America Claims an Empire

American Imperialism
1. Military strength through building up of Naval power with battleships and cruisers making the U.S. the 3rd largest naval power.
  1. U.S. took over Hawaii to build naval base at Pearl Harbor.
  2. War in the Philippines began when commodore, George Dewey commanded opening the Spanish fleet to destroy ships which led to Spanish troops surrendering.
    1. The U.S. was contemplating between annexing or not annexing the Philippines with pros being improvement in education and spread of religion and cons being the violation of the Declaration of Independance (denial of self-government to newly-acquired territory) and a lack of sovereigniy.
  3. The U.S. needed to maintain it's presence in the Caribbean and protect it with the idea of a potential canal being built to aid with trade.
    1. War in the Carribean began in San Jan Hill (17,000 in army + Rough Riders) charged uphill although lack of preparedness and ended with the U.S. in victory.
    2. The U.S. interfered with Puerto Rico's controversy on independence or governmental rule by passing the Foraker Act.
    3. The canal became a necessity for trade and military ships to travel more efficiently. The options for locations included Nicaragua (obstacle: large lake) and Panama (advantage shorter way), therefore Panama was chosen.
      1. Cost: $40 million for construction and $10 million + $250,000 per year for land
      2. Process began in 1904 with clearing and draining of land. In 1913, more than 43,000 workers were building at risk of diseases i.e. yellow fever and malaria and under unsafe conditions leading to death of more than 5,600.
      3. In 1914, the canal opened passing 1,000 ships the first year.
  4. President Wilson saw Huerta's ruling of Mexico as a "government of butchers" taking action by invaded Veracruz with U.S. Marines killing 200+ Americans and proposing with Argentina, Brazil, and Chile that Huerta step down until his reign collapsed and rule was taken over by nationalist, Carranza.
2. New markets from technology and machinery making more production of manufactured and agricultural goods that need markets, increasing foreign trade.
  1. U.S. took over Hawaii as transit to Asia as well as for it's supply of sugar plantations.
  2. U.S. took over Alaska for it's vast lands filled with sources like timber, mineral, and oils after forgoing difficulty in the House of Reps. and paying 2 cents/acre.
  3. The U.S. wanted to gain Cuba's sympathy by abolishing Spain's enforcement of slavery and supporting Cuba's rebellion against Spain, in return for it's investment in Cuban sugar plantations.
    1. Cuban revolution was launched against Spain including destruction of property which led to Spain enforcing a move of all Cubans involved in concentration camps.
      1. President Mckinley took action by resolving revolution, taking people out of the camps, and limiting self-government.
        U.S. supported Cuba after passing the Teller Amendment by providing food, clothing, putting land in cultivation, organising education systems, improving sanitation, and developing medical research.
        The U.S. maintained it's presence in Cuba by investing in sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, mining industries, and railroad industries.
    2. On February 15, 1908, the U.S.S. Maine blew up killing more than 260 men, spurring U.S. intervention of using force against spain followed by declaration of war.
3. Culture is a combination of social darwinism and racial superiority.
4. Mexico
  1. President Diaz supported foreign investments, yet didn't use them effectively, making Mexicans poor. He was overthrown in 1911.
  2. Madero couldn't deal with land owners, factory workers, peasants, and middle class demands, therefore stepped down and was killed. Huerta took control.
  3. Villa killed Americans in Mexico resulting in search for him and guards lined up along Mexican-American border, leading to clashes due to lack of privacy, but back out from war.
  4. Alvaro Obregón took control after Carranza and began new reform.
European Involvement
1. European established it's imperialism through taking over ALL African countries except Ethiopia and Liberia.
2. Europe competed with Japan over annexing China.
3. Europe loaned money to Latin American countries for them to build railroads and develop industries, competing over dominance in Latin America with the U.S.
Ideas Enforced
1. In 1890, Mckinley Tariff created the idea of "protectionism' in which domestic economies had protection from foreign competition.
2. Yellow Journalism or exaggerated engaging news began being published in journals and newspapers.
3. American beliefs include economic growth being dependent on trade, intervention abroad being a neccesity, limitation of products and ideas will not lead to success, a free-enterprise democracy is the optimum government, extending economic and political system is essential, and foreign policy must: 1) extend access to foreign markets, 2) build navy protecting interests, 3) ensure Latin American dominance.
Law
1. The Foraker Act was enforced by the U.S. to the Puerto Rican government which was at that point led by the military. This act created the set-up of a civil government.
2. The Teller Amendment was passed in 1898 and it stated that annexation of Cuba wasn't the United States' intention.
3. The Platt Amendment was added to the new Cuban constitution stating that: 1) no treaties can limit independence or permit control, 2) the U.S. may intervene and buy naval stations, 3) Cuba is prohibited from getting into debt that can't be repaid.
4. Open-Door Notes secured no interference from other countries within U.S. trade with China.
5. Monroe Doctrine enforced that European countries must stay out of Latin American affairs.
6. Dollar Diplomacy is the guarantee of loans from U.S. to foreign countries.
7. Missionary Diplomacy stated that the U.S. could deny Latin American governments that are oppressive, hostile, or undemocratic to U.S. interests.
8. Mexican Constitution of 1917 stated that Mexico was to control it's oil and mineral resources as well as enforce strict rules on foreign investment.
Events
1. Filipino Rebellion against the U.S. led to their placement in designated zones with poor sanitation, starvation, and disease spread, killing 20,000 Filipinos, and 4,000 Americans who tried to pull down the rebellion for 3 years.
2. On July 4, 1946, the Philippines became independent and known as "gateway to Asia."
3. Boxer Rebellion was groups of martial art participants who killed foreigner occupying the coasts of China, in return with many of them being killed by American intervention.
4. In 1901, William Mckinley (U.S. president) was assassinated and Theodore Roosevelt became president.
5. Russia and Japan competed in controlling Korea, with the Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan annexed Korea.
6. Spain and the U.S. met in Paris to settle the Battle of San Juan Hill by freeing cuba. This became known as the Treaty of Paris.

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America Claims an Empire

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	Created by Fadila Farag over 9 years ago