Imperialism and the US

1. Imperialism and the US The us takes on the world

2. Alaska • 1867: William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (it was twice the size of Texas) • People mocked the purchase because they believed the land to be an icy, barren wasteland • Nicknames: the “Ice Box,” “Polar Bear Box,” and “Seward’s Folly” • 1912- Alaska becomes a territory of the US • Many resources such as gold and oil come from the land

3. Hawaii • Chain of islands in the Pacific • The Hawaiian people lived in independent communities with their own chieftains and were united together under the rule of a king or queen • Hawaiians depended on lush the environment for farming and fishing • Europeans and Americans traded with the Hawaiians; along with goods they also brought diseases that harmed the islands

4. Hawaii • 1800’s- Christian missionaries and whaling merchants from the US settled on the Hawaiian islands • Eventually sugarcane production was created in Hawaii and many Americans living in Hawaii established sugarcane plantations that were very profitable • Americans continued to buy up Hawaiian land, advise the Hawaiian leaders, and support Hawaiian independence • Because of a tariff imposed on Hawaiian sugar, plantation owners worried they would not be able to make a profit from sugar and argued to make Hawaii a territory of the US to avoid the problem

5. Hawaii • Hawaiians were angered over the influence of Americans in Hawaii and wanted to regain control of their islands • Under Queen Liliuokalani, Americans’ rights in Hawaii were taken away • Plantation owners rebelled, overthrew the Queen and set up a provisional government and awaited annexation • President Benjamin Harrison began the treaty for annexation of Hawaii; President Grover Cleveland stopped the annexation because he believed it was unjust • President McKinley finally approved the annexation of Hawaii and in 1900 it became a territory of the US

6. Opening Trade with japan • 1853: Commodore Matthew C. Perry traveled to Japan to “ask” the Japanese to open up their ports to trade with the United States (intimidated the Japanese by showing up with 4 warships) • 1854: Treaty of Kanagawa: Two Japanese ports are opened to trade with American ships

7. Samoa • US Navy wanted to set up a coaling station in the South Pacific so ships would be able to refuel- set their eyes on Samoa in the South Pacific • Germany and Britain also had their eyes on Samoa and conflict was on the horizon • 1889- Typhoon disables most of the warships • 1899- US and Germany divide the islands of Samoa without any say from the Samoans • American Samoa is currently a protectorate

8. China • China was weakened by war- Europe and Japan forced the Chinese to grant them land an trading rights- divided China into spheres of influence • Open Door Policy 1: US wants to become involved in China because they do not want to be excluded from trade; Secretary of State Hays issues an “Open Door Policy” declaring that China should trade with all nations equally (other nations keep their mouths shut) • Boxer Rebellion: Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists aka the “Boxers” created in China to deal with the problem of foreign influence; they formed a rebellion to get rid of foreign influence and Chinese Christians; US intervened, crushed the rebellion, killed the Chinese, and looted the capital • Open Door Policy II: After the Boxer Rebellion, Secretary Hayes re-affirms an Open Door Policy to trade with China and states China should remain as one nation (does this for economic purposes)

9. Japan • Russo-Japanese War- Japan ignored the Open Door Policy leading to conflict with Russia over territories in China- due to depleting resources both countries sought peace quickly • Treaty of Portsmouth- President Theodore Roosevelt negotiated a treaty between Russia and Japan to settle the conflict- it recognized Japan’s control of Korea as long as Japan stopped expanding • Japan became a powerhouse nation in Asia and its navy rivaled the US navy fleet in the Pacific • Tension between Japan and the US increased at home and abroad

10. Latin America • Alfred T. Mahan- felt that US prosperity depended on building up or trade and creating a strong navy that would allow for trade • Imperialism of Righteousness- bring Christianity to Africa, Asia, and Latin America ( can create problems because of the false idea that Anglo-Saxons were superior to other races) • Monroe Doctrine- Allowed US to have influence over Latin America (given and accepted by the US) • Pan-American Union- Promoted cooperation between the US and Latin American nations

11. The Spanish American war • The Spanish were creating a powerful empire with its possessions around the world • Cubans, led by revolutionary Jose Marti, rebelled against harsh Spanish rule and asked the US to support them with money, arms, and troops (Marti was killed before he experienced Cuban independence) • Spanish troops were able to stop the rebellion and killed many Cubans and destroyed land in the process

12. Reasons The US becomes involved • Business interests: Many Americans feared they would lose their investments and trade in Cuba • Reconcentration Camps: The Spanish were gathering up Cubans and placing them into detention camps • Yellow Journalism: Sensationalizing the news (example Cuban prisoners were being consumed by sharks) in order to sell more newspapers (Pulitzer v. Hearst) • “Remember the Maine”: US battleship Maine was sent to keep the peace in Havana- after three weeks the ship exploded killing 260 crewmembers- the US felt it was a direct attack from Spain (no proof)

13. Fighting • First military fights took place on the Pacific islands of the Philippines which served as a naval base for the Spanish • Commodore Dewey launched a surprise attack on the Spanish in Manila Bay and destroyed most of the Spanish ships • Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo joined forces with the US and captured Manila and Luzon • The Filipinos declared independence (however the US was not on board)

14. Fighting in the Caribbean • Main fighting took place in Cuba- Cubans joined forces with American troops to fight • The Rough Riders, led by Theodore Roosevelt, were a cavalry group made up of former cowhands and college graduates, that would lead armed charges against the Spanish • Battle of San Juan Hill- US and Cuban troops defeat the Spanish • US ships trapped Spanish fleet in Santiago and forced the Spanish to surrender after two weeks • Fighting turned to Puerto Rico and the US quickly drove out the Spanish forces

15. Acquisitions • Treaty of Paris signed by Spain and US- dissolved most of the Spanish Empire • Cuba became an American protectorate (independent country but under control of US) • Platt Amendment- Gave Cubans full independence but only if the constitution gave certain rights to America (we received Guantanamo Bay and could intervene in affairs) • Puerto Rico- became a territory • Foraker Act- Set up a new Puerto Rican government with a US-appointed governor • Guam and Wake became territories of the United States (completely controlled by the US) • The US acquired the Philippines from the Spanish for $20 million • The American Empire had been established- Americans confused on how to feel

16. Philippines • The Filipinos felt betrayed by the American government when the US decided to keep their control over the country. • The Filipinos, led by Aguinaldo, now turned to fight the Americans for independence in a three-year war • 1901 Aguinaldo was captured and fighting stopped- the US had control over the Philippines • The Philippines did not become an independent nation until 1946 (transitional independence from 1935-1946)

17. The panama canal • Problem: There was no quick and efficient sailing route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans- ships must travel around the tip of South America to travel from one ocean to another • Solution: Support the Panamanian revolution in Colombia and have Panama become a separate nation- in return be able to build a canal that will link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in Central America • Semi-Problem- this would anger Colombia

18. Building the canal • Disease was a major problem with the development of the canal- malaria and yellow fever ran rampant because of mosquitoes • Clearing the area of the brush and draining swamps helped to stop the spread of the disease • 3 Major tasks in construction: • Cut through a mountain • Dam a river • Create the canal’s giant locks • More than 6,000 workers lost their lives while building the canal

19. Mexico • After a revolution in Mexico overthrew the dictator Porfirio Diaz, the lives of many Mexicans became worse, while the lives of Mexican politicians and foreign businessmen profited • Huerta took power and was a terrible dictator- caused a civil war in Mexico that alerted the US and the US sent help; eventually Huerta was exiled • Rebel leader Pancho Villa did not like the new government and rebelled- he killed sixteen Americans • US tried to capture him for 11 months but failed

20. President: Theodore Roosevelt Policy A: Roosevelt Corollary Idea: Extend the Monroe Doctrine to allow the US to police North and South America and intervene in affairs/keep the peace Policy B: Big Stick Diplomacy Idea: The US should be a police power- don’t issue threats- show your strength and take action Example: Helping the Dominican Republic and taking over their finances after a revolution

21. President: William Howard Taft Policy: Dollar Diplomacy Idea: Wanted to change American foreign policy by “substituting dollars for bullets;” intervene in other countries’ affairs when American business interests are threatened; placing American businesses in foreign countries would allow for US influence in other countries Example: Helped with revolution in Nicaragua

22. President: Woodrow Wilson Policy: Watchful Waiting/Moral Diplomacy Idea: Watch and wait to see what is going on in a country- if democracy is threatened, the US has a moral obligation to intervene Example: Dealt with the effects of revolution in Mexico