Creating an Empire

1
Creating an Empire

• 1865-1917

2
Imperialism

• the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending
  the power and dominion of a nation especially by
  direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining
  indirect control over the political or economic
  life of other areas broadly the extension or
  imposition of power, authority, or influence

3
New Imperialism

• The Great Powers of Europe suddenly shook off
  almost a century of apathy toward overseas
  colonies and, in the space of 20 years,
  partitioned almost the entire uncolonized portion
  of the globe (1870s 1880s).

4
Origins of American Imperialism

• Rise of broad-based educated left
• Educated elites as guardians of people
• e.g., Walter Lippmann, Lenin, Mussolini
• Conspiracy theory and racism
• Anti-semitic, e.g., Jews controlled Wall Street
• White Mans Burden divine mission or cultural
  duty to rule over lesser breeds
• Manifest Destiny makes America an acquisitive
  power

5
Non-Contiguous Possessions

• Commodore Matthew C. Perry opens Japan (1853)
• Gunboat Diplomacy
• Alaska Purchase (1867) for 7,200,000
• Sewards Icebox or Sewards Folly
• Gold discovered in Klondike in 1897 reveals value
  of acquisition elevated to territory in 1912
  statehood in 1959
• Hawaii Annexation (1900)
• Missionaries and Sugar Planters

6
American Christianity Imperialism

• Missionary movement gathers momentum after Civil
  War
• Christian egalitarian teachings vindicated
  against renegades and apostates
• Coincides with worldview of Anglo-Saxon races
  raising up the dark millions and bringing them
  into light of Christianity universalist mission
  of Christ was to be completed
• American Christian republic was a triumphant
  success failure would have been evidence of
  moral unworthiness
• Social Darwinism used to justify evangelism

7
Social Darwinism

• theory that persons, groups, and races are
  subject to the same laws of natural selection as
  Charles Darwin had perceived in plants and
  animals in nature the weak were diminished and
  their cultures delimited, while the strong grew
  in power and in cultural influence over the weak.
  Social Darwinists held that the life of humans in
  society was a struggle for existence ruled by
  survival of the fittest,

8
Strategic Concerns

• Alfred Thayer Mahan emphasizes importance of
  strong navy in his book The Influence of Sea
  Power upon History.
• Called for a canal across the isthmus of Panama,
  naval bases in the Caribbean and Pacific,
  annexation of Hawaii and other islands
• Mahanism cast aside isolationism and begin to
  look outward

9
Origins of Spanish-American War

• 1868-78 America ignores pleas for help by Cuban
  rebels
• During 1880-90s American investments in Cuba
  multiplied
• Cuban Revolution (1895)
• Imperialist spirit of age defense of American
  property
• Christian dimension
• Moral issue of treatment of Cubans Grover
  Cleveland maintained policy of neutrality
• McKinley elected on platform of Cuban
  Independence

10
Efforts of Newspapermen

• Joseph Pulitzer William Randolph Hearst
• New York World emphasized sensation, scandal, and
  human interest stories
• In 1896 colored supplement on cheap yellow
  paper with cartoon character known as the Yellow
  Kid
• Leads to Phrase yellow press

11
Yellow Journalism

• Deliberately sensational journalism of scandal
  and exposure designed to attract an urban mass
  audience and increase advertising revenue
• Each sought to outdo the other with Spanish
  horror stories

12
Influence of Press overemphasized

• Cuban expatriates raise awareness and money
• Business both pro and con
• Intellectual argument combined both imperialism
  with humanitarian relief
• Dupuy de Lomes letter
• Referred to McKinley as weak and a bidder for
  the admiration of the crowd
• Reconciliation underway when Maine blew up

13
Destruction of the Maine

• Maine sent to Havana to protect American
  Citizens uncontroversial
• Explosion destroys the Maine kills 260
• Cause unknown
• Yellow Press blames Spain Remember the Maine
  to hell with Spain
• April 20, 1898 McKinley signs War Resolution
  Teller Amendment disclaiming desire to exercise
  sovereignty over Cuba

14
Spanish-American War

• May 1, 1898 Spanish fleet destroyed in Manila Bay
• Regular and Volunteer Troops (TRs Rough Riders)
  advance on Cuba Spanish surrender July 17, 1898
• Treaty of Paris signed Dec. 10, 1898

15
Treaty of Paris (Dec 1898)

• Senate insists that Cuba be free
• Spain cedes Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico
  US pays 20 million
• Filipino freedom fighters helped liberate
  Philippines from Spain immediately begin fight
  Americans
• Why liberate Cuba but acquire Philippines?

16
Considerations in Acquisition of Philippines

• Imperialists TR, Mahon, and others pushed
  American onto World Stage as world power
  overseas coaling stations were needed Hawaii
  annexed in July, Philippines logical extension
• Presence of other imperialist nations Britain
  and Germany would have acquired Philippines upon
  American withdrawal
• Racist discourse White mans Burde/Social
  Darwinism
• Christian evangelism

17
Liberation of Philippines

• 1916 Jones Act announces American intention to
  grant Philippine independence
• 1934 Tydings-McDuffie Act provides 10 years of
  tutelage 1944 set as date for independence
  delayed by Japanese occupation
• 1946 US grants Philippine independence first
  time in history a country voluntarily
  peacefully rescinded control of conquered
  territory

18
United States and East Asia, 1899-1917

• America has become a world power Where
  formerly we had only commercial interests, we now
  have territorial and political interests as well
• John Bassett Moore, Assistant Secy of State

19
Filipino-American War

• Filipinos felt betrayed by Treaty of Paris
• Feb 4, 1899 fighting between American and
  Filipino troops sparked war
• Torture and savagery on both sides
• 1902 US colonial rule is established after a
  brutal war

20
China and the Open Door

• Opium War ends the Canton System opens China to
  Western encroachment through concessions
• Spheres of Influence
• Japan annexed Taiwan concessions in Fukien
• Russia in Port Arthur
• Germany in Shandong Peninsula
• 1899 Secy of State John Hay demands Open Door
  to China
• Boxer Rebellion

21
Rivalry with Japan and Russia

• 1904 Japan defeats Russia
• 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth ends War
• Japan wins Sphere of Influence in Manchuria
• Control of Sakhalin Islands
• Recognition of domination in Korea
• 1907 Gentlemens Agreement