American Imperialism America emerges as a world power

American Imperialism America emerges as a world power

What is imperialism? • Imperialism: the policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories. • 1880’s, policymakers wanted the US to join imperial powers of Europe and claim an empire • European Imperialism, est. practice for centuries • Great Britain, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Spain competed for raw materials in Africa, and carved up the continent into colonies. • Only Ethiopia, and Liberia were independent nations during this time. • Great Britain acquired an empire that included a quarter of the world’s population; “The sun never sets on the British Empire. ” • Berlin Conference: first international agreement on imperialism in Africa. 14 nations attended and set up a system for claiming lands in Africa without going to war with each other (1884)

What is imperialism? • Asian Imperialism, late nineteenth-century Japan replaced feudal system with a central government based on Western nations. • Japan joined European nations in carving up interests in China. • US did not want colonies in Asia - it did compete with other nations to expand trading opportunities with China. • American Imperialism, Manifest Destiny leads into imperialist tendencies in American population • Three reasons: • Economic competition among industrial nations (Europe and Japan) • Political and military competition, including the creation of a strong naval force • Belief in the racial and cultural superiority of people of Anglo-Saxon descent, esp. in comparison with nonwhite people.

Roots of American Expansionism and Imperialism • As the United States industrialized, businessmen began to look overseas for: • additional markets • sources of raw materials for future developments and potential investment • Many believed that America should emulate Britain (colonies and navy) • Expansionists wanted the United States to establish territories overseas before the European nations acquired any additional colonies • First attempt was buying Alaska from Russia (1867) • Later, pursuit of interests south in the Caribbean war against Spain

Spanish American War • What led up to the war? • The United States had interest in Cuba for a while • Throughout the 19 th century the Cubans had tried to overthrow Spanish rule but not successful • 1895, a new revolution broke out Spain responded with great force and brutality loss of millions of American investments (and mistreatment of Cubans) led to American demand for action • 1898, Battleship Maine to Cuba exploded at Havana with the loss of 250 officers and men. • perceived as an act of war against the United States • President Mc. Kinley was reluctant to declare war on Spain without clear evidence of Spanish involvement in the Maine’s destruction • A leading newspaper published a letter stolen from the Havana post office written by the Spanish minister to the United States. The De Lôme Letter belittled the American President and angered many Americans demand for war against Spain.

Spanish American War • America had already began modernizing (“updating”) its navy • Two-ocean fleet; one for the Atlantic coast and the other for the Pacific Coast • Prior to the declaration of war, Roosevelt (then Asst. Secretary of the Navy) positioned ships near the Philippines where Spanish ships were stationed • US naval then land attack • At the time, US navy was small (28 k) and were mostly veterans from the Plains Indian War • Eventually, grew to 220 k • While waiting on new troops to be trained, US blockaded the Cuban coast, trapping Spanish fleet • Spanish forces were more prepared • However, due to Roosevelt, four regiments of African American troops, and a volunteer unit, known as the “Rough Riders”, the US forced Spanish retreat; meanwhile, other US forces seized Puerto Rico

Spanish American War

The Treaty of Paris, 1898 • Spain agreed to Cuban independence • Puerto Rico (Caribbean) and Guam (Pacific) were ceded to the US • The Philippines were acquired by the US for $20 mil. • Led to war for Filipino independence • Guerilla force known as freedom fighters were led by Emilio Aguialdo • 1902, the freedom fighters were defeated and US was in control until 1946 • The US now had strategically built presence and influence in the Atlantic and Pacific regions • Also, debate about annexation of Hawaii led to Anti-Imperialist League (Twain, Carnegie, and Jennings Bryan) • Launched court cases about US right to rule outside of US some could become states or territories (Alaska, Hawaii, and PR) and some would not (Philippines)

American Imperialism: Latin America • Following the end of the Spanish-American War the United States was in an excellent position to take advantage of markets throughout Latin America • US wanted to develop a trans-oceanic canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean the Panama Canal • Three reasons for canal: 1) to shorten sailing time between east and west coast; 2) facilitate naval movements between coasts; and, 3) to protect US holdings in the Pacific • Earlier attempts by US and France had been failures • US had to overcome difficult terrain (land) and tropical illnesses to build Panama Canal • To protect the canal and U. S. regional interests, Theodore Roosevelt issued what became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (usual shortened to the Roosevelt Corollary)

Roosevelt’s Corollary • 1902, Great Britain threatens to invade Venezuala • Roosevelt reminds them of Monroe Doctrine • 1904, Roosevelt stated that the Europeans were not welcome in the region and the U. S. would oversee the collection of any national debts owed by Latin American nations to Europeans • “Big Stick Policy” • President Roosevelt based his foreign policy on the idea of "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. " • Roosevelt held that negotiations (Speak softly) were key to any relationships but if negotiations were not fruitful, then U. S. would use its military to enforce order (the Big Stick) • Invoking the Corollary, the United States intervened in the Dominican Republic in 1904, Nicaragua in 1912, and Haiti in 1915 • Policy pleased Europeans, but not Latin Americans