U.S. Expansionism

• 1870 - 1900

• hegemony (hegemonic)

Isolationism

• minor international events (Mexico-French)

Acquisition

• Sect. State Wm. H. Seward buys Alaska in '67 from Russia for $7.2 mil.

• Midway Islands discovered & claimed

Export trade grew

• with agriculture and mfg. seeking new mkts.

Manifest Destiny

• racist, religious justification

• Josiah Strong Anglo Saxon, institutions, imperialism

• overseas enterprise in Africa, L. America

Naval and military strategic power

• Capt. Alfred Thayer Mahan, Influence of Sea Power on History ('90)

• powerful navy

• overseas bases

• canal

• fleet

• islands

• Henry Cabot Lodge, Albert Beveridge build Navy ships by 1883

Hawaii Annexation (1898)

• by joint resolution

• Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 - with Hawaii monarchy, Queen Liliuokalani

• duty free sugar for U.S. use of Pearl Harbor

Coup d'etat (1893)

• by Americans vs Queen Liliuokalani

• after hesitating, McKinley recognized them

Pan American Conference (1889)

• by Sect St. James G. Blaine

• trying to establish U.S. leadership in L. Amer.

• failed to obtain reciprocity trade agreement

• got only cultural exchange and distrust

Venezuelan Boundary Dispute (1895)

• with Great Britain

• Sect. State Richard Olney assumed role of "arbitrator"

• "Its fiat is law" upon L. American "subjects"

• appointed Boundary Commission and led peaceful resolution

Spanish American War

• Gen. "Butcher" Valeriano Weyler concentration camps vs rebels

• Jose Marti Cuban rebels

• U.S. press (yellow journalism) pro-rebel and vs Spanish atrocities

The Dupuy De Lome Letter (1898)

• Span. Min. to D.C.

• criticized McKinley as "bidder for admiration of the crowd"

• Americans outraged despite DeLome's resignation

The Maine explosion (Feb. 15, 1898)

• in Havana harbor

• 260 KIA, press demands war vs Spain

• Cubans demand full independence

• Joint Resolution: Recognize Cuba indep. & use force vs Spain

BUT: Teller Amendment

• to disclaim intent to acquire Cuba

• Spain declares war on U.S.

Asst. Sect. of Navy Theodore Roosevelt prepared Cmdore Geo. Dewey

• drill gun crews in Hong Kong, paint battle gray, ammunition

• establish liaison with Filipino rebel Emilio Aguinaldo

Dewey took Manila Bay

• with 11,000 U.S. troops

• Ge. Wm. Shafter & U.S. Navy take Cuba & Puerto Rico

• disorganized, winter uniforms; "Rough Riders" no horses

• 5,000 KIA (360 to combat)

Anti-Imperialists oppose U.S. Constitution in annexation

• Andrew Carnegie (racism), Samuel Gompers (immigration)

• Mark Twain, Jane Addams

Treaty of Paris of 1899

• Spain under duress

• U.S. pays $20 million & annexes Cuba, P.R., Guam

• Philippines annexed and insurrection; guerrila war

• U.S. troops rape, arson, murder

• finally stabilized under Gen. Wm. H. Taft by 1901

Insular Cases i.e. Foraker Act (1900)

• established civil government for P.R. and islands

• BUT: not U.S. citizenship or local self-govt.

• tariff over P.R. as a U.S. property

• Supreme Court says Constitution does not follow the flag

Platt Amendment (1900)

• to legislation on Cuba

• U.s. mil. govt. condescended on Cuban poverty, race, colonial govt.

• insulted Cuban rebel cmdr. Gen. Calixto Garcia

U.S. Improvements

• modernized Cuban sugar industry, sanitation, schools

• Established Cuban public admin. and constitutional convention

Platt Amend. Provisions

• prior to U.S. withdrawal in 1902

• U.S. may intervene in Cuba to preserve its independence

• NO treaty with foreign powers

• grants U.S. naval bases e.g. Guantanamo

Results of War

• Cuban and Latino resentment

• U.S. capitalists in control

• Cuban peasants left in system of peonage under Span. families

Roosevelt Corollary

• to Monroe Doctrine

• Originated in boundary disputes between Europe and L. Amer.

• Theo. Roosevelt (Pres., 1900)

3. Dom. Republic (1903) defaulted on debts

• T. R. sent in U.S. Navy & Marines - outside intervention

• took over customs service 50% revenue to repay debt

• no other nation can colonize L.Amer;

• SIGN: U.S. assumes role of international police power

• bred L. American resentment, and fear

Panama Canal

• Philippe Bunau-Varilla, Fr. Engineer

• French construction falters

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

• abrogated in 1901 by Sect. St. John Hay

• U.S. right to build canal alone

• canal open to other nations ships

Columbia Rejects U.S. Offer

• $10 mil for 99-yr. lease

• T.R. “welcomes” Panama revolt

Bunau-Varilla revolt (1903)

• T.R. recognizes independence

• U.S.S. Nashville threatens Colombia

• U.S. pays $10 mil. to Panama

• $40 mil. to Philippe Bunau-Varilla

• Bunau-Varilla returns to France

Canal Zone:

• 10 mi. wide,

• in perpetuity

• U.S. sovreignty,

• $40 mil.

SIGN: Panama Canal

• U.S. gets strategic canal

• per Mahan

• resentment and fear of U.S

• racism i.e. T.R. called them "dagoes"

T.R. speech

• "You were accused of seduction and you have conclusively proved that you were guilty of rape." Sect. of War Elihu Root