Brinkley, Chapter 19.2 Notes

Brinkley The Causes of Imperialism Imperialism - The policy by which strong nations extend their political, military, and economic control over weaker nations.

Several developments shifted American attention to lands across the seas.

Chapter 19 1. Subjugating the American Indians provided experience of exerting colonial control over dependent people.

2. The supposed "closing of the frontier" produced fears that natural resources would soon dwindle. Part II 3. Depression of the 1890s encouraged some Colonial economies are businessmen to look for extractive economies - new markets abroad. the imperial country extracted raw materials Imperialism from the colony and shipped them to the home country.

The New Manifest Destiny Becoming A World Power 4. Bitter social protests (Populists, labor, 1867 - Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska women) led some politicians to urge a more from Russia for $7.2 million 1895 - U.S. businessmen saw Latin aggressive foreign policy as an outlet for America as a natural place to frustrations that would otherwise destabilize expand trade and investments. domestic life. By 1900, the U.S. had the 3rd largest navy in the world 5. Europeans carved Africa among themselves and Americans were afraid they Secretary of State James Blaine preached the were "behind". benefits of economic cooperation to delegates of 17 Latin American nations. 6. Darwin's theories justified imperialism. Constructed the Pan-American Highway System that runs through Certain nations and races were superior to North America. others and therefore were destined to rule over inferior peoples and cultures. Soon, entrepreneurs looked to the 7. Alfred T. Mahan urged the US government to build a great navy in his work, Pacific to expand their capitalist The Influence of Sea Power upon History. ventures

Becoming A World Power Hawaii Hawaii and other Pacific Islands were coveted In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed a by the US as feasible stopping points to fleet of American warships into Tokyo, Japan. China. The Japanese thought his ships were "giant Officers of the US Navy looked at Pearl dragons puffing smoke" Harbor as a possible permanent base for Not This One! Perry showered the Japanese US ships. emperor with lavish gifts Japan realized since they closed themselves off The growing number of Americans who for such a long time, they were far behind the had taken up residence on the in Hawaii world militarily and wanted to build up their increased American presence. military. In 1810, King Kamehameha I established dominance, welcomed American traders Perry negotiated the treaty of Amity and and helped them develop a thriving trade between Hawaii and China. Commerce that opened Japan to trade with America Missionaries began settling in the early 19th century.

Perry's journey set a precedent for further William Hooper was the 1st American to buy land & establish a sugar plantation. expansion across the Pacific Ocean

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Hawaii Hawaii Arrival of missionaries and planters devastated Hawaiian society. They brought Hawaiians did not accept their subordination without protest. diseases that killed Hawaiians. Missionaries replaced native religion w/ Christianity. In 1891 they elevated Queen Liliuokalani to the throne. Other settlers introduced firearms, liquor, and a commercial economy - eroding She set out to challenge the growing American control of Hawaiian society. the islands. She only remained in power for 2 years.

By the 1840s, American planters spread throughout the islands; and American settler, In 1890, the US eliminated the exemption from American tariffs in Hawaiian sugar G.P. Judd became Prime Minister of Hawaii under King Kamehameha III, who agreed trade. The result was devastating to the economy of the islands, and American to establish a constitutional monarchy. planters concluded the only way for them to recover was to become part of the US In 1887, the US negotiated a treaty with Hawaii permitting it to and be exempt from tariffs. open Pearl Harbor. By then, growing sugar for export to American In 1893 planters staged a revolution and called upon became the basis of the Hawaiian economy - as a result of an 1875 the US for protection. After a US warship arrived in agreement allowing Hawaiian sugar to enter the US without a tariff. Honolulu harbor, the Queen yielded her authority. The American-dominated sugar plantation system displaced native A provisional government, led by Sanford Dole was Hawaiians from their lands and relied heavily on Asian immigrants, whom quickly established and sent a delegation to DC to the Americans considered more reliable and more docile than the natives. negotiate annexation. Congress approved it in 1898.

Controversy Over Cuba Controversy Over Cuba Since the 1860s, Americans were sympathetic to the Cuban struggle for By 1898, McKinley warned the Spanish to quickly establish independence from Spain led by Jose Marti. "Cuba Libre!" peace or the U.S. would take whatever steps it “should deem Problem with Spanish Control over Cuba: necessary to procure this result.” By 1897, American entrepreneurs invested McKinley formally protested Spain's "uncivilized and inhuman" $50 million in sugar cane plantations and conduct, causing the Spanish government to offer some reform other ventures in Cuba. These businessmen but Cubans demanded independence and Spain refused. saw Cuba as a growing market for American products. Causes of the Spanish American War

1. The de Lome Letter. Described McKinley as a Sensationalist journalism (jingoism) in the US created the weak and stupid man. Enraged Americans. impression that the Spaniards were committing atrocities. Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) and William Randolph Hearst 2. The American battleship USS Maine blew up in (New York Journal) were leading newspaper publishers who Havana harbor with a loss of more than 260 people. “Remember the Maine!” sent reporters to Cuba to provide accounts of Spanish Americans accused (inaccurately) that the Spanish sunk atrocities on Cubans. the ship. Their publications were called the "Yellow Press" because they 3. American Imperialist Ambitions. Keep up with European Imperial Powers featured a popular comic-strip character called The Yellow Kid.

Causes of the Spanish American War "A Splendid Little War" War hysteria swept the nation and Congress unanimously appropriated $50 Significance: million for military preparations. McKinley still hoped to avoid conflict. But others 1. At the center of the fighting were the in his administration, particularly his Secretary of War, Theodore Roosevelt were Rough Riders led by Theodore Roosevelt who clamoring for war. resigned his cabinet position to be involved In March 1898, at McKinley's in the war. = WAR HERO request, Spain agreed to stop the His fame rested in large part on his role in fighting but refused to negotiate leading a bold reckless charge up Kettle Hill with the rebels and reserved the directly into the face of Spanish guns. right to resume hostilities at its Roosevelt emerged untouched but lost over a discretion. hundred soldiers. 2. U.S. Marines captured Guantanamo Bay. That satisfied neither public opinion nor Congress. On April 25, McKinley asked for Senator Henry M. Teller (CO) proposed an amendment to the US declaration of and received a declaration of war against war against Spain proclaiming the US would not establish permanent control over Spain. Cuba. Teller Amendment - The US "hereby disclaims any disposition of intention Sec. of State John Hay called the Spanish-American war "a splendid little war" because to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for the war onl lasted a few months because Cuban rebels already weakened Spanish pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to resistance, making the American intervention simply a "mopping-up" exercise. leave the government and control of the island to its people." The US occupied Cuba until 1902.

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Puerto Rico and the United States Seizing the Philippines Puerto Ricans resisted Spanish rule like the Cubans did. Like Cuba, the Spanish Assistant Secretary of Navy Theodore Roosevelt strengthened the navy's Pacific made only minor reforms but no independence. fleet and instructed Commander Commodore George Dewey to attack Spanish naval forces in the Philippines, a colony of Spain. But before the changes had any chance to take effect, control of Puerto Rico shifted to the US during the Spanish American War. The Foraker Act ended Dewey completely destroyed the Spanish in military rule and established a formal colonial government. Manila. Several months later, after the arrival of an American expeditionary force, the Spanish Agitation for independence continued, and in 1917, Congress passed the Jones- surrendered to the US Shaforth Act- declaring Puerto Rico as US territory & made all Puerto Ricans American citizens. While Dewey was defeating the Spanish Navy, Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo were The Puerto Rican sugar industry flourished as it took advantage of the overpowering the Spanish army. American market that was now open to it without tariffs. Spain realized the war was fruitless. On August 12, an armistice ended the war. As in Hawaii, Americans from the mainland established large sugar plantations. Terms of armistice: Spain recognized the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico The growing emphasis on sugar as a cash crop, and the transformation of many and the Pacific Island of Guam to the US, and accepted continued American Puerto Rican farmers into paid laborers, led to a reduction in the growing of food occupation of Manila pending the final disposition of the Philippines. for the island and greater reliance on imported goods. The Treaty of Paris, 1898 officially ended the war.

The Philippines Question Treaty of Paris

Mckinley appeared to reluctantly to support the annexation of the Philippines. But, Signed December 1898 according to his own accounts, he believed there were no other acceptable alternatives. American negotiators startled the Spanish by demanding that they also cede The Philippines to the US but an Why? American offer of $20 million for the islands softened 1. Returning the Philippines to Spain their resistance. would be cowardly and dishonorable.

2. Turning them over to other imperialist Imperialist resistance in the US was fierce. powers would be bad business.

3. Granting them independence would be During debate over ratification of the treaty, the Members included irresponsible because the Filipinos were The only thing left to do Anti-Imperialist League, Mark Twain, Samuel unfit for self government. was to take all Filipinos, created by wealthy Gompers, William educate them, and uplift 4. McKinley's supporters reasoned the islands Bostonians and New Yorkers, Jennings Bryan, and and Christianize them. were a valuable stepping stone to trade in rose to oppose the Andrew Carnegie. China and warned that if the U.S. gave up the acquisition of the Philippines. Philippines, other nations would take control.

Anti-Imperialist League Favored Imperialism Election of 1900 The fate of the treaty remained in doubt for weeks until it received the Believed imperialism was immoral - a Exuberant imperialists like TR saw the unexpected support from William Jennings Bryan repudiation of America's commitment to acquisition of the empire as a way to human freedom. reinvigorate the nation. Bryan backed ratification in order to move Others feared "polluting" the American the issue out of the Senate and make it the population by introducing "inferior" Some businessmen saw the subject of a national referendum in the Asian races into it. opportunities to dominate Asian trade. election of 1900. But Bryan gravely miscalculated. Industrial workers feared being undercut by cheap labor. Most Republicans saw partisan If the election of 1900 was in fact a advantages in acquiring valuable new referendum on the Philippines, it proved Conservatives worried about the large territories through a war fought and beyond doubt that the nation decided in standing army and entangling foreign won by a Republican administration. favor of imperialism. alliances that they believed imperialism would required. The strongest argument in favor of Imperialist ambitions were not the only issues of the campaign. Republicans were Others feared unwelcome competition in annexation was that the US already beneficiaries of growing prosperity - and also of the colorful personality of their the new territories. Favoring ratification possessed the islands. vice-presidential candidate, hero of San Juan Hill - TR. was an equally varied group.

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Governing the Colonies The Open Door

Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico The acquisition of the Philippines presented relatively few problems. increased the already strong American They received territorial status interest in Asia, particularly China. relatively quickly: Hawaii in 1900, Alaska in 1912, and Puerto Rico in 1917. By 1900, England, France, Germany, The US Navy took control over Guam. Russia, and Japan began to carve up Cuba was a bigger problem. American China among themselves, pressuring the military forces, commanded by General Chinese government for "concessions" Leonard Wood, remained there until that gave them effective control over 1902 to prepare the island for various regions of China. independence.

When Cuba drafted a constitution that made no mention of the US, Congress In some cases, they simply seized Chinese territory and claimed it as their own. responded by passing the Platt Amendment - barred Cuba from making treaties with Many Americans feared that the process would soon cut them out of the China other nations. trade altogether. Within its zone, each power had privileged access to Chinese ports and markets. The U.S. did not have a sphere It gave the US the right to intervene in Cuba to preserve independence, life, and of influence and was concerned they would be left out of the share of trade in property; and required Cuba to permit American naval stations on its territory. The amendment left Cuba with only nominal independence. China.

The Open Door Boxer Rebellion

Eager for a way to advance American interests in China without Europe & Japan received the Open Door proposals cooly. risking war. McKinley issued a statement saying the US wanted Russia openly rejected them; the other powers claimed to access to China but no special advantages. "Asking only the open accept them in principle but unable to act unless all the door for ourselves, we are ready to accord the open door to other powers agreed. others." Hay refused to consider this a rebuff. He boldly announced The next year, Secretary of State John Hay molded that statement that all the powers had accepted the principles of the into the Open Door Policy. Open Door had scarcely ended when the Boxers, a secret Chinese martial-arts society, launched a bloody revolt against foreigners in China. He asked that each nation with a "sphere of influence" in China allow The boxers wanted to expel all Western other nations to trade freely and influence in China. In May 1890, Boxers equally in its sphere. The US would be killed and besieged missionaries in China. able to trade with China freely The entire foreign diplomatic corps took without interference. refuge in the British embassy in Peking. A multinational force was sent to China to squash the Boxer Rebellion.

Boxer Rebellion Modern Military System In August 1900, the multinational force fought its way into Peking and broke The war with Spain revealed Had the US been fighting a the siege. glaring deficiencies in the more powerful foe, disaster McKinley and Hay agreed to American participation in quelling the Boxer American military system. might have resulted. Rebellion in order to secure a voice in the settlement of the uprising and prevent the partition of China by the European powers. After the war, McKinley appointed Elihu Root, as secretary of war to supervise a Hay now won support for his Open Door approach from England and Germany and major overhaul of the armed forces. included the other participating powers to accept compensation from the Chinese He enlarged the regular army from 25,000 to a maximum of 100,000. He for the damages the Boxer Rebellion caused. established federal army standards for the National Guard, ensuring that never again would the nation fight a way with volunteer regiments trained Chinese territorial integrity survived only in name, and the US retained access and equipped differently than those in the regular army. to its lucrative China trade.

This sparked the creation of a system of officer training schools. In 1903, a America did not want colonies in China, but free trade. This helped the U.S. general staff (named the Joint Chiefs of Staff) was established to act as military expand its economic empire by flooding Chinese markets with cheap imports. advisers to the secretary of war. As a result, of the new reforms, the US entered the 20th century with something resembling a modern military system.

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