American imperialism around the turn of the century - includes the Spanish-American War, conflict with China, and Hawaii

1. American Imperialism
Imperialism: Stronger nations
seeking to take over weaker nations
for political, economic, or social
reasons.

2. Before the 1890s
• American expansionism focused on growth on
the North American Continent
• America runs out of room to expand – looks
outside the continent.
– Where will they sell their surplus goods?
• Trend among many developed nations.
– British
– French
– Dutch
– Germans

3. American Expansionism
• Many American leaders believe U.S. should
join global race for colonies
– Imperialism: policy in which stronger nations take
over weaker nations for economic, political, or
military control
• Reasons for Imperialism:
– 1. Global Competition
– 2. Desire for Military Strength
– 3. Thirst for New Markets
– 4. Belief in Cultural Superiority

5. First Expansionist Feelings
• Experience with taking over populations of people –
Westward expansion and Native Americans
– Frederick Jackson Turner & the Turner Thesis: American
democracy is formed on the frontier.
• Importance of foreign trade
– New Markets
• Desire not to be left out of international race for
colonies
• Alfred T. Mahan: Sea Power – countries with strong
navies are the great nations of history
– Advocates for canal across isthmus of Central America
(Panama Canal)

6. Justifications
• Manifest Destiny: United States is destined to
expand
• Racist motivations
– John Fiske, 1885, predicts that white, English-
speaking people would expand across the globe
(“destined”)
– White Man’s Burden: Rudyard Kipling
– Duty of White Christians to spread religions

8. Hawaii
• Islands had been an important stop on the
way to trading with China.
• Merchants began to operate on the island,
gradually expanding their influence.
– Presence of missionaries, outsiders erodes control
of native Hawaiians
• Americans become involved in Hawaiian
government – push for annexation.
– Not happy with duty imposed on trade goods

9. • 1887 – America negotiates treaty that gives
U.S. control of Pearl Harbor.
• Queen Liliuokalani tries to fight against
outside control
– Planters and businessmen stage a revolution, are
able to oust the Queen
– After some debate, Hawaii is annexed in 1898

14. The Spanish-American War
• Cuba was a Spanish colony, wanted
independence.
• 1896 – Revolution erupts, Spain sends in
troops.
– Newspaper coverage of the conflict is vital
– Yellow Journalism: Exaggerates news to lure and
enrage readers
• Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
– “Remember the Maine!” becomes a rallying cry

17. Spanish-American War, cont.
• War spreads to another Spanish colony: the
Philippines
• The Rough Riders are sent to Cuba, fight in the
Battle of San Juan Hill
– Helps future President Theodore Roosevelt gain
fame
• American blockade of the island is successful
– Secretary of State John Hay calls the conflict a
“splendid little war”

20. Treaty of Paris
• Ends Spanish-American War
• Terms:
– Spain frees Cuba
– Guam and Puerto Rico belong to America
– Philippines are sold to the U.S. for $20 million
• President McKinley justifies taking the
territory by saying that America needs to
educate/Christianize the territory

21. Alaska
• Secretary of State William Seward made plans
for the U.S. to buy the territory of Alaska from
Russia
• Many saw it as a mistake, made fun of Seward
– “Seward’s Icebox”
– “Seward’s folly”
• Becomes a state in 1959
• U.S. paid about $.02 an acre, got millions back
in oil.

24. Governing Colonies
• Majority of colonies present few problems once
acquired
– Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico receive territorial
status/citizenship
– Navy takes control of Guam and Tutuila
• Platt Amendment
– Cuba is a bigger problem – island needs roads, schools,
hospitals, medical and sanitation reforms
– Platt Amend. dictates how Cuba structures constitution
• Economic vs. Official Domination
– Even after America officially leaves an area, its economic
supremacy may still keep that location effectively tied to
U.S.

25. Imperialist Foreign Policy
• Monroe Doctrine stated that European expansion
in Western Hemisphere would be an act of
aggression
– Roosevelt Corollary: U.S. will intervene in conflicts
between European and Latin American countries
– Makes U.S. police of the Western Hemisphere
• Big Stick Diplomacy: President Theodore
Roosevelt’s belief that the U.S. should “speak
softly and carry a big stick”
– Thoughtful discussions, early management of issues,
with the threat of power for later

27. • The Open Door
– China is unstable, vulnerable in the 1890s. Many other
countries are beginning to carve up the country, seizing
control. America does not want to be left out (potential
for important trade relationships).
– President McKinley proposes an “Open Door Policy” –
access to China but no special advantages. Sec. of State
John Hay creates policy:
• Each nation respects other’s sphere of influence
• Chinese officials still collect tariffs
• Nations do not discriminate against each other w/ fees
– Other countries are not convinced – do not like policy.
– Boxer Rebellion – nationalist group launches a revolt
• Siege on Peking to rescue foreigners in China
• Part of settlement means everyone accepts Open Door Policy

30. A Modern Military System
• Spanish-American war reveals problems with American
military
– Supply, training, coordination were serious issues
• McKinley appoints Elihu Root as Sec. of War
• Root reforms:
– Enlarge army – 25,000 to max. 100,000
– Federal army standards for National Guard
– Creates system of officer training schools
– Creation of Joint Chiefs of Staff: central planning agency
modeled on European General Staffs
• Supervise/Coordinate entire army establishment
• Create office to plan
• Interservice cooperation
• Creation of modern military