Becoming A World Power, 1890-1915 United States History Week of April 27, 2015
What Factors Caused Imperialism? Economic factors: need for natural resources, new markets for manufactured goods Nationalistic forces and competition among European nations for large empires Advances in military technology: militaries in industrialised nations are now far more capable than those in Africa, Asia, and South America Humanitarian goals: There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them President William McKinley
The United States and Expansion Historically, how did the US approach expansion and imperialism? George Washington s Farewell Address The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is to have with them as little political connection as possible Monroe Doctrine With the Governments who have declared their independence we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States
The United States and Expansion: banana republics What does the term banana republic mean? Economic factors were a chief reason for US expansion Example: response to panics caused by overproduction of food and goods American businessmen expanded fruit plantation operations into Central America They were looking for new lands This is also the origin of the political concept of banana republic Henry Meiggs and Minor Keith started banana plantations in the 1870s to feed railroad workers United Fruit Company and Standard Fruit Company expanded operations in Central America, dominating banana exports, national infrastructure, government, and politics United Fruit later became Chiquita Brands International; Standard Fruit became Dole Food Company
The Economist Explains [O. Henry s] phrase neatly conjures up the image of a tropical, agrarian country. But its real meaning is sharper: it refers to the fruit companies from the United States that came to exert extraordinary influence over the politics of Honduras and its neighbours. By the end of the 19th century, Americans had grown sick of trying to grow fruit in their own chilly country. It was sweeter and cheaper by far to import it instead from the warmer climes of Central America, where bananas and other fruit grow quickly. Giants such as the United Fruit Company an ancestor of Chiquita moved in and built roads, ports and railways in return for land. In 1911 the Cuyamel Fruit Company, another American firm (which was later bought by United), supplied the weapons for a coup against the government of Honduras, and prospered under the newly installed president. In 1954 America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) backed a coup against the government of Guatemala, which had threatened the interests of United. (Historians still debate whether the CIA's motive was to protect United or, as many now believe, to nip Communism in the bud.) Hence the real meaning of a banana republic : a country in which foreign enterprises push the government around. The Economist
American Security: Strong Navy A key part of United States strength was its powerful navy Naval officers with business interests convinced Congress to build new naval ships to protect international trade Civil War-era ships were old and in disrepair Capt. Alfred T. Mahan: The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 the US needed a powerful navy to protect overseas interests Congress established Naval Advisory Board in 1881, passed Naval Act of 1890 By 1900, the United States had one of the most powerful navies in the world
US & Cuba: Cuban Rebellion, Yellow Journalism Diplomatic actions by President Cleveland and Secretary of State Olney had established the practice of arbitration in international affairs Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and British Guiana Cuba pressured United States to intervene in its rebellion against Spain in 1895 US involvement would lead to the Spanish-American War Amidst a collapsing economy, Cubans rebelled against Spain and Weyler s policy of reconcentration Cuban journalist José Martí urged the US to intervene Presidents Cleveland and McKinley refused Cuban guerillas destroyed American sugar mills and plantations in Cuba Hearst and Pulitzer sensationalised stories of Weyler and reconcentration camps
Spanish-American War President McKinley sent the USS Maine into Havana s harbour following eruption of riots, in the interest of protecting Americans and American property Enrique Dupuy de Lôme and the de Lôme Letter: "...McKinley is weak and catering to the rabble and, besides, a low politician who desires to leave a door open to himself and to stand well with the jingos of his party Explosion of the Maine led to American public blaming Spain Naval Secretary Theodore Roosevelt felt that the Philippines would be a key base for the US to protect its Asian trade interests Adm. Dewey was told to attack Spanish fleet if war with Spain broke out The US defeated Spain in a splendid little war Treaty of Paris: Cuba s independence; Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam granted to US and become unincorporated territories
The US and the Philippines McKinley argued that if United States did not act first regarding the Philippines, other European nations may seize the islands In 1899 Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines an independent republic; war ensued between rebels and Americans Philippines gained complete independence in 1946 Cuba was already independent; Teller Amendment promised that the US would not annex Cuba McKinley installed a military government in Cuba Government authorized a new Cuban constitution that did not allow continued US involvement in Cuba US would remove troops if Cubans adhered to Platt Amendment provisions that Cuban government does not enter foreign agreements, and allows US to establish naval bases, and intervene when necessary Guess which naval base they established
The US and the Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Samoa, China Puerto Rico did not become independent; the US maintained a military government until 1900 Foraker Act (1900): removal of military control, establishment of a civil government Jones Act (1917) granted Puerto Ricans US citizenship Hawaii and the US renewed trade treaty in 1887; also leased Pearl Harbor to the US as a fueling and repair station Queen Liliuokalani opposed US control of Hawaii and planter-friendly constitution, but was forced from power by planter Sanford Dole and US Marines Dole pushed for US annexation of Hawaii, which was approved by Congress in 1898, helped by arguments for naval bases Samoa harbor at Pago Pago McKinley s Secretary of State Hay wanted to ensure United States had access to China s consumers through his Open Door Policy Feared Boxer rebellion would result in other nations attempts to seize more Chinese territory Issued more Open Door notes, reaffirming the US intent to protect open trade in China
Teddy Roosevelt: Speak softly and carry a big stick President Theodore Roosevelt issues an update to United States foreign policy, known as the Roosevelt Corollary: All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power. Roosevelt
Effects of Roosevelt Corollary Roosevelt s intent was not to use the Monroe Doctrine as a cloak for territorial aggression Impetus for Roosevelt Corollary was the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902-1903 The UK, Germany, and Italy imposed naval blockade on Venezuela because President Cipriano Castro was unable to pay debts owed to the European nations The US pressured the nations to settle debt claims An international tribunal showed preferential treatment to the three nations that had blockaded Venezuela The US feared ruling would encourage further European intervention in the area if states were unable to pay their debts Monroe Doctrine now meant the US would not intervene outside of European seizure of territory in the Western Hemisphere Corollary guided US intervention in Cuba (1906 1909), Nicaragua (1909 1910, 1912 1925 and 1926 1933), Haiti (1915 1934), and the Dominican Republic (1916 1924)
Speak softly and carry a big stick
Teddy Roosevelt as Peacemaker Roosevelt s main concern in Asia was in keeping an opendoor trade policy with China Roosevelt s work regarding China earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 Japanese had a military far superior to both Russia, China Roosevelt helped end Russo-Japanese War Japan was granted control of the Korean Peninsula Russia vacated Manchuria
Taft and Foreign Policy Taft followed a policy of dollar diplomacy President William Howard Taft s main foreign policy goals: Preserving stability in Latin America Maintaining an open door to Asia Believed in maintaining order abroad through American foreign investment in economies Dollar diplomacy Policy did not result in great success Objections to infrastructure investments and economic losses in China; heightened anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism in Latin America
Wilson and Foreign Policy Wilson followed a policy of moral diplomacy President Woodrow Wilson s intervention in Mexico drew more anti-american sentiment 1913: General Victoriano Huerta overthrew President Francisco Madero Huerta s promised to protect foreign investments; Wilson refused to recognise him Wilson supported Venustiano Carranza against Huerta, which infuriated Francisco Pancho Villa Wilson sent the US Navy to Veracruz Pancho Villa s raids resulted in Wilson sending General John Black Jack Pershing into Mexico to pursue Villa Pershing did not find Villa, and in 1917 Wilson withdrew troops Wilson s policy of moral diplomacy failed, and managed to infuriate relations with Mexico
Anti-Imperialism Sentiment Rises The new role of the US in the world spurred intense debate 1898: opponents of US policy in the Philippines established the Anti-Imperialist League Arguments of the League included that expansionism reflects a rejection of liberty for all, and that people in US territories should be entitled to US constitutional guarantees Did imperialism ruin or threaten the nation s democratic foundations? What is the role of racism in imperialism? What are the costs of imperialism? Imperialism maintained a strong hold on the United States new frontier for American expansion Expansion as a celebration of American spirit Foreign responses to American imperialism Yankee, go home! Foreign nations turn to the US for aid