Presentation Transcript

1. Empire and Expansion

2. In the years immediately following the Civil War, Americans remained indifferent to the outside world. With the Civil war, the settlement of the west and the industrial economy there was no time to worry about the outside world. But by the end of the 20th century America had acquired its own empire, which was far from the colonial times. The world now had to come to terms with a great power, but with diplomatic ambitions and principles that remained to be defined. Introduction
3. Many developments fed the nation’s ambition for overseas expansion. Farmers and factories began to look for prospects beyond the American shores. Many believed that they had to expand or they would explode. Overseas markets might provide a safety valve to relieve those pressures. Many other countries wanted more overseas involvement, and if America were to survive in the competition of modern nation-states, perhaps it too, would have to become an imperial power. America Turns Outward
4. Spurning the Hawaiian Pear One of those things is that Hawaii attracted much American attention in the early 19th century. Hawaii became increasingly important for sugar production. The Americans also gradually came to regard Hawaii as a virtual extension of their own coastline. In 1887, America tightened its grip on the naval-base rights of Pearl Harbor. But there was trouble with those who had first contacted these Hawaiian Islands. Old World diseases had made the Hawaiian Islands at the time down to one-sixth of its size, leading American sugar lords to import large numbers of Asian laborers to work in the canefields and sugar mills.
5. By the century end, Chinese and Japanese immigrants outnumbered whites and the natives. In 1890, the sugar markets went sour and the McKinley Tariff was introduced which raised barriers against the sugar product. White American planters renewed their effort to secure the annexation of Hawaii. They were blocked by a strong willed Queen Liliuokalani, who insisted that the natives control the islands. The tiny white population that was there organized a successful revolt, who was then assisted by American troops sought control over these islands. A treaty of annexation was rushed to Washington. But when they tried to railroad it through the Senate, President Harrison’s term was over and Cleveland came in and withdrew the treaty, saying that “his powerful nation had wronged the Queen and their people”. The Hawaiian annexation was on hold until 1898, when the United States acquired its overseas empires: Philippines, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Spurning the Hawaiian Pear
6. Cuban masses rose again against their Spanish oppressors in 1895. The roots of their revolt were partly economic reasons. Sugar production was the backbone and it was crippled when the American tariff of 1894 restored high duties and they now sought to drive out the Spanish overlords by adopting the scorched earth policy. American business had investments up to 50 million in Cuba and an annual trade of about 100 million, and the Gulf of Mexico was riding on the outcome of events in troubled Cuba. Fuel was added to the fire when a Spanish general by herding many civilians into reconcentration camps, where they could not give assistance to their armed forces. Lacking proper sanitation, these enclosures turned into deadly pestholes and the victims died like dogs. Cubans Rise in Revolt
7. Cubans Rise in Revolt Then in early 1898, Washington sent the battleship Maine to Cuba for a friendly visit, but it was mostly for the island’s stability. On Feb 15, 1898, the Maine blew up mysteriously with the loss of 260 sailors. The Spaniards concluded that the explosion had been internal and accidental; the Americans argued that the blast had been caused by a submarine mine. Final results concluded that the explosion resulted from a spontaneous combustion in one of the coal bunkers which was next to a powder magazine. American’s were mad for war and Washington had two basic demands to end this conflict and they were: to end the reconcentration camps and an armistice with Cuban rebels. McKinley was in a jam, but he didn’t want any more hostilities and he didn’t want Spain in Cuba anymore.
8. Theodore Roosevelt felt that McKinley was too soft and was quoted: “That the White House did not have the backbone of a chocolate éclair”. McKinley recognized eventually and gave the people what they wanted. But public pressure did not fully explain McKinley’s course. He had little faith in Spain’s broken promises. He worried about Democratic reprisals and the upcoming presidential elections. This would continue if he appeared to be indecisive in a time of crisis. On April 11, 1898, McKinley sent his war message to Congress, urging armed intervention to free oppressed Cubans. This meant that the United States will overthrow Spanish misrule, and it would give the Cubans their freedom. Cubans Rise in Revolt
9. Dewey’s May Day Victory at Manila The Spanish American War got off to a happy start for American forces. Navy Secretary John Long was away from the office, and his assistant Theodore Roosevelt took matters into his own hands. Roosevelt and Dewey commanded a squadron in Philippines in the event of war. McKinley thought it was strange to attack the Philippines when he wants to free Cubans. Dewey carried out his orders and on May 1, 1898 he sailed with 6 ships into the Manila harbor, and beat the 10 Spanish ships that cost of 400 Spaniards to lose their lives, and without a single American life lost. Dewey became a national hero.
10. One problem he had was that he destroyed the ships, but could not storm the Manila with his sailors. On August 13, 1898, American troops finally arrived. This event meant that in order to supply reinforcements to Dewey, the Americans had to use the Hawaiian Islands. A joint resolution of annexation was rushed through Congress and approved by McKinley on July 7, 1898. It granted Hawaiian residents US citizenship and was a territorial status until 1900. Dewey’s May Day Victory at Manila
11. Shortly after the outbreak of war, the Spanish government ordered warships to Cuba. The Spanish armada reached Cuba and easily blockaded their harbor. The strategy would be that to have American army be sent from behind and drive out the Spanish. These troops were unprepared; however the Rough Riders an invading army now charged the stage. They were commanded by Colonel Leonard Wood, and organized by Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt resigned from the navy to serve as the Lieutenant Colonel. He was so nearsighted that he took many pairs of spectacles just in case. In the middle of June, about 70 thousand men embarked and not too long afterword’s fighting broke out on July 1. They suffered heavy casualties, but the colorful colonel, having the time of his life, shot a Spaniard with his revolver and rejoiced to see his victim double up like a jackrabbit: is how he described it. The Confused Invasion of Cuba
12. The American army closed in on Santiago which spelled doom for the Spanish fleet. The Spanish fleet wanted to get out of the harbor, but the American fleet was waiting for them. Shortly thereafter Santiago surrendered. Spain had satisfied its honor and on August 12, 1898 signed an armistice. If the Spaniards had waited, the American army might have melted away. The inroads of malaria, typhoid fever, dysentery, and yellow fever became so severe that hundreds were dying off. In total: nearly 400 men lost their lives to bullets, over 5000 lost their lives to bacteria and other causes. The Confused Invasion of Cuba
13. Late in the 1898 Spanish and American negotiators met in Paris. Ward damaged Cuba, as expected was freed from its Spanish overlords. The Americans had little difficultly in securing the remote island of Guam, which was captured early in the conflict. Spain also ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as war payment. America’s Course of Empire
14. Hinging the Open Door In China Many events began to happen in China. After its defeat by Japan in 1894-1895, European powers like Russia and Germany began to move in on the country. They began to tear away economic spheres of influence from the Chinese government. Americans viewed this sectioning off of China with much alarm. Many other nations like Britain wanted Washington to do something about this. In the summer of 1899, Hay who was secretary of state dispatched to all the great powers a communication soon known as the Open Door note. He urged them to announce that in their leaseholds or spheres of influence they would respect certain Chinese rights and the ideal of fair competition. Hay did not go so far as to consult with the Chinese government on this policy.
15. The open door policy to the Chinese was something that they did not care to be used as a doormat. In 1900 a group known as Boxers for their training in martial arts, broke loose with the cry to kill foreign devils. This became the Boxer Rebellion. This rebellion murdered more than 2 hundred foreigners and thousands of Chinese Christians in the capital city of Beijing. Some 18 thousand soldiers arrived in the nick of time to squash the rebellion, and kept the open door policy opened with the Treaty of Wanghia. Secretary Hay in 1900 announced that the Open Door would embrace the territorial integrity of China, in addition to its commercial integrity. Those principles helped spare China from possible partition in those troubled years but only to be violated by Japan’s takeover of Manchuria a decade later. Hinging the Open Door In China
16. Imperialism or Bryanism in 1900? President McKinley’s re-nomination in the 1900 was not even a question: he had won a war, acquired rich real estate and safeguarded the gold standard. TR, the cowboy hero, was looking for a way to the Vice President, but there were some political bosses that did not want him in New York as their governor, so they devised a plot to make him the next VP. This plot was to railroad Roosevelt, and it worked beautifully. He sported western style cowboy hats that made him stand out. At the Republican convention he was handed easily the VP nomination.
17. Imperialism or Bryanism in 1900? Meanwhile William Jennings Bryan was at odds with the Democrats and proclaimed that the paramount issue was Republican overseas imperialism. McKinley did most of his campaigning from his front porch. Bryan went out and campaigned everywhere, but he didn’t out-campaign Roosevelt. Roosevelt toured the country with revolver shooting cowboys. Flashing his smile and pounding his fist into his palm. McKinley won easily, and the New York bosses enjoyed watching Roosevelt take the Vice President Job.
18. William McKinley had only served 6 months when in September of 1901, he was murdered by a deranged anarchist in New York. Roosevelt then at the age of 42 became the youngest president thus far in American history. Roosevelt: he was born into a wealthy and distinguished New York family, he exercised a lot, he was educated partly in Europe, and he graduated from Harvard with honors and was published. At the age of 24 he was the first of some 30 volumes of muscular prose. He worked as a ranch owner and cowboy in the Dakotas before his political career got started. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, with mule like molars, squinty eyes, droopy mustache, and a piercing voice, and every cartoonist’s delight. TR: Brandisher of the Big Stick
19. TR: Brandisher of the Big Stick He was the leader of the Rough Riders, and an ardent champion of military and naval preparedness, and adopted the proverb: “Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.” His ego caused sometimes got the better of him. He loved people and mingled with those of all ranks, from Catholic cardinals to professional prize fighters. Above all, TR believed that the president should lead, boldly. He had no real respect for the delicate checks and balances among the 3 branches of the government. The president, he felt may take any action in the general interests that is not forbidden by the laws of the Constitution.
20. Building the Panama Canal Roosevelt soon applied his energy to foreign affairs. The Spanish American War had renewed his interest in the long talked about canal across Central American isthmus. The canal would strengthen the navy by increasing its mobility. Such a waterway would also make it easier to defend Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines, which were operating US merchant marines. Obstacles in getting the canal were that in 1850 Britain had control of the isthmus. But by 1901 America and Britain were willing to yield ground. The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty in 1901 would give the United States to build the canal but conceded the right to fortify it as well.
21. The question now was where to build it, and many were thinking Nicaragua, but others were thinking the S-Shaped country of Panama. Congress in June of 1902 finally decided on the Panama route. Now they had to get permission from Colombia and their Senate rejected an American offer of 10 million with an annual payment of 250,000 for a six mile wide zone across Panama. Meanwhile many in Panama would revolt here and there, and not until Americans had expressed interest did Panamanians revolt again. A man named Bunau Varilla (going to use his construction company) was disturbed by the prospect of losing 40 million. So helped the revolutionists and helped them rebel and the US forces prevented Colombian troops from crossing the isthmus to stop the uprising. Building the Panama Canal
22. Roosevelt moved quickly to make Panama an outpost of the United States. 15 days later he made Bunau-Varilla, the minister despite his French citizenship sign a treaty in Washington. Bunau’s company pocketed its 40 million from the US treasury. Many outsiders angrily expressed views, and they counted on his using the big stick to hold Columbia at bay. Canal construction began in 1904 and right away experienced labor troubles to landslides and tropical diseases. This project will be completed in 1914, just as WWI was breaking out. Building the Panama Canal
23. Latin America debt had defaulted and prompted further action from Roosevelt. Nations such as Venezuela and DR were behind in their payments to European creditors. Germany actually took action in a town in Venezuela in 1903. Roosevelt felt that if the Germans and British had their foot in these countries, that they might remain in Latin America. Which according to the Monroe Doctrine it was a direct violation of that document. Roosevelt declared the Roosevelt Corollary with the Monroe Doctrine. He announced that in the event of future financial missteps by Latin American nations, the United States would intervene, and keep the European nations out of our side of the Atlantic. TR’s rewriting of the Monroe Doctrine did more harm than good, siting a bad neighbor policy. As time wore on, this new corollary was used to justify wholesale interventions and repeated landings of the marines. To Latin American nations it felt as though instead of providing a shield of protection it was a cloak behind which the United States tried to strangle them. TR’s Perversion of Monroe’s Doctrine