The document discusses the emergence of US imperialism between 1890-1914. It provides background on US expansion through the 19th century and defines imperialism and jingoism. It then examines the various economic, strategic, and ideological motivations for US imperialism, including nationalism, social Darwinism, the need for new markets and naval ports. Key events of this period included the US acquisition of territories like Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam through war and treaty, as well as the building of the Panama Canal. While popular at the time, US imperialism was also opposed by those who felt it violated national ideals of self-determination.

1. The emergence of the United
States in World Affairs (1890-
1914)
How had America expanded through
the years?
• Louisiana Purchase
• Oregon Territory
• Mexican Cession
What is imperialism?
• stronger nations try to control
weaker nations by using their
economic, political, or military
power
What is jingoism?
• Extreme nationalism
• Doing what is best for your nation
at the expense of others

3. What were the causes of the US
policy of imperialism?
• Nationalism
o People believed that America is
better than other nations and
had the right to take them over
o Social Darwinism
o Anglo-Saxon superiority:
Our responsibility to “help”
other nations advance
o They felt it was their mission to
“Civilize” the “inferior peoples”
o Josiah Strong believed we
could spread Christianity by
taking over other nations
• Desire for Military Strength

4. o Alfred T. Mahan wrote The
Influence of Sea Power upon
History explaining why America
needed a strong navy to be
powerful
o We needed ports around the
world to fuel our ships with coal
• Need for New Markets
o Places where we could sell our
goods
o We were producing more than
we could consume
o Create spheres of influence
around the world where we
could have ports and sell our
goods
What new territories did the US
acquire?
• Alaska

5. o William Seward, Secretary of
State for Lincoln tried to
purchase Alaska from Russia
o Seward’s Folly? Many people
thought he was stupid for
wanting to buy a “wasteland” or
“icebox”
o Actually, Alaska was rich in
timber,
minerals,
and oil
o We paid
less
than .02
per acre
• Hawaii
o American
s in
Hawaii
wanted
the land
to be annexed by the US

6. o Queen Liliuokalani tried to
keep “Hawaii for the Hawaiians”
o With no army, she knew she
could not fight the US
o Was forced to give up her
country
What were
the causes
of the
Spanish-
American
War?
• Cubans
were
rebelling against Spain
• Yellow journalism

7. o Newspapers published
sensational stories about events
in Cuba
o William Randolph Hearst and
Joseph Pulitzer
o “Spanish are feeding Cubans to
sharks!!”
• USS Maine exploded in the harbor
of Havana, Cuba
o Newspapers immediately
blamed Spain
• US declared war and passed the
Teller Amendment
o We promised not to try to
take over Cuba

8. Why was
the war
called the
“Splendid
Little
War”?

9. • Lasted only 15 weeks
• Few US casualties
• Important battles were fought in
Cuba and the Philippines
• Cuba
o Theodore Roosevelt led the
Rough Riders in a victory on
San Juan Hill
o Won in only 2 days!
• Philippines
o George Dewey led the
American Navy
o Filipinos supported US because
they wanted independence
o After the US victory, US refused
to give the Philippines
independence
o Kept it as a territory until 1946
o Emilio Aguinaldo led fighting
against the US
How did the war end?

10. • US victory
• Treaty of Paris, 1898 ended the
war
• Spain freed Cuba and gave the US
Guam, Puerto Rico
• We purchased the Philippines for
$20 million
• Even though Cuba was given its
independence we forced them to
sign the Platt Amendment
o Cuba could not make treaties
that would give another country
power over them
o US could intervene in Cuba
o US could buy or lease land for a
base (Guantanamo Bay)
o US controlled Cuba for many
years

11. US
builds
the
Panama Canal
• Completed in 1914
• Route through Central America for
trade
• Allowed our navy and other ships
to travel the world faster
• Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

12. What were the Pancho Villa Raids?
• Mexican Revolution
• Tension between US and Mexico
increased when Mexico invaded
New Mexico and killed 16
Americans
• President Wilson sent troops to
hunt down the leader Pancho Villa
• He was not found and the troops
were forced home when World War
I began
What is diplomacy?

13. • Our relationships with other
nations
What forms of diplomacy were
Americans practicing in the late 1800s
and early 1900s?
• Dollar Diplomacy
o Caribbean and South America
o Loaning other nations money to
get control/power
o This would create stability and
help American business
o Kept Europeans out of the
region
• Missionary Diplomacy
o Refusal to recognize nations
that mistreat people
o Spread our morals and religion
to other countries
• Big Stick Diplomacy
o Teddy Roosevelt

14. o African Proverb: “Speak softly,
but carry a big stick”
o Negotiate, but be ready to use
force
What was the Roosevelt Corollary?
• Addition to the Monroe Doctrine
• Warned Europe that America would
use force to protect its interests in
Latin America

15. How did America get involved in
China?
• China had been very powerful
• Now known as “the sick man of
Asia”
• Many nations wanted to take over
China
• US sent Open Door Notes to
other countries
o Asked them not to colonize
China
o Keep it open for everyone to
trade
• The Chinese tried to stop other
countries from taking over their
nation
o The Boxer Rebellion was the
Chinese attempt to fight back
o International forces put down
the rebellion
o Thousands of Chinese died

16. Opposition to Imperialism
• Wrong for the US to take over
other countries
• How could we have colonies when
we were once a colony ourselves?
• Anti-Imperialism League
o Grover Cleveland, Mark Twain,
Andrew Carnegie, Jane Addams
o Wrong for US to rule other
people without their consent
(permission)