Download Chapter 10--Imperialism

Class Notes—Chapter 10—Imperialism
1. Imperialism: The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military
control over weaker territories.
2. Global Imperialism
a. Europe: Remember Age of Exploration from World History. European countries like
Spain, Portugal, France, The Netherlands, and England all began exploring the world in
the 15th century and conquered new lands, like in the Americas. By the 19thcentury,
European countries focused on Africa, which was rich in raw materials. They carved up
Africa amongst themselves, leaving only Ethiopia and Liberia as the only independent
nations left. (Liberia was created by America as a place for free black to live; Italy
attempted to colonize Ethiopia but wasn’t successful.)
b. Britain was especially successful—moved into Asia and the Pacific, conquering lands,
until by 1900 it controlled a quarter of the world’s land and people. (Chunks of Africa,
Australia, New Zealand, islands in the Caribbean, Canada, India) It was said, “The sun
never sets on the British Empire.”
c. Japan also began expanding its empire into China and other Asian territories.
3. American Imperialism
a. America looked at European countries, especially Britain, and wanted some of the
benefits that came from expanding overseas.
b. Reasons America began imperialism:
i. Economics—America needed raw materials for its factories. It also was able to
produce more than Americans could consume, so it was looking for markets to
sell its manufactured goods. America wanted to establish trading posts where
they could distribute American products. This would keep the factories busy
and more people employed.
ii. Military—U.S. was worried that other countries were establishing a global
military presence. Alfred T. Mahan—president of the Naval War College who
argued that America’s shipping lanes needed to be protected by a stronger
navy, as well as strategically placed bases where the navy could refuel. America
responded by building up its fleet, until it was the 3rd most powerful in the
world.
iii. Anglo-Saxon Superiority—Many Americans believed that Anglo-Saxons (white
people from Western Europe) were superior to other races in the world. Felt
they had a responsibility to spread Christianity and civilization. (Even though
places they went were already civilized.)
4. Hawaii
a. History—Unsure of who originally settled Hawaii and when, but believed to be
Polynesians from other islands in the Pacific. 1778—British sea captain, James Cook,
discovered islands, and soon after other European countries and the United States were
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regularly stopping there on their way to trade in China and East India. 1820’s—
American missionaries settled in Hawaii and established Christian schools and churches.
1810—King Kamehameha unified Hawaiian Islands under his control. Hawaii was seen
as an independent kingdom. However, more whites moved to the islands to take
advantage of good growing climate—sugar plantations owned by American companies
soon accounted for most of Hawaii’s wealth. Foreign workers came to labor in the
plantations, and by 1900 foreign workers and immigrants outnumbered Hawaiians three
to one.
b. Growing U.S. control—The U.S. increasingly exercised more control in Hawaii. They
convinced the monarch to create a constitution that granted voting rights to wealthy
landowners, who were predominantly Americans. They convinced the monarch to allow
the U.S. to import Hawaiian sugar without having to pay tariffs. And in 1887, they
pushed the monarch into allowing the U.S. to create a naval base at Pearl Harbor.
c. Queen Liliuokalani—became queen in 1891. Tried to take back some control of Hawaii
by proposing a new constitution that would remove property qualifications for voting.
U.S. responded by organizing a revolution against her. January 16, 1893—U.S.
battleship showed up in Honolulu harbor and marines imprisoned the queen in her
palace. They installed a provisional government with the intent to annex Hawaii as an
American territory. The president of the U.S. at the time, Grover Cleveland, did not
want to annex Hawaii unless Hawaiians approved. But he was succeeded by William
McKinley, who in 1898 proclaimed Hawaii an American territory. It remained a territory
until 1959, when it was admitted into the union as the 50th state.
Background of Spanish American War: In World History, we learned that one European nation
dominated exploration and colonization in the Americas—Spain. They conquered much of
central and south America. In the years following, it lost most of its colonies to revolutions and
other colonial powers.
Cuba was one of Spain’s colonies, but it had a history of rebellion. 1868-1878—Cubans fought
first war for independence. Cubans lost, but were victorious in forcing Spain to abandon slavery
in Cuba.
Meanwhile, American business owners began investing millions of dollars in sugar plantations in
Cuba. The United States became Cuba’s main market for its sugar.
1895—Cuban poet and journalist Jose Marti helped to spur a second war for independence
against Spain. Marti encouraged his guerilla warriors to target American owned property—
sugar mills and plantations, in hopes of spurring the U.S. to getting involved in the war and
helping to free Cuba.
Spain responded by sending a military force to put large segments of the Cuban population in
concentration camps. A total of 300,000 Cubans suffered tremendously in these camps, where
thousands died from hunger and disease.
During this time, journalists from America came to Cuba to report on the crisis. They were sent
by two major newspaper tycoons—William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Hearst and
Pulitzer were competing with each other to try to get the most readership, and they relied on
exaggerated accounts and sensationalism. Yellow Journalism—reporting that exaggerates the
news to lure new readers. The American journalists sent back stories about poisoned water
wells in concentration camps and children being thrown to sharks. As outrage in America grew,
Spanish authorities tried to limit the journalists’ activities in Cuba—wouldn’t let them near
combat zones. The journalists began making up battles just to have stories to send back to the
papers. Hearst sent an artist to Cuba to illustrate the reporters’ stories. When the artist said he
didn’t think the U.S. and Spain would end up going to war, Hearst replied, “You furnish the
pictures, and I’ll furnish the war.”
11. De Lome Letter: As more and more Americans sympathized with the Cuban rebels, President
McKinley tried to stay out of it. A letter written by the Spanish minister to the U.S.—Enrique
Dupuy de Lome—criticized McKinley as a being weak. This stirred up resentment.
Spanish American War
a. Why did the first battle of the war start in the Philippines? Who won?
The Philippines were a Spanish colony who had repeatedly rebelled against Spanish rule.
The Philippines would be beneficial to the U.S. so they could put a naval base there.
George Dewey commanded the U.S. navy and destroyed the Spanish fleet. Spain
surrendered to Americans in August, 1898.
b. TTH D
U.S. troops were poorly prepared because U.S. didn’t give much funding to the army.
The navy had a better advocate in Alfred T. Mahan, so more resources were put there.
c. Who were the Rough Riders?
A voluntary cavalry under the command of Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt
(before he was president). 1200 men, ages 16-69, who had been cowboys, clerks,
policemen, musicians, and athletes. Their horses didn’t arrive in time, so they fought on
foot. They had the highest casualty rate of any American unit in the war.
d. What happened on San Juan Hill?
The rough riders along with other African American units captured Kettle Hill, which
then enabled an attack and capture of San Juan Hill, which was strategically important.
Roosevelt’s rough riders were given more credit than they deserved for the victory.
e. Describe the ending of the war.
Spain tried to escape a U.S. blockade around Santiago harbor. A naval battle followed,
and the Spanish fleet was destroyed. American troops went on to invade Puerto Rico,
another Spanish colony.
Treaty of Paris: Ended 16 week long war. 5400 Americans died, but mostly from
disease—379 battle casualties.
1. Cuba was to be independent
2. U.S. would get Puerto Rico, and Guam
3. U.S. would pay Spain $20 million for the Philippines—this was controversial
because the Philippines wanted independence, not to be a part of U.S.
Imperialism in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Philippines, and China
1. Puerto Rico
a. Not all Puerto Ricans agreed on what they wanted—some wanted independence and
others wanted to be an American territory with a measure of self-government.
b. U.S. made no promises about independence when it fought the Spanish-AmericanCuban war.
c. General Guy Henry insulted Puerto Ricans—felt like they couldn’t govern themselves
and said they were like children who didn’t know what they wanted. He limited their
access to alcohol and tobacco and tried to Americanize them by teaching them English.
He also limited their freedom of the press after being criticized by Luis Munoz Rivera—a
Cuban journalist.
d. Many Puerto Ricans welcomed U.S. intervention, but after General Henry came to
regret it.
e. 1900: Foraker Act: denied U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and gave President the right
to appoint the upper house of its legislature.
f. 1901: Insular Cases: U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Constitution did not apply to
people in territories.
g. 1917: Puerto Ricans received U.S. citizenship and got right to elect both houses of
legislature.
h. 1952: Puerto Rico became a commonwealth (meaning it could make its own laws and
handle its own finances. The U.S. continues to control defense and set tariffs. It’s
citizens can move freely to U.S. and it has a tax-exempt status to encourage business to
build factories.)
i. Puerto Rico does not have representation in the U.S. government—citizens can’t vote in
Presidential elections or send members to Congress.
j. Puerto Rico today: In 2012, Puerto Ricans voted for the first time to become a state.
However, U.S. Congress has been slow to address the issue.
2. Cuba
a. When U.S. entered war with Cuba, it promised not to annex or control it. However, the
U.S. governed Cuba for 4 years after the end of the war.
b. During that time, some officials who had served Spain remained in office and the U.S.
imprisoned Cubans who criticized this policy.
c. Benefits to U.S. occupation: provided food and clothing, helped farmers put land back
into cultivation, and organized schools. They also improved sanitation and medical
research, which eliminated yellow fever.
d. 1900: Newly formed Cuban government wrote a Constitution that did not specify
relationship with United States
e. Platt Amendment: changes to Cuba’s constitution that said
i. Cuba could not make any treaties that might limit its independence or allow a
foreign power to control any part of its territory
ii. The United States could intervene when necessary to preserve independence
and maintain order
iii. Cuba could not go into debt
iv. The U.S. could buy land for naval and coaling stations
The U.S. refused to leave Cuba until it adopted the amendment. It was met with
protests, but it was ultimately ratified.
f. Protectorate: Cuba became a protectorate of the United States—a country whose
affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power.
g. Economic interests: U.S. businesses had invested heavily in Cuba’s sugar, tobacco,
mining, railroad, and public utilities. They wanted U.S. political control to preserve their
interests.
h. U.S. withdrew troops in 1902, but returned three times to intervene in Cuban affairs—
quell popular uprisings against conservative leaders and to establish the Guantanamo
Bay naval base.
3. Philippines
a. Filipinos were outraged at having been annexed by U.S.—they wanted independence.
b. Emilio Aguinaldo—rebel leader who felt betrayed because U.S. had promised
independence.
c. Philippine-American War: Aguinaldo declared Philippines an independent republic and
drafted a constitution, but U.S. military presence made it clear that the U.S. still had
control.
i. February 1899: Filipinos rose in revolt—U.S. became just like Spain. Filipinos
used guerilla tactics and America retaliated by forcing Filipinos to live in
designated zones with poor sanitation, disease, and starvation. (Just like
concentration camps in Cuba!)
ii. African American soldiers resented white American’s discrimination against dark
Filipinos; some deserted to the Filipino side.
iii. 1901: U.S. forces captured Aguinaldo
iv. 1902: U.S. finally suppressed the rebellion. 20,000 Filipinos died; 4000
Americans died.
v. War cost $400 million—20 times the price of the islands
d. U.S. set up a government similar to Puerto Rico—president appointed the governor who
appointed upper house of legislature and Filipinos elected lower house.
e. William Taft was governor from 1901-1904. He built schools and hospitals and
improved sanitation.
f. Thomasites: American college graduates who came to the Philippines to improve
education.
g. July 4, 1946: Philippines became an independent republic.
4. China
a. U.S. saw China as a vast potential market for American products
b. China was weak; the Qing Dynasty was crumbling under war and foreign intervention by
Japan and Europe—U.S. wanted to get involved
c. 1899: Several other countries had established prosperous settlements in China and had
business interests there—U.S. wanted business interests in China, too. Also feared that
it might lose access to China’s ports if it is taken over by another country
d. Open Door Notes: U.S. Secretary of State John Hay issues policy statements to other
countries in China that called for open access to China’s ports and eliminated special
business interests. It also called for China’s independence. The other countries agreed.
e. Boxer Rebellion: Secret society of Chinese who opposed western influence in their
country—the “Boxers”. They rose up and killed foreign missionaries, Chinese converts
to Christianity, and other foreigners in China.
i. August 1900: Troops from Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and America
marched on Chinese capital to put down rebellion.
ii. Thousands of Chinese died and rebellion was put down. But the United States
still wanted to make sure no other country tried to take over China.
iii. Jay issued more Open Door notes announcing the U.S. would safeguard China
for the world for open trade.
f. Open Door policy reflected three beliefs about America’s capitalist economy and
influenced its foreign policy:
i. Growth of U.S. economy depended on exports
ii. U.S. had a right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open
iii. The closing of an area to U.S. products, citizens, or ideas threatened U.S.
survival
5. Impact on U.S. Territorial Gains
a. Conflicting opinions about American imperialism—some thought it was good, while
others felt bad about trying to “own” other people.
b. U.S. hosted “world’s fairs” to showcase benefits of imperialism: showcased how
Filipinos “needed” the U.S. to govern them
c. Many others disagreed—Mark Twain criticized imperialism.
Roosevelt’s, Taft’s Wilson’s foreign policy
a. Russo-Japanese War—Russia controlled northern part of China and now wanted to
expand its empire to include Korea. Japan had taken Korea from China and made it
independent. Japan attacked Russia and destroyed its fleet and took Korea. But it
cost a lot of money, so Japan asked Roosevelt to mediate. He did, giving Manchuria
and Korea to Japan, and he got the Nobel Peace Prize.
b. Roosevelt Corollary—Based on Monroe Doctrine, which President Monroe said in
1823 that no European countries should interfere in the affairs of countries in the
western hemisphere. He took it a step further, saying that the U.S. would act as a
“police power” to protect its interests in Latin America.
c. Taft’s dollar diplomacy—Another way of ensuring American influence in Latin
America—U.S. investors guaranteed loans made to foreign countries, ensuring they
did not fall under the control of Europe.
d. Wilson’s missionary diplomacy—U.S. would not recognize any Latin American
government that was oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests. This
encouraged Latin American countries to have democratic governments.
e. Mexican revolution and Pancho Villa—Series of leaders—Diaz, Madero, Huerta—
each ruling as dictators. U.S. business leaders wanted U.S. to recognize government
so they could do business there, but that contradicted Wilson’s missionary
diplomacy. New leader—Carranza—recognized by U.S., but Pancho Villa led a revolt
against him and killed Americans. John J. Pershing tried to find Villa, but was
unsuccessful.