US Imperialism Timeline 2

1
US Imperialism Timeline (2)

• 1896-8 Mass media (newspapers) report Cuban
  atrocities, exaggerate the truth (yellow
  journalism)
• Feb 15, 1898 USS Maine blows up in Havana,
  260 US sailors killed
• April 20, 1898 US declares War on Spain,
  takes control of Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico
  and Guam
• Dec 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris signed by US and
  Spain ends war, treaty ratified by congress in
  1899

2
Beginnings of US Imperialism

• 1890s-1910s

3
Why has the US sought to control other parts of
the world?

• Military / Strategic reasons
• Economic reasons
• Moral / Philosophical reasons
• Public pressure and yellow journalism

4
Military / Strategic motives Hawaii
5
Military / Strategic motivesHawaii
Pearl Harbor nice location for a Naval base
6
Military / Strategic motivesPhilippines
Gateway to Asia
Another good place for a base!
7
Military / Strategic motives
Panama
8
Military / Strategic motivesCuba
9
Economic motives

• US business interests -Fruit, sugar and
  tobacco industries in Hawaii, Cuba
  - Trade export our products
  to Asian markets, especially China
  - Open Door Policy
  - Other natural resources
• Control trade through Panama Canal

10
Moral / Philosophical motives

• Spread US culture, technology, democracy
• Idea of Anglo-Saxon supremacy, White Mans
  Burden
• Social Darwinism
• Help Cuban and Filipino rebels overthrow Spanish
  Empire (give them freedom)

11
Yellow Journalism / Public Sentiment

• Mass media exaggerating
  news to sell more newspapers
• Report Spanish atrocities, exaggerates them -
  Spanish feeding Cuban babies to sharks -
  Spanish bombed the USS Maine
• Americans get outraged, push politicians to start
  Spanish American war (1898)

12
Guantanamo Bay 2005
13
How did (does) the US take control of other parts
of the world?
14
Using our militaryGunboat or Big Stick
diplomacy

• Spanish-American War Pres. McKinley uses US Navy
  to defeat Spain, take over Cuba, Puerto Rico, The
  Philippines, Guam

15
Using our militaryGunboat or Big Stick
diplomacy
Panama Pres. Theodore Roosevelt uses force to
liberate Panama from Colombia, US takes control
of canal project
16
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
US will use military force to deal with any
problems in the Western Hemisphere when it
affects the interests of the US.
17
Control through investment and trade

• Hawaii US businessmen gradually get more
  control, arrange the overthrow of Queen
• Dollar diplomacy US businesses invest in foreign
  countries, start to control business,politics and
  natural resources in those countries
• Open Door Policy allow all countries to trade
  freely, eliminate imperial spheres of influence