Rise to World Power:The U.S. Continues to

Expand1865-1917

Why did the United States extend its influence to other regions in the late 1800s?

Was the purchase of Alaska in 1867 ($7.2 million) a good idea or a bad idea? Why?

American Foreign Policy

• Late 1800s- Began to reject previous policies of

isolationism; already practiced expansionism by fulfilling Manifest Destiny.

Japan

1853: Commodore Matthew Perry travels to Japan with four warships and requests the Japanese to open ports for trade. RESULT: Treaty of Kanagawa- Beginning of U.S. Imperialism

Imperialism Stronger nations extend political,

military, and economic control over weaker nations

The U.S. felt the need to compete with European nations, which had been establishing colonies for

centuries.-Africa

-Asia (China)Japan was also becoming a world power by the end of

the 1900’s.

Three factors fueling development of American

Imperialism• Economic Interests- Expansion increases

financial prosperity (new resources, markets)

• Military Interests- follow lead of Europeans and establish military presence

• Cultural Superiority- Gov’t, religion or race is superior to other societies

In 1867, Secretary of State William Seward (Pres. Lincoln)

purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

Response• Seward was criticized: “Polar Bear Garden” and “Seward’s Icebox”

• Turned out to be bargain for U.S.

• Seward considered acquiring Hawaii

American Interests in Latin America

• The Monroe Doctrine led to flourishing trade with Latin America.

• American merchants wanted to extend U.S. economic influence in the region.

• 1889: Pan-American Conference in D.C. leads to Pan-American Union.

Imperialism in the Pacific• In 1867 William Seward also acquired the

Pacific islands of Midway as an important stopping place for American ships en route to China.

The annexation of Hawaii• Independent; ruled by monarchy.

• Wealthy (U.S.) planters dominated economy.

• Queen Liliuokalani -planters had too much influence

• 1887: U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor• Tariffs placed on Hawaiian sugar: planters argued Hawaii should become territory of the United States.

• Planters: 1893- overthrew Queen,set up govt, requested U.S. annexation

• Pres. Harrison approved treaty; sent to Senate. Cleveland becomes Pres. & withdraws treaty.

• 1900- Annexation of Hawaii as territory

Islands of Samoa

• Site of US Naval Station• Special trading rights w/ US, Germany,

and Great Britain; competed for power• 1899: Germany and US split and annexed

Samoa Islands

China and the Open Door Policy• China weakened by war with Japan• Could not stop foreign powers that wanted

to exploit its vast resources and markets• Japan and European powers carved out

spheres of influence—sections of the country where the nations enjoyed special rights and powers—in China by the late 1890s.

• US Secretary of State John Hay proposed an Open Door policy which gave each foreign nation in China rights to trade freely in the other nations’ spheres of influence

• After Boxer Rebellion, foreign powers accepted Hay’s Open Door policy.

In July, 222 Chinese Eastern Orthodox Christians, 182 Protestant missionaries and 500 Chinese Protestants, including women and children were killed in the Taiyuan Massacre.

Japan (again)

• Eager to expand its power in Asia, Japan attacked a Russian fleet in Manchuria, starting the Russo-Japanese War

• President Roosevelt negotiated Treaty of Portsmouth-recognized Japan’s control of Korea in return for Japan’s pledge to halt expansion.

Spanish American WarCuba -island 90 miles off of the coast of Florida

-struggled for independence from Spain

- Spanish rule is oppressive U.S. identifies with struggle. also: Economic interest in sugarcane plantations

- 1894 sugar tariff disrupts Cuban economy- Jose Marti gathers money, arms, and men; leads rebellion from New York

Rebellion against Spain

• General Valeriano “Butcher” Weyler (leader of Spanish troops) forced Cubans into “Reconcentration Camps” to separate them from Cuban rebels

• Horrifying conditions: hunger, starvation, diseases: 10,000’s deaths (25% population)

America’s Reaction• Revolt alarms U.S. ($50 million in interests in

plantations) Yellow Journalism fuels push for warSensationalized news reports of atrocities in Cuba

stir American publics emotions:-The World- Pullitzer-The New York Journal- Hearst

Male Spanish officials strip search an American woman tourist in Cuba looking for messages from rebels; front page "yellow journalism" from Hearst (Artist: Frederic Remington_

• Americans want action; President McKinley doesn’t. He demands Spain’s harsh treatment of Cuba stop.

“A Splendid Little War”• President McKinley sent the warship Maine to

Havana to protect American citizens and property.• American newspapers blamed Spain when the

Maine exploded, which triggered the Spanish-American war.

“Remember the Maine!”

• War at Sea: Dewey and fleet of six US ships defeat Spain at Manila Bay in Philippines.

• 17,000 U.S. troops land in Cuba.• Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders

to victory in the Battle of San Juan Hill.

• Shortly afterwards, the Spanish signed an armistice and the war ended.

• Secretary of State John Hay called the Spanish-American War “a splendid little war.”

• Treaty of Paris – October 1898-Cuba became a protectorate of the U.S.-Puerto Rico and Guam became territories of the United States.-Spain surrendered the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.

• Cuba was granted full independence on the condition that their constitution gave the United States certain rights to intervene, known as the Platt Amendment.

• Puerto Rico: The Jones Act in 1917 -territory of the United States and granted American citizenship.

But the Philippines….lead to much debate• Filipino’s were considered “unfit for self-

government” and the Philippines became a US colony, even though they believed that they were fighting for and wanted independence.

• Some argued that American rule of the Philippines went against the democratic principles on which the United States was founded.

• Others felt the Philippines would provide the United States with an important Pacific naval base.

Imperialism Debate

Pro-Imperialists• Imperialists felt that it

was America’s right and responsibility (“White Man’s Burden”) to take over other lands.

Anti-Imperialists• believed in expansionism

(trade with other nations) but not having power over them

• believed that it would weaken institutions at home, invite war, violate American principle of self-determination (right to choose gov’t. without outside interference)

• We should not deny others the right to govern themselves.

• In February 1899, Emilio Aguinaldo began a fight for independence of the Philippines.

• Filipino-American War led by Emilio Aguinaldo

• In the summer of 1901, the United States transferred the authority from a military to a civilian government to prepare the islands for eventual self-rule.

Does the U. S. still practice imperialism

today?• What is going on in Iraq,Afaghanistan, and Libya?

• Does the U.S. “help out” other nations (sending troops, money, etc.)?

• Is this an ongoing trend?

• a country that is technically independent, but is actually under the control of another country

• an area that is completely controlled by another country as a colonial possession

Panama• Americans wanted connection between

Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in Central America to eliminate long and dangerous sea voyage around South America.

• Colombia refused to negotiate with U.S.; U.S. supports successful Panamanian rebellion.

• Treaty signed with new nation of Panama ; lease canal zone for 99 years for $10 million; $250,000 annual rent

• US begins construction of Panama Canal

Policing the Western HemisphereRoosevelt:

“Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick”-Use diplomacy and military force if necessary; avoid anarchy◦Monroe Doctrine: no other nations

could intervene in W. Hemisphere (Latin America)

◦Added Roosevelt Corollary (1904)-U.S. “policeman” of Latin America; gave U.S. right to intervene whenever nations seemed unstable Used in Dominican Republican(1905) when

unable to pay foreign debts Cuba- U.S. stopped Revolt

TAFT“Substitute dollars for

bullets”

Dollar Diplomacy: Taft was willing to intervene in other nations’ affairs if they threatened American business interests.

WILSON

Moral Diplomacy: “teach South American republics to elect good men”

Relations With MexicoA series of revolutions occurred

between 1911-1914.President Wilson sold arms to

opposition rebels in 1913.In retaliation, troops arrested

American sailors. Wilson ordered U.S. troops to seize the port of Veracruz. Mexican leader flees, and rebels take charge of Mexico.

Rebel leader Francisco “Pancho” Villa shot 16 Americans because of U.S. support for the Carranza government.

US troops (led by Gen. Pershing) cross border to pursue Villa