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The Acquisition of Empire

The Acquisition of Empire. European Colonial Expansion. Forces Driving Expansion. Economic A search for markets “Safety Valve” Security Aggressive Nationalism Prestige Colonies as status symbols. The “Boom” and “Bust” Business Cycle. The Search for Markets.

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The Acquisition of Empire

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  1. The Acquisition of Empire

  2. European Colonial Expansion

  3. Forces Driving Expansion • Economic • A search for markets • “Safety Valve” • Security • Aggressive Nationalism • Prestige • Colonies as status symbols

  4. The “Boom” and “Bust” Business Cycle

  5. The Search for Markets • Sen. Albert Beveridge:“We are raising more than we can consume…making more than we can use. We must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital, new work for our labor.” • James G. Blaine:“What we want are the markets of these neighbors of ours that lie to the south of us. We want the $400,000,000 annually which today go to England, France, Germany, and other countries. With these markets secured new life would be given to our manufacturies, the product of the Western farmer would be in demand, the reasons for and inducements to strikers, with all their attendant evils, would cease.”

  6. Security Concerns Expansion overseas seen as a way to divert and defuse internal tensions (RE: Blaine quote) Proponents of Social Darwinism feared that U.S. was falling behind Europe 1870s & 1880s saw beginning of a naval arms race in Europe U.S. Navy, second largest in world at end of WBTS, had atrophied • In 1880, ranked 12th behind Chile • Could not compete in either quantity or quality Some began to argue that European navies were a threat to the U.S. • Threat to American cities and trade • Feared European colonies in violation of Monroe Doctrine

  7. Early Acquisitions Alaska • Purchased in 1867 • Removed a European power (Russia) from western hemisphere Pago Pago • Part of Samoan Islands • Naval basing rights acquired in unequal treaty in 1878 Hawaii • American planters overthrew local government in 1893

  8. Naval Officers’ Concerns Slow promotions Professional embarrassment Valid security concerns

  9. Influence of Sea Power on History • The Influence of Sea Power Upon History is an influential treatise on naval warfare written in 1890 by Alfred Thayer Mahan that details the role of sea power throughout history and discusses the various factors needed to support a strong navy. • The book was published by Mahan while President of the US Naval War College, and was a culmination of his ideas regarding naval warfare and its superiority. • The book examined the factors that lead to a supremacy of the seas, especially how Britain was able to rise to its near dominance by examining such features as geography, population, and government, and expands the definition of sea power as comprising a strong navy and commercial fleet. • Mahan also promotes the belief that any army would succumb to a strong naval blockade. • The book then goes on to describe a series of European and American wars and how naval power was used in each. • The arguments of Mahan's book influenced the policies of governments with regard to naval policy for decades making President Teddy Roosevelt a supporter of greater naval development while motivating many in the government to seek to project American power through its navy, which led to a period of American Imperialism.

  10. Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan Influence of Sea Power on History (1890) Security lay in command of the seas Prosperity depended on maritime power • As U.S. production increased, she would require overseas markets • Access to overseas markets would demand a large merchant marine • U.S. would need a large navy to protect her merchant marine • a large navy would require shipyards and coaling stations overseas (colonies) • Colonies would provide overseas markets and would need a large navy to protect them

  11. Spanish Colonial Possessions

  12. Yellow Journalism

  13. Countdown to War - 1898 • January 25 - U.S.S. Maine arrives in Havana harbor • February 9 - Letter intercepted from Spanish minister • February 15 - Maine mysteriously blows up and sinks • March 17 - Sen. Proctor returns from Cuba w/ scathing report of Spanish misrule • March 28 - Navy Board of Inquiry concludes Maine sunk by mine • March 28 - U.S. offers final compromise • March 31 - Spain offers partial acceptance of U.S. ultimatum • April 11 - McKinley sends war message to Congress • April 20 - War resolution passes. Gives Spain until April 23 to free Cuba • April 23 - Spain breaks diplomatic relations and declares war on U.S. • April 25 - U.S. declares war on Spain

  14. THE U.S.S.MAINE ARRIVING AT HAVANA 25 JANUARY 1898

  15. THE WRECK OF THE MAINE 16 FEBRUARY 1898

  16. McKinley’s War Aims • 1. Stop the suffering of the Cuban people • 2. Protect American property • 3. Restore American commerce

  17. The Teller Ammendment • “The United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when it is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people.”

  18. Buildup to War 1. American economic interest in Cuba 2. Cuba in an almost constant state of rebellion against Spain 3. Open rebellion broke out in 1895 4. Public pressure on McKinley 5. Spanish duplicity

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