United States

Imperialist and Anti-Imperialist Movements

(1898 – 1910)

Standards and Objectives

AH2.H.2: Analyze key political, economic and social turning points in American history using historical thinking.

AH2.H.1: Analyze key political, economic and social turning points since the end of Reconstruction in terms of causes and effects.AH2.H.2: Evaluate key turning points since the end of Reconstruction in terms of their lasting impact.

AH2.H.6: Understand how and why the role of the United States in the world has changed over time.

AH2.H.6.2: Explain the reasons for the United States involvement inglobal wars and the influence each involvement had on international affairs.

Lesson Goal

Upon the conclusion of this lesson, you will understand the social and political forces that gave birth to the American Imperialist Era

and the Anti-Imperialist movement. You will be able to analyze cause and effect with regards to seminal American historical

works that contributed to the Spanish-American War and subsequent annexation of the Philippines. You will understand that the Imperialist Era was a turning point in American history from an inward focus to an international one. You will also be

able to evaluate the reasons for American imperialism and render a judgment concerning its moral or practical justification.

Spanish-American War Begins

• Cuban independence movement• Spanish reaction• USS Maine (February 15,

1898)• Yellow Journalism

• US blockades Cuba• Spain declares war (April 23,

1898)

Spanish-American War

• US naval victories at Manila and Santiago Bays• US invades Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico• War lasts ten weeks• Armistice (August 12, 1898)• Treaty of Paris ratified (February 6, 1899)

US occupies Cuba Annexes Puerto Rico and Philippines

Ideology of American Imperialism

Alfred Thayer Mahan Frederick Jackson Turner

The Influence of Sea Powerupon History: 1660-1805• Sea power crucial to great

power status• Require overseas possessions

The Frontier in American History• Frontier has disappeared• Crucial to American character

and economy• New frontiers needed

Americans are just homebodies, until…

The Fleet

The Frontier

Republican Audience

President William McKinleySpan-Am War

President Theodore RooseveltPhilippine War

Theodore Roosevelt

• Dakota rancher (1885-1887)• US Civil Service Commission (1888-1895)• Police Commissioner of New York (1895-1897)

• Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1897)• Lieutenant Colonel, 1st USV Cavalry (1898)• Vice President of United States (1901)• President of the United States (1901-1909)

The Philippines

• Spanish colony since 1500’s• Semi-feudal social structure• Principalia

• Peninsulares• Criollos

• Peasants• Ilustrados

• Tagal or mixed blood• Emerging middle class

• 7.82 million population (1898)• Malay and Negrito• Roman Catholic majority

• Church major land owner• Clergy perceived as corrupt

• Muslims in Mindanao and Sulu

Filipino Patriots

• Martyrdom of Jose Rizal (1896)• Emilio Aguinaldo

• Independence• Social justice (land and religious reform)• Tagal dominance

• Katipunan

KatipunerosEmilio Aguinaldo

Annexation of the Philippines

• Costs to Filipinos• 16,000 battlefield dead• 100,000-200,000 non-combatant dead• Independence deferred for almost 50 years

• Costs to US• 6,000 casualties• Defense and Administration $ (8 million Filipinos)• Strategic vulnerability• Loss of innocence• Intermittent warfare (1899-1913)

• Issues for United States• Philippines vulnerability• Aguinaldo land reform• American options• Naval base in Asia

Anti-Imperialists