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Causes of American Imperialism
Factors that fueled the American Imperialism:
Military strength: US built nine steel-hulled cruisers between 1883 and 1890, including the U.S.S. Maine and the U.S.S. Oregon.
Thirst for new markets: farms and factories produced far more than Americans could consume. Imperialists viewed foreign trade as a solution to over production and unemployment.
Belief and Cultural Superiority: Social Darwinism and a responsibility to spread Christianity. -
The United States buys Alaska
William Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, arranged to buy Alaska for 7.2 million dollars.
People criticized the buy calling it "Seward's Folly" because they thought it was just ice.
For about 2 cents an acre, Alaska was rich in timber, minerals and oil. -
The United States takes Hawaii
Queen Liliuokalani's reign came to an end when more than 160 sailors and marines stood ready to aid foreigners who planned to overthrow the Hawaiian Monarchy. -
The De Lome Letter
The De Lome Letter was a letter that the Spanish Ambassador Enrique Dupuy De Lome wrote to his friend Jose who was in Cuba. The letter was intercepted by America and caused a scandal fueling the Anti-Spanish feelings in the United States. -
U.S.S Maine Explodes
President McKinley ordered naval ships to bring home United States citizens.
The ship mysteriously blew up in the Havana harbor and more than 260 men were killed.
Nobody knows how it exploded but but Americans blamed it Spain.
McKinley had no other choice but ot declare war on Spain. -
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Spanish American War
Conflict between United states and Spain that ended Spanish Colonial rule in America and the U.S. gained territories in Latin America
Causes: Cuba and the Philippines wanted independence from Spain, Yellow Journalism was very popular, and the mysterious sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
Outcomes: Spain lost Cuba, and gave The United States power over Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. -
War with Spain
Philippine Capital: the first battle took place when George Dewey gave command to to open fire, destroying every Spanish fleet within hours.
Caribbean: began with a naval blockade in Cuba; Admiral Wiliam T. Sampson effectively sealed up the Spanish fleet.
Rough Riders: volunteer Calvary under command of Theodore Roosevelt. -
United States and Puerto Rico
United States forces under General Nelson A. Miles occupied Puerto Rico.
Foraker Act: ended military rule in Puerto Rico and set up a Civil government; citizens could only elect the members of the legislature lower house, while the president elected upper house. -
United States and China/Open door notes
John Hay created the open door notes that called for a system of equal trade and investment and to guarantee the territorial integrity of China. The Boxer Rebellion wanted to get rid of the "foreign devils", but U.S. took them down in two months After the Boxer Rebellion, John Hay completed another set of Open Door notes -
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Philippine-American War
Emilio Aguinaldo, the former president of the Philippines, thought the Philippines had independence until he read the terms of the treaty
United States forced the Filipinos to live in designated areas with poor conditions
Filipinos rose in revolt starting a war that lasted 3 years -
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Theodore Roosevelt Presidency
Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy focused on Central America where he constructed the Panama Canal and expanded the Navy Impacts: strong progressive reforms and foreign policy -
United States and Cuba
United States recognized Cuba's independence Teller Amendment: The U.S. had no intention of taking over any part of Cuba
Platt Amendment: stated 4 ideas that America could do in Cuba
America managed a strong political presence in Cuba to protect their businesses -
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Panama Canal
Roosevelt felt the United States needed a Canal cutting a cross Central America
Hay-Paucefote treaty: Britain gave United States exclusive rights to build and control a canal
United States helped Panama win independence and 15 days later Panama and the United States signed a treaty where the United States agreed to pay Panama 15 million dollars to build a canal.
5,600+ men died while building the canal mostly from disease and 1,000 merchant ships passed through the canal in the first year. -
Roosevelt Corollary
Late 19th century many Latin American countries were borrowing huge sums of money from European banks
Monroe Doctrine: Demanded that the European countries stay out Latin American affairs
Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary stated that the countries on the Western Hemisphere were not open to European Colonization. -
Mexican Revolution
During Woodrow Wilson's presidency Mexico was ruled by dictator Porfirio Diaz who was a friend of The United States; U.S. earned a large share of Mexican oil wells
In 1911 Peasants over threw Diaz and Wilson refused to recognize the new government
In April of 1914 a small group of officers arrested U.S. sailors, they were quickly released and Mexico apologized
U.S used this to intervene in Mexico and at least 200 Mexicans died
In 1916 U.S. troops clashed with Carranza, the president, -
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Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson's goal during presidency was to dismantle imperialism and give countries independence.