from Colombia to build canal – Colombia refused

25. New American Diplomacy
Deal made with Panamanians, French, and US for a revolt against Colombia with US backing
Panamanian revolt succeeded – US got land for canal
Roosevelt Corollary
Changed Monroe Doctrine to include right of US to intervene in Latin American affairs
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”
US intervened numerous times beginning with Dominican Republic

26. New American Diplomacy

27. New American Diplomacy
Latin America resented US intrusion and influence
President William Howard Taft instituted new policy
Dollar Diplomacy – policy in which US helped Latin American industry with intent on increasing trade between US and Latin America
US continued intervention and Latin America continued to resent US

28. New American Diplomacy
Woodrow Wilson’s Diplomacy
Wilson opposed imperialism yet imposed US will abroad
1911 Mexican Revolution
President Diaz overthrown
Madero, a reformer, took over
Mexican officers overthrew Madero, General Huerta took over
Wilson supported overthrow of Huerta
Wilson used minor incident to seize Veracruz – support Carranza
Mexican guerrillas under Pancho Villa attacked US town
Wilson sent US troops under General Pershing into Mexico to capture Villa