American Imperiaism

By ella_cazz
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    The Three Reasons for American Imperialism

    Military strength: the US needed to strengthen its military, so they built 9 steel-hulled cruisers from 1883-1890
    New markets: the US had created an over-production problem and needed new markets to sell goods and more raw materials
    Cultural superiority: Americans combined the ideas of Social Darwinism and racial superiority, and believed it was Americas job to spread Christianity and civilization

  • US should buy Cuba

    Diplomats recommended to President Franklin Pierce that the US should buy Cuba from Spain

  • Acquiring Alaska and Hawaii

    • Seward arranges for the US to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million
    • People nicknamed the purchase, “Sewards Folly,” or, “Seward’s Icebox,”
    • America bought land for 2 cents an acre that was rich in minerals, oil, and timber
    • The US takes Midway Islands, 1300 miles north of Hawaii
    • The Hawaiin Islands were economically important to America because of their location
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    Cuban Rebellion

    Cubans rebel against Spain, and America sympathizes with the Cuban people

  • Hawaii

    American-owned sugar plantations accounted for about 3/4 of the island's wealth
    - US agrees to import Hawaiin sugar duty-free
    - The Hawaiin king is bullied by businessmen to change the constitution so that essentially only wealthy landowners could vote

  • Cuba Abolishing Slavery

    Cuban people forced Spain to abolish slavery

  • Queen Lili'uokalani

    Lili'uokalani becomes queen after her brother dies.
    - Tries to undo what the businessmen did, but she is overthrown.
    - President Cleveland demands she be reinstated and formally recognizes Hawaii as the Republic of Hawaii
    - however, he doesn't accept to annex Hawaii

  • McKinley Tariff

    McKinley Tariff undoes the agreement that the US would ship Hawaiin sugar duty-free. Now, Hawaiin sugar owners have to compete with the Americans
    Hawaii asks to be annexed so they don't have to pay the duty

  • Spanish Response

    Spain responded to the Cuban revolt by sending General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to restore order
    - Weyler tried to crush the rebellion by herding the entire rural population of central and western Cuba into barbed-wire concentration camps

  • Cuban revolution

    José Martí launched a revolution
    - organized Cuban resistance against Spain, using an active guerrilla campaign and deliberately destroying property, especially American-owned sugar mills and plantations
    - he counted on provoking US intervention

  • Intervention

    McKinley takes office and demands America intervene in Cuba

  • Spanish-American War, and Hawaii

    • The De Lome Letter is published in newspapers and makes fun of President McKinley
    • The USS Maine is blown up, and newspapers blame it on Spain
    • The Spanish-American War started and ended April: America destroys all the Spanish ships around the Philippines June: Rough Riders are introduced July: Battle of Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill August: Ceasefire agreement December: Treaty of Paris The US got Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico from Spain
    • Hawaii becomes a territory

  • Open Door Notes, and the Philippines

    • John Hay issues a series of policy statements called the Open Door Notes
    • February: Filipinos revolt against America The US forced Filipinos to live in designated zones that had inhumane conditions

  • Cuba, and China

    Congress passes Foraker Act
    Platt Amendment instituted
    • Cuba couldn't make treaties that might affect its independence
    • the US is allowed to intervene in Cuba
    • Cuba can't go into so much debt they can't repay
    • the United States could buy or lease land on the island for naval stations and refueling stations
    August: troops from Britain, France, Germany, and Japan joined about 2,500 American soldiers and marched on the Chinese capital
    - John Hay issues a second set of Open Door Notes

  • Puerto Rico, and McKinley

    • The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did not automatically apply to people in acquired territories
    • McKinley assassinated

  • Filipino-American War

    July: Filipino-American War ends, 20,000 Filipino rebels died fighting for independence. The war claimed 4,000 American lives and cost $400 million

  • Cuba, and Panama

    • The Platt Amendment becomes part of a treaty between the US and Cuba
    • Remained in effect for 31 years
    • Cuba became a US protectorate
    • America wanted to stay involved in Cuban politics to protect American businessmen who invested in the tobacco, sugar, and mining industries
    • Panama and the US signed a treaty that stated that the US had to pay Panama $10 million plus an annual rent of $250,000 for the Canal Zone
    • payments were to begin in 1913

  • Russo-Japanese War, and Panama Canal

    • Russia and Japan were competing over Korea (Russo-Japanese War)
    • December: Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. He warned that disorder in Latin America might “force the United States . . . to the exercise of an international police power.” In effect, the corollary said that the United States would now use force to protect its economic interests in Latin America
    • Work on Panama Canal starts

  • Roosevelt Mediates

    • Roosevelt mediated a peace negotiation between Russia and Japan, this was held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

  • Nobel Peace Prize

    Roosevelt wins the Nobel Peace Prize (1st President to do so) for his efforts in mediating the peace between Russia and Japan

  • Mexican Revolution

    Mexican peasants and workers led by Francisco Madero overthrew Díaz
    - Madero promised to institute a democratic government, but he failed

  • Mexican Revolution, Panama Canal, and Missionary Diplomacy

    • General Huerta takes control of Mexico
    • more than 43,400 workers were employed to work on the Panama Canal
    • Woodrow Wilson introduces his "missionary diplomacy"

  • US Intervenes in Mexico, Panama Canal

    April: one of Huerta’s officers arrested a small group of American sailors in Tampico
    The Americans were released and the Mexicans apologized, but Wilson used it as an excuse to intervene in Mexico
    - ordered U.S. Marines to occupy Veracruz
    - Panama Canal is finished

  • Americans Killed in Mexico

    January: Carranza invites American engineers to operate mines in northern Mexico. Before they reached the mines Villa’s men took the Americans off a train and shot them
    - 2 months later: Villa’s followers raided Columbus, New Mexico, and killed 17 Americans. Americans blamed Villa

  • Change in leadership in Mexico

    • Huerta regime collapses, and nationalist leader Venustiano Carranza becomes president
    • Wilson withdrew troops and recognized Mexicos government

  • Puerto Rico, and Mexico

    • Congress retained the right to extend U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and allowed them to elect both houses of their legislature
    • Mexico only allows the government control of the nation’s oil and mineral resources and placed strict regulations on foreign investors
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    Carranza rules, and US expands to foreign trade

    1917-1920: Carranza ruled oppressively until Alvaro Obregón came to power
    - This marked the end of the civil war and the start of reform
    - 20th century: the US expanded its access to foreign markets in order to ensure the continued growth of the domestic economy. Second, the United States built a modern navy to protect its interests abroad. Third, the United States exercised its international police power to ensure dominance in Latin America

  • Philippines

    The Philippines becomes an independent republic

  • Alaska

    Alaska becomes a state

  • Hawaii

    Hawaii becomes 50th state