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American Imperialism
Maybe Not What You Thought
What is imperialism?
• The dominance of one country of the
political*, economic*, or cultural* life of
another country or area.
*We tend to always think about political
domination when we think of imperialism, that
is, when a country officially takes control of
another countries government. In reality,
imperialism often takes place in more subtle
ways.
Two Eras of Imperialism
Old Imperialism: 1492 - 1800
Old imperialism is the period when European nations
like Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, and Holland (the
Netherlands, or Dutch people) developed colonies in
North, Central, and South America
New Imperialism: 1800 - ?*
New Imperialism is the period when Europeans and
Americans began to develop colonies, dominate
trade, and other wise influence affairs throughout the
world, especially Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
*Some historians say this period ended in 1914 with the
beginning of World War I. Others say that New
Imperialism ended in 1945 with the end of World War
II. Still others say that New Imperialism has never
ended, and still continues.
Why did Westerners want
colonies anyway?
1.
They* wanted access to natural resources for trade, and for
use in their new factories.
2.
They wanted new markets, or populations of customers, to
sell their goods to.
3.
They wanted access to ports and harbors so they could build
military bases and supply depots for their ships.
4.
They wanted to spread Christianity, medicine, and education
to the “primitive” and “uncivilized” people of the world.
5.
They thought having a large empire would increase their
prestige, or reputation as a world power.
6.
They felt that conquering or controlling new territories would
not only help their own people, but it would hurt the other
countries they were competing with.
*”They” include not just the government leaders, but also wealthy
business men, military leaders, church leaders, and other
influential people.
How did the Westerners pull
this off anyway?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Many of the formerly great powers had grown weak due to
poor leadership, economic and cultural stagnation, civil wars,
and ethnic conflict.
The strong, stable economic systems in the Western
countries encouraged people to take business risks, which
encouraged development of industry, and technology, and the
building of enormous wealth.
The Western countries had strong, stable governments, with
strictly defined legal systems. The stability of the Western
governments allowed them to take major actions with the
support of their citizens.
By the late 1800’s, the Western countries had a decisive
technological edge over non-Western nations due to
industrialization. They had superior methods of transportation,
superior weapons, superior communications, and superior
medicine. It was simply hard for non-Westerners to resist
forces with this much of an advantage.
European Imperialism
• For centuries Europeans had been unable to colonize
Africa, because African kingdoms were too strong.
From the 1880’s through 1914, almost the entire
continent had been colonized by one European
power or another.
• As Europeans began to gain influence in the Middle
East (at first in Egypt, but after WWI, in many other
places as well).
• Europeans had developed prosperous colonies in
India, Southeast Asia, and throughout the Pacific
region.
• China was carved up into numerous sphere’s of
influence, or areas in which an outside country has
special trading rights and privileges.
What about the U.S.?
• As you know from the Western Expansion
Unit, from the beginning of our history, the
United States began to push past its borders.
• The policy known as manifest destiny is
considered by many historians to be the
beginning of U.S. imperialism.
• By the end of the American Civil War, the U.S.
government controlled all of the what are now
the first 48 states. By 1870, even Alaska had
been added through purchase from Russia.
Call For Imperialism
• In the late 1800’s some Americans
began to call for a move toward joining
the other Western nations in their
quest for new territory. Who were these
guys and what did they say?
Arguments for Imperialism
1.
2.
3.
4.
Alfred T. Mahan, a U.S. naval officer argued that a strong
navy was a key to the success of a strong nation. To have a
strong navy, Mahan argued it that was critical to have naval
bases around the world to protect U.S. trading ships, and to
provide places to refuel.
Government officials, heavily influenced by American
business interests, began to see that U.S. farms and business
were producing much more than Americans could consume.
These people argued that American business needed new
markets of people to sell their goods to.
Religious leaders, scholars, and many other Americans
believed that America had a duty to spread our culture to “less
civilized” peoples around the world.
Many people believed that in human society, just as in nature,
the strongest would survive and would flourish, while the
weak, would not. They justified imperialism by saying that if a
strong country like the U.S. could take over a weaker country,
they should. This is is a part of Social Darwinism, and was
used to justify U.S. conquests.
Initial U.S. Moves Toward
Imperialism
• In the mid 1800’s the U.S. wanted to open trade with
the Empire of Japan. In 1853 Commodore Mathew
Perry sailed a fleet of American warships to Japan to
convince the Japanese leaders that they should open
their ports to trade with the U.S. After lavishing the
Japanese leaders with gifts, and demonstrating the
power of modern industrialized militaries, Perry was
successful in negotiating a treaty that opened trade in
Japan.
• In 1867 the U.S. took possession of the Midway
Islands.
What’s up with Hawaii?
• U.S. merchants had been traveling to the
Hawaiian Islands since the late 1700’s.
Christian missionaries had established
churches and schools there, and Americans
also established sugar plantations there.
• In 1887 a treaty was signed to set up a naval
based at Pearl Harbor.
• In 1887 these planters coerced King
Kalakaua to amend Hawaii’s constitution to
restrict voting rights to wealthy land owners,
who were, surprise surprise, wealthy
Americans.
How did the U.S. get it?
In late 1890’s, the American planters faced two
problems:
1. The U.S. government placed high protective
tariffs on imported goods, including
Hawaiian sugar. This raised the price of
their sugar, and hurt their business.
2. The new queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani,
resented the power of the Americans, and
abolished the constitution.
What was their solution?
The U.S. acquires Hawaii
• In 1893, the U.S. minister to Hawaii, John Stevens, ordered U.S.
Marines to help the American planters on Hawaii overthrow the
queen, and seize power.
• The new government, led by Sanford B. Dole, asked President
Benjamin Harrison to annex Hawaii. He signed the treaty of
annexation, but could not get approval by the senate before he
left office.
• His successor, Grover Cleveland, had the incident investigated,
found the actions of the Americans to be totally wrong, refused
to signed the treaty, and apologized for the incident.
• In 1897, American business interests, especially on the West
Coast, convinced the new president, William McKinley, to go
through with the annexation, which he did. Hawaii became a
U.S. territory in 1898.
Cuba
• Cuba had been a colony of the Spanish since the
days of Christopher Columbus.
• The island was a large producer of sugar, and by the
late 1800’s, U.S. entrepreneurs had invested over
$50,000,000 in Cuban plantations.
• In the late 1800’s, some Cubans began launching
guerrilla attacks in the hopes of gaining
independence from Spain.
• To crush these rebels, the Spanish used harsh
tactics, including rounding up rural populations and
putting them in camps, where many starved to death.
“Yellow Journalism”. Was it really a
cause of the War?
• In the late 1800’s, two major New York newspapers, Joseph
Pulitzer’s New York World, and William Randolph Hearst’s New
York Journal, featured sensational stories and headlines that
often times exaggerated the situation in Cuba, pointing to
terrible atrocities committed by the Spanish, and making the
Cuban rebels seem honorable, comparing them to American
Patriots in the Revolution.
• For the last century historians have claimed that this Yellow
Journalism stirred up American opinion in favor of War with
Spain, and was a leading cause of U.S. entry into the war.
• Some historians doubt the importance of Yellow Journalism in
causing the war. They believe that only a small number of
Americans actually lived in New York, and did not even see
these articles.
What do you think these historians believe the most important
cause of the war was?
The threat to American companies who had so much invested in
Cuba, prompted these business men to demand war to protect
their interests, and to gain American influence over Cuba.
“Remember the Maine!”
• To protect American business interests in Cuba, President
McKinley sent the U.S.S. Maine, a battleship, to Havana Harbor.
• On February 15th, 1898 the main exploded, killing 266 sailors
and officers. President McKinley ordered an investigation, and
the Naval Board of inquiry found that the explosion had been
caused by a bomb or torpedo (experts have debated the
accuracy of this report for years).
• To avoid war, the Spanish agreed to abolish the camps, and to
make other concessions, but would not agree to the American
demand to grant independence to Cuba.
• In response to the Spanish “destruction” of the Maine, Congress
gave McKinley the authority to use as much force as necessary
in liberating Cuba, while issuing the Teller Amendment that
promised that the U.S. would not Annex Cuba.
• In reaction, Spain declared war on the U.S.
• Over 200,000 men enlisted in the U.S. Army.
The War in Asia
• In May, 1898, the U.S. Navy decided to strike
Spain in an unlikely place: the Philippines,
which was a Spanish colony.
• Commodore George Dewey’s forces
destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay.
• Filipino nationalists, led by Emilio Aguinaldo,
and 11,000 U.S. soldiers, led a revolt and
defeated the Spanish Army on land (this
would not be a short stay for the U.S. troops,
as you will see).
The War in Cuba
• In June 1898, 17,000 U.S. soldiers attacked
the Spanish in Cuba.
• These troops were ill-equipped, poorly
trained, and unprepared for war in a tropical
climate. In fact, of the 3,000 that would die in
Cuba, only 380 were battle deaths. The rest
were from disease.
• The fighting on Cuba was fairly limited, and
despite their poor supplies and preparedness,
the U.S. won a quick victory.
• The Spanish American War is really only
famous for two things:
Rough Riders and Buffalo Soldiers
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
• The heaviest fighting took
place at the Battle of Kettle
Hill and San Juan Hill
• Several units took part in the
fighting, but the most famous
was the Rough Riders, or
the 1st United States
Volunteer Cavalry, led by
Leonard Wood and
Theodore Roosevelt.
• Another unit that was less
famous, but just as critical,
was the famous 10th Cavalry
Unit, or “Buffalo Soldiers”.
Results of the War
• In December of 1898, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the
war.
• Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific
Island of Guam. Puerto Rico and Guam became U.S. Territories,
and Cuba became an American Protectorate in 1902, fell under
heavy American influence until the 1950’s.*
• Spain sold the Philippines to the U.S. for $20,000,000.
• Theodore Roosevelt became a popular war hero, and was
chosen as McKinley’s vice president. He became president
when McKinley was assassinated.
• Many anti-imperialists, such as Mark Twain spoke out against
U.S. policies. In fact, the vote for ratifying the treaty only
reached a 2/3 majority by one vote.
• Despite opposition, imperialism was the clear winner.
*The U.S. also took over U.S. Samoa in 1899!
Rebellion in the Philippines
• After the Spanish were expelled from the
Philippines, the people there were
disappointed to find out that the Americans
were now going to colonize them, so they
launched a rebellion often called the
Philippines Insurrection.
• The rebels were greatly outgunned by the
Americans, so they used guerilla warfare to
counter the odds against them.
• The hit-and-run tactics frustrated the
Americans to a great extent.
Crushing the Rebellion
• To counter the guerilla tactics of the Filipino
rebels, the U.S. troops resorted to brutal
tactics.
1. They created camps for civilians in so called
safe zones. Anyone outside the zone after a
certain time, was shot on site.
2. Crops and villages were destroyed, taking
away vital resources needed by the rebels.
3. Suspected rebels were often times lined up
and shot immediately on discovery.
In Control
• In 1901, William Howard Taft took over as governor of the
Philippines, and worked with civilians to end the rebellion. While
he censored the press and put dissidents in jail, he also gave
the people some limited self-rule, built schools, bridges, and
roads. Taft’s policies helped to end the rebellion and secure the
Philippines.
• All in all the Philippines Insurrection cost the U.S. 5,000 KIA,
$150,000, and several years to put down (some rebels weren’t
stopped until 1913!)
• In 1916, Congress passed the Jones Act which promised
independence for the Philippines (this did not happen until WWII
was over!)
Imperialism in China
• For centuries China had been one of the most
advanced and prosperous civilizations in the world.
• By the 19th Century, their society began to decline,
due to poor leadership and a lack of modern industry.
• Throughout the 1800’s Europeans had been
increasing trade in China, signing unequal treaties
that benefited them, at China’s expense.
• Rather than compete for trade, these European
powers broke China up into their own sections where
they would control all of the trade. These areas were
called sphere’s of influence.
• In the late 1800’s, even the Japanese (who had
industrialized), had a sphere of influence in China.
Open Door Policy
• The U.S. had been trading with China from
the beginning of our history.
• As the Europeans and Japanese claimed
exclusive trading rights in China, the U.S.
began to worry about getting squeezed out of
the region.
• In 1899, the U.S. sent a letter to imperialist
countries, stating that they expected free
trade everywhere in Japan.
• In 1911 this policy was again emphasized by
the U.S., and got the nickname “Open Door
Policy”
Boxer Rebellion
• In the late 1800’s, many Chinese began to resent
foreign influence in their country.
• Some of these people were young men who formed
an organization called the Righteous and
Harmonious Fists, who wanted to return to Chinese
customs, and rid of China of foreigners.
• The Westerners nicknamed these men “Boxers”,
because of their martial arts training.
• In 1900 the Boxers attacked missionaries, and seized
the foreign embassy.
• A multinational force, including 2000 American
soldiers and marines, put down the revolt, and forced
the Chinese government to pay for the damages.
Different Ideas About
Imperialism
Theodore Roosevelt- Believed in “Big Stick Diplomacy”, the idea
being if we can’t get our way with negotiation, we should use the
military. In 1907 Roosevelt sent 16 new white battleships around
the world, to demonstrate the power of the U.S. This was called
the Great White Fleet.
William Howard Taft- Believed in “Dollar Diplomacy”, the idea
being investing millions of dollars in foreign countries would
stabilize the region and convince the indigenous people to follow
American influence. Trading “dollars for bullets”.*
Woodrow Wilson- Believed in “Moral Diplomacy”, the idea being
that America would not seek additional territory, but would seek
to protect “human rights”*.
*Taft and Wilson may have stated that they wanted to avoid using the
military, but they both did, when they felt it was in U.S. interest. In
particular, Wilson sent troops to Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic,
Cuba, and Nicaragua. Wilson also purchased the U.S. Virgin Island
from Denmark in 1917.
Latin America (Good
Neighbors?)
• The United States had literally billions of dollars
invested in Latin American countries in the late
1800’s and early 1900’s (they still do!).
• As a result, the government used the military to
“ensure stability”* in that region dozens of times,
sometimes sending troops for years and years.
• In 1904, Theodore Roosevelt updated the Monroe
Doctrine with the Roosevelt Corollary, which stated
that the U.S. would assume the role of police power
in the Western Hemisphere, making it official policy to
use the military in Latin America when and where we
see fit..
*Ensuring stability might mean ensuring that American banking
investments, fruit and sugar companies, or oil investments were
protected from damage in civil war. It might also making sure the
people we wanted in charge, stayed in power.
Panama Canal
• There had been talk of building a canal through Central America
for centuries. The French had even tried it, but failed.
• In 1903, the U.S. bought the Panama Canal route, from the
French Company.
• At that time, Panama, was part of Columbia. Before they could
begin building, the U.S. had to attain permission from Columbia.
The price the Columbians offered to the U.S. was steep.
• The U.S. and Roosevelt decided to “convince” Panamanians to
revolt against Columbia, and declare their independence. They
did, and with the backing of the U.S. Navy, Columbia let them
go.
• The U.S. negotiated with the new Panamanian government to
pay $250,000 a year for control of the canal, and $10,000,000
up front.
Involvement in Mexico
Mexico
• American businessmen owned huge portions of Mexico’s
industries (some estimate that the U.S. controlled more land
than the Mexican businesses). As a result, the U.S. had a
vested interest in the politics of Mexico.
• When Revolution broke out in 1911, American Marines captured
the port of Veracruz to topple the regime of Victoriano Huerta, in
favor of Venustiano Carranza, a reform minded rebel (who we
felt we could control).
• In 1916, it became obvious that Carranza was having trouble, so
new rebels rose up, led by Francisco “Pancho” Villa.
• At first the U.S. supported Villa as a “just in case” guy. When the
U.S. withdrew support, Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico,
and killed 18 Americans, President Woodrow Wilson sent
10,000 U.S. Troops, led By General John Pershing, to capture
Villa.
• The troops killed many of Villa’s soldier’s, but WWI forced the
U.S. to abandon their manhunt (Villa was later assassinated).
Other Places
The U.S. involved itself in Latin America so
much around late 1800’s and early 1900’s,
that it would be redundant to mention all of
them in any detail (and another 30 slides!).
The following page is a list of countries the U.S.
sent troops to and a brief description of why
we sent troops there:
U.S. Military Actions in Latin
America
• Cuba (1898-1902, 1906-1909, 1912,
1917-1922. Still maintains Guantanamo
Bay Naval Base)
• Honduras (1924-1925)
• Nicaragua (1909-1910, 1912-1925,
1926-1933)
• Haiti (1915-1934)
• Dominican Republic (1916-1924)