IMPERIALISMWho’s got the most friends?

Imperialism: a policy in which stronger nations extend their political or military control over weaker territories.

Usually when a more technologically advanced country controls a less advanced country

Late 1800s: European countries were trying to build empires

Colonies became status symbols

IMPERIALISM: ECONOMICS

Benefits: Raw Materials

One nation cannot produce all that the country needs

New Markets Need to sell goods

somewhere Solves overproduction

problem Keep up with Europe Will strengthen

economy

Some Americans wanted to join in

IMPERIALISM: EXPANSION

Manifest Destiny Great West filled up New frontier = new

countries

Monroe Doctrine - recall

IMPERIALISM: MORAL OBLIGATION

Social Darwinism The US was more

evolved then the primitive people and countries they sought to control

Some Americans combined Social Darwinism with a belief in the racial superiority of Western Europeans.

Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden” The “white man” had a

responsibility to share their more advanced ways with primitive people

They argued that the US had a responsibility to spread Christianity & “civilize” the world’s “inferior” people.

IMPERIALISM: DESIRE FOR MILITARY STRENGTH

New territories would serve as military bases (protection, influence)

New territories would provide US with raw materials and new markets

Writings of Alfred Mahan - Influence of Sea Power on History led to the development

of the Great White Fleet (US Navy)

Need large navy to protect merchant ships and right to trade

All great empires (with colonies) had strong navies

AMERICAN OPPOSITION

American Anti-Imperialist League: Carnegie, Grover Cleveland protested

Believed taking over other countries was against America’s core beliefs

DEBATING AMERICA’S NEW ROLEImperialists’ Point of View Anti-Imperialists’ Point of View

U.S. need colonies to compete economically.

Supporting an empire would be a financial burden.

To be a true world power, U.S. needs colonies and naval bases.

U.S. should concentrate energies on solving problems at home.

It’s the American destiny to expand, and its duty to care for poor, weak peoples.

Nonwhites cannot be assimilated into American society.

To abandon territories makes U.S. look cowardly.

An empire would involve the U.S. in more wars.

It’s only honorable to keep land that Americans lost their lives to obtain.

It’s a violation of democratic principles to annex land and not offer them the same rights as U.S. citizens

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

“big stick diplomacy”: speak softly but carry a big stick; always able to threaten with military [TR]

“dollar diplomacy”: established trade relationships with Cuba, China, the Philippines and others [Taft]

“moral diplomacy”: wanted to bring ‘civilization’ to other nations[Wilson]

SPANISH/AMERICAN WAR

1896: Spanish generals put Cubans into concentration camps

“Yellow Journalism”: Hearst and Pulitzer exaggerated what was happening, swayed American opinion

SPANISH/AMERICAN WAR

Feb. 1898: DeLome letter: intercepted from Spanish ambassador, criticized Pres. McKinley

Feb 15, 1898: USS Maine blew up in Havana Harbor, blamed on Spain

Spain agreed to all US demands, but public wanted war

SPANISH/AMERICAN WAR

US fought Spain in the Philippines

Blockade of Cuba Took Cuba in June

1898: TR’s Rough Riders, Newspapers declared TR a hero at San Juan Hill

Invaded Puerto Rico in July 1898

SPANISH/AMERICAN WAR

December 10, 1898: Treaty of Paris

US gained control of, Guam, Puerto Rico, and bought the Philippines

Platt and Teller Amendments: Gave US a military presence and control in Cuba

Created American Empire