Download 28.3 United States Economic Imperialism

12.3 United States Economic
Imperialism
Main Idea: Empire Building—The United States
put increasing economic and political pressure on
Latin America during the 19th century.
What is imperialism?
 A policy of extending a country's power
and economic influence through
diplomacy or military force.
American Influence
Over time, American
influence has spread
across the entire globe.
• Sometimes this is in
big ways involving
government and
military.
• Sometimes this is
simply our culture
being adopted in other
parts of the world.
Imperialism vs. Isolationism
 Before the late 1800s, the U.S. was primarily an
ISOLATIONIST country. Isolationists focused on
DOMESTIC issues and avoided getting entangled
in world conflicts. The U.S. was reconstructing
the South, increasing industry, and settling the
west.
Imperialism vs. Isolationism (Cont’d)
 Near the end of the 1800s, the U.S. looks more
towards IMPERIALISM. Imperialist nations were
attempting to expand their power overseas.
 IMPERIALISM – Economic and political
domination over other weaker nations.
Why does the U.S. Imperialize?
 To protect its own
interests:
 Natural Resources
 Economics- New
Markets
 National Security
 Competition with
Europe
 Spread Democracy
Economic Reasons
Need for New Overseas Markets
 In Europe, countries looked for overseas markets to
sell surplus goods.
 Many acquire colonies and PROTECTORATES (where
an imperial power lets local rulers stay in power, but
tells them what to do).
 As the west gets settled by the late 1800s, the U.S.
begins to look for overseas markets to keep the
economy strong.
Social/Political Reasons
ANGLO-SAXON SUPERIORITY
 In continuation of the theory of Social Darwinism,
Americans believed that the strong would dominate
the weak.
 Many Americans felt English speaking nations were
SUPERIOR, and would dominate the world.
 The belief in American exceptionalism and the virtue of
American democracy and Christianity added to calls for
imperialism.
 For this reason, many wanted to expand overseas.
Competition with Europe
Rise of European Imperialism
 As European countries practiced imperialism in
the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. became more
involved with World affairs.
 Many Americans felt that if they did not compete
for overseas interests with European nations,
they would be left behind and not be a world
power.
National Security
The Push for a Modern Navy
 In 1890, Alfred T. Mahan wrote
The Influence of
Sea Power Upon History. This book stated that
world powers from the past had strong navies to
trade and to protect itself. Mahan said that the
U.S. needed one as well.
 He also claimed that if the U.S. had a strong
navy, it needed overseas naval bases as well.
Arguments for and Against Imperialism
Pro-Imperialists
Anti-Imperialists
 Many people supported the idea  Many people opposed imperialism
of imperialism citing evidence
that:
because they felt that:
 We need new markets to sell our
dominate another people.
 We should continue the tradition of
isolationism and avoid foreign
entanglements.
 Imperialism would shift attention
away from domestic problems.
goods
 We need a stronger navy.
 We need to civilize and
Christianize the rest of the world.
 We need to compete with
Europe.
 It was inherently un-American to
Who Wins?
 In the end the Imperialist ideas will prevail.
Open Door Policy
 Because of political instability in China, European
nations and Japan were able to gain control over China’s
economy.
 As a result, Americans worried that Europe and Japan
would divide China into colonies and shut out American
traders.
 This led the U.S. to declare the Open Door Policy,
which proposed that China’s ”doors” be open to
merchants of all nations.
 European nations agreed to the policy.
What is
represented
by this
political
cartoon?
The Boxer Rebellion
1898-1901
• Chinese Nationalists
started a movement to
oppose foreign
imperialism in their
country.
• An 8 nation alliance
defeated the Boxers
and the Imperial
Army.
•
Latin America After Independence
 Political Instability
 A widespread problem in 19th century Latin
America
 Leaders gain fame and power during the
struggle for independence.
 After independence many became caudillos—
military dictators or “strong men.”
 By mid-1800s nearly all Latin American nations
were ruled by caudillos.
Latin America After Independence
 Colonial Legacy
 Most Latin Americans worked for large land owners.
 Wages low, prices high
 Workers debt accumulated
 Rich got richer, poor poorer
 Economic development lagged because of these conditions.
Economies Grow Under Foreign Influence
 Britain and the United States became Latin America’s main trading
partners after their independence from Spain and Portugal.
 But foreign nations benefited far more from the increased
trade than Latin America did.
 Latin Americans imported European and North American
manufactured goods.
 Without industry Latin America could not play a leading role
on the world economic stage.
Outside Investment and Interference
 They often borrowed money at high interest rates to develop
facilities for their export industries.
 Owed Britain, France, the United States, and Germany.
 Often unable to pay back their loans
 Foreign lenders
 threatened to collect the debt by force.
 threatened to take over the facilities they had funded.
 gained control of many Latin American industries.
 This began a new era of economic imperialism.
A Latin American Empire
 The Monroe Doctrine
 1823, President James
Monroe issues the
Monroe Doctrine
which states
“the American continents
. . . are henceforth not
to be considered as
subjects for future
colonization by any
European powers.”
Cuba Declares Independence
 1868—Cuba declares
independence and fights a ten
year war against Spain.
 1878—Cuba gives up this
war.
 1895—Jose Marti helps
Cuba to launch another war
against Spain.
 By mid-1890’s, U.S. had
substantial business holdings
in Cuba.
Jose Marti
Causes of the Spanish-American War
1. Spanish violation of the Monroe Doctrine
2. Concern for American owned property.
(sugar plantations, casinos, etc.)
3. Sympathy toward Cuba’s desire for independence and
Spanish mistreatment of Cuban rebels.
-Our goal is to liberate Cuba, not take over.
-Teller Amendment
4. Yellow Journalism- American newspapers give overly
dramatic accounts of atrocities in Cuba.
-Explosion of the Maine
Spanish-American War
 1898—U.S. joins the Cuban war for independence by
fighting the Spanish-American War.
 U.S. attacks the Philippine Islands first to take it from Spain.
 An attack is launched on Cuba.
Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders Win
the War!!
 Roosevelt and his “Rough
Riders” stormed San Juan
Hill in Santiago, Cuba and
won a decisive victory.
 This victory forced the
Spanish surrender, gave
Cuba its freedom from
Spanish control.
Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”
Theodore Roosevelt in his “Rough
Rider” uniform (above), and with
his regiment on top of San Juan
Hill (left).
Results of the Spanish-American War
• United States’ defeat of Spain brought it to the
forefront of international politics.
• The United States gains new territories: Cuba,
Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam.
• Later, Cuba would become an independent
country rather than a U.S. territory.
• Roosevelt’s hero status because of his service
helped get him elected Vice-President of the
United States and later President.
U.S. Becomes a Global Empire
(Imperialism)
Filipino soldiers outside Manila in 1899
Opposition to the Philippine War
 Mark Twain famously opposed the
Philippine War by using his influence
in the press. He said the war betrayed
the ideals of American democracy by
not allowing the Filipino people to
choose their own destiny.
 In a diary passage removed by Twain's
first biographical editor Thomas
Bigelow Paine, Twain refers to
American troops as “our uniformed
assassins” and describes their killing of
“six hundred helpless and weaponless
savages.”
Panama Canal
• The United States needed a way to
get from the Atlantic to the Pacific
without going all the way around
South America.
• They struck a deal with Panama, to
protect them and support their cause
for Independence from Colombia.
• In return the United States got
exclusive rights to build and operate a
shipping canal through Panama.
The Panama Canal
 It was a 13,000 mile trip by sea around the continent of
South America to reach the Pacific.
 The United States encouraged a rebellion in Panama. When
Panama became independent from Columbia in 1903, the
U.S. was able to begin work on the canal.
 Canal opens in 1914.
Panama Canal
American Foreign Policy under T.R.
 Big Stick Diplomacy- Theodore
Roosevelt’s foreign policy of negotiations
backed by the threat of force. Roosevelt said
that America should speak softly and “carry a
big stick.”
 This strong handed foreign policy eventually
led to the American military and economic
domination of the Western Hemisphere.
The Roosevelt Corollary
 The Roosevelt Corollary gave the United
States the right to be “an international police
power” in the Western Hemisphere.
 The United States used the Roosevelt Corollary
many times in the following years to justify U.S.
intervention in Latin America. U.S. troops
occupied some countries for decades.