The Age of Empire 1890-1900
Overview Competition for markets Acquisition of land (Primarily in Pacific) Yellow Journalism Spanish American War
McKinley vs. Bryan
Why Empire?
Why Empire? Markets Export your goods
Why Empire? Markets Export your goods Resources Raw materials to manufacture goods
Why Empire? Markets Export your goods Resources Raw materials to manufacture goods Geopolitics Military security around the globe
Scramble for Africa Europeans explore/colonize the continent Rich in natural resources (and labor) Rise of Japan/Russia/Germany Even more competition America afraid of falling behind
Naval Power Influence of Sea Power upon History Alfred Thayer Mahan Navy is the key to global power Hugely popular U.S. focuses on Latin America
Colonies attached to the mother-country afford, therefore, the surest means of supporting abroad the sea power of a country. In peace, the influence of the government should be felt in promoting by all means a warmth of attachment and a unity of interest which will make the welfare of one the welfare of all, and the quarrel of one the quarrel of all; and in war, or rather for war, by inducing such measures of organization and defence as shall be felt by all to be a fair distribution of a burden of which each reaps the benefit. Such colonies the United States has not and is not likely to have. As regards purely military naval stations, the feeling of her people was probably accurately expressed by an historian of the English navy a hundred years ago, speaking then of Gibraltar and Port Mahan. "Military governments," said he, "agree so little with the industry of a trading people, and are in themselves so repugnant to the genius of the British people, that I do not wonder that men of good sense and of all parties have inclined to give up these, as Tangiers was given up." Having therefore no foreign establishments, either colonial or military, the ships of war of the United States, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. To provide resting-places for them, where they can coal and repair, would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea... --Alfred Thayer Mahan
Belligerence New aggressive foreign policy Competition breeds contempt Gets involved in disputes with Europe Many over Latin America Invocation of Monroe Doctrine
Hawaii Christian missionaries in 1820 s Commercial/military pact in 1870 s White planters want annexation Cleveland refuses Annexed under McKinley
Yellow Journalism Battle for newspaper readers Hearst and Pulitzer Big headlines, sensationalism Exaggeration
Cuba Cubans revolt against Spain Mistreatment, neglect Rebels put in concentration camps Americans outraged, politicians eager to boot Spain
The Maine Explosion American ship explodes in Havana 260 killed Americans blame Spanish mine Remember the Maine!
Spoils of War U.S. buys Philippines for 20 mil Anti-Imperialist League is formed Twain, Carnegie, Gompers, etc. Huge debate in America Is this American behavior?
We hold with Abraham Lincoln, that 'no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. When the white man governs himself, that is selfgovernment, but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government-that is despotism. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men in all lands. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and under a just God cannot long retain It.' We cordially invite the cooperation of all men and women who remain loyal to the declaration of independence and the constitution of the United States. Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League
Spoils of War U.S. withdraws from Cuba Cubans Write constitution Platt Amendment U.S. can intervene Gets bases on Cuba