The Path of Empire

1. The Path of Empire 1890 – 1899

2. Imperialist Stirrings • Shift in US foreign policy • Move from isolationism to imperialism • Causes: • Exports of manufactured goods & agricultural products shot up • Expand or explode • New sense of power generated by booming increase in population, wealth, & industrial production • “yellow press” of Joseph Pulitzer & William Randolph Hearst - Cuba • Josiah Strong’s belief that Americans should spread their religion & their values (white mans burden) – Anglo-Saxonism

3. Colonial Scramble • Africa – Europeans – 1880s • Chinese Empire – Japan, Germany, & Russia – 1890s • In order to compete, America must become an imperial power also!

4. Naval Buildup • Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan • The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783 • Published in 1890 • Control of the sea was the key to world dominance. Why is this important? • Stimulated the naval race around the world

5. Latin America • Sec of State James G. Blaine • Pushed his “Big Sister” policy • Rally the Latin American nations behind Uncle Sam’s leadership & open Latin American markers to trade • Pan-American Conference 1889 • Goal: economic cooperation through reciprocal tariff reduction • Vague plan // led future meetings

6. Diplomatic Crises • 1889 – Dispute over the Samoan Islands between US & Germany • 1891 – Lynching of 11 Italians in New Orleans caused problems between US & Italy • US paid compensation • 1892 – Two US sailors at Valparaiso, Chile were killed • Chileans had to pay • 1893 – Dispute between US & Canada over seal hunting in Pribilof Islands off of Alaska • Settled by arbitration

7. Monroe Doctrine & Venezuela • Problems for US & Great Britain over disputed boundary (1895 – 1896) • Between British Guiana & Venezuela • Venezuelans urged arbitration • Gold was found in disputed region – no arbitration • Sec of State Richard Olney responds • Great Britain had violated the Monroe Doctrine • Should agree to arbitration • Reply from London • no arbitration // Monroe Doctrine –not relevant

8. Cleveland - experts decide on the boundary If Great Britain refused, US would fight US was not prepared militarily for war & Great Britain didn’t want to fight German Kaiser Wilhelm II Sent a letter to South Africa to congratulate them on their capture of 600 British men Great Britain changed their anger to Germany & not US Great Britain agreed to arbitration Results: Monroe Doctrine enhanced Reconciliation between US & Great Britain

9. Hawaii • Early 19th century – shippers, sailors, & whalers • 1820 – New England missionaries • Most settled permanently • 1840s – State Dept warned other powers to keep out. Why is it important? • 1875 – commercial reciprocity agreement • 1887 – treaty to allow the building of Pearl Harbor naval base

10. The Hawaiian Pear • 1890 - Sugar cultivation was dramatically affected the McKinley Tariff • White planters (mostly Americans) wanted US to annex Hawaii • Queen Liliuokalani – against annexation • 1893 – successful revolt by whites • Openly assisted by American troops • Treaty of annexation was rushed to Washington • Stopped by Pres Cleveland • Annexation postponed until 1898

12. Cuban Revolt • 1895 – Cuba rose against their Spanish oppressor • Revolt was partly economic • Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894) - high duties on sugar • Insurgents adopted a scorched-earth policy • Spain might be willing to move out • US might move in & help Cubans with independence • America sympathies went to the Cubans • Investment stake of $50 million in Cuba & annually trade of $100 million

14. General “Butcher” Weyler • Sent by Spain to crush rebellion in Cuba • Sent civilians into reconcentration camps in order to prevent them from supporting the rebels • Many died • Weyler was removed in 1897 yet conditions got worse • American public was outraged • Called on Pres Cleveland to formally recognize Cuban rebels • Pres Cleveland was against possible war

16. “Yellow Journalism” • Sensational and often false reporting • William R. Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer • Engaged in a duel for circulation / tried to out do each other • Frederic Remington - sent to Cuba to draw pictures of atrocities • “You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.” (Hearst)

19. USS Maine • 1898 – Washington sent battleship to Cuba for a “friendly visit” • Actually there to protect & evacuate Americans if needed • Feb 1898 – Hearst headlined the de Lome Letter • Written by Spanish minister Dupuy de Lome • Insulted Pres McKinley • Uproar resulted & de Lome was forced to resign • Feb 15, 1898 – Maine mysteriously exploded in Havana Harbor • 260 died

22. “Remember the Maine!To hell with Spain!” • Spanish – explosion was internal & accidental • Americans – explosion was caused by a submarine mine • Washington refused arbitration • Americans blindly accepted that Spain was responsible

24. McKinley & War • American demands from Spain • End reconcentration camps • Armistice with Cuban rebels • McKinley, Mark Hanna, & Wall Street did not want war • The public wanted war - “yellow journalism” • Pres McKinley finally gave the people what they wanted - WAR

27. McKinley • April 11, 1898 – McKinley urged armed intervention to free the oppressed Cubans • Congress responded with a declaration of war • Teller Amendment 1898 • Proclaimed to the world when the US had overthrown Spanish misrule, it would give the Cubans their freedom

28. American Navy • Navy Sec John D. Long • Assistant Sec Theodore Roosevelt • Feb 25, 1898 • Long was away & Roosevelt cabled Commodore George Dewey with the following instructions: • In the event of war, attack Spanish fleet in the Philippines • Orders were confirmed by McKinley • May 1. 1898 – Dewey carried out his orders • Became a hero • Waited in bay until reinforcements arrived

30. Unexpected Imperialistic Plums • Dewey’s reinforcements arrive & captured Manila on Aug 13, 1898 • Joined forces with Emilio Aguinaldo • Hawaii – needed as a coaling & provisional way station • Joint resolution of annexations was rushed through Congress & approved by McKinley (July 7, 1898) • Granted US citizenship & full territorial status in 1900

32. Invasion of Cuba • Spanish gov’t ordered a fleet to Cuba • Commanded by Admiral Cervera • Believed it was suicide • Cervera found refuge in Santiago harbor • Blockaded by US forces • Plan: Send in forces from the rear to drive out Cervera • General William R. Shafter lead the force

33. Rough Riders • Regiment of volunteers – consisted largely of cowboys & other hardy characters • Commanded by Colonel Leonard Wood • Organized by Theodore Roosevelt • Resigned from the Navy Dept to serve as lieutenant colonel

35. Spain Loses Big • Shafter’s landing near Santiago was made without serious opposition • Fighting broke out at El Caney & San Juan Hill • Rough Riders & Buffalo Soldiers • Suffered many casualties • July 3 – entire Spanish fleet was destroyed • 500 Spaniards killed – 1 American killed • General Nelson A. Miles commanded army to invade Puerto Rico • little resistance – invaders were greeted as heroes • Aug 12, 1898 – Spain signed an armistice

39. Treaty of Paris • Outcome: • Cuba was granted its independence • Pacific Island of Guam annexed by US • Puerto Rico was annexed by US *** Most controversial issue was what to do with the Philippines – US finally agreed to pay Spain $20 million • Philippine Islands annexed by the US

41. Debate over Imperialism • Pres McKinley argued that there was no acceptable alternative to acquisition of the Philippines • US could not honorably give the islands back to Spanish misrule • Filipinos might fall into anarchy if they governed themselves • Germany or another power may try to take them & war would result

42. The Debate Continues • Anti-Imperialist League argued it violated our own political heritage & the philosophy of the Dec of Independence • Imperialists stressed the economic potential for American trading profits and the “White Man’s Burden” • Treaty of Paris was approved by 1 vote on Feb 6, 1899

43. Puerto Rico • Many inhabitants lived in poverty • Foraker Act of 1900 • Congress accorded Puerto Ricans a limited degree of popular government • 1917 – Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship • Insular Cases – Supreme Court was divided on whether the Constitution followed the flag • Document did not necessarily extend to Puerto Rico

45. Cuba • American military gov’t set up by General Leonard Wood • Major improvements politically, economically & with education • Public health – Dr. Walter Reed • Attack on yellow fever • Clean up of mosquito breeding grounds • 1902 – US withdrew its troops from Cuba after the Cubans had been forced to write into their own Constitution

46. Platt Amendment - 1902 • Cuba agreed not to impair their independence by treaty or debt • Cuba agreed that the US might intervene with troops to restore order and provide protection • Cuba promised to lease naval stations to the US (ultimately only one-Guantanamo)

48. Legacy of the “Splendid Little War” • War did not make the US a world power • Advertised the fact that the nation was a world power • Americans found in the victories further support for their indifference to adequate preparedness • National pride soared • US became a full-fledged Far Eastern power • Reunited Yankees & Rebels