Do now questions• Write down the following question and then answer it in

your notebook. You may use your notebook to answer the question:

• Why did the Cuban feel angry at the US after the Cuba gained its independence in 1901 from Spain?

• The US did not launch military operations against the Spanish in Cuba. Where did they first attack?

Homework• Due for Thursday - Read and takes notes on pages

816 to 821 (US Economic Imperialism). Really read and take notes!

• Be prepared to show me your work

• Due Tuesday: Explain the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in your notebook and answer Question # 3 on page 821

Problems in Latin America• Latin America was a poor part of the world. Most of the

countries were independent, but still struggled economically.

• Most of these countries were economically dependent on European powers.

• These countries typically needed to borrow money to build their infrastructure (roads, schools, hospitals,..) and Europe was willing to lend it.

• The issue was what happens if a country cannot afford to re-pay another country back?

• This dynamic occurred and the US felt it was a national security issue.

Problems in Latin America• Back in 1823, US President Monroe created the

Monroe Doctrine. It had three parts:• 1. No European interference in new nation’s

affairs• 2. No new colonies in Latin or South America• 3. The US will stay out of European Affairs• Most European countries did not take the

seriously, but England fully supported the Monroe Doctrine and would support military action to defend the Monroe Doctrine.

Problems in Latin America• Until 1898, the US did not do much to enforce it.• In Cuba, there was local support to remove

Spain from Cuba. US companies invested a lot into Cuba and this made the US government feel obligated to side with the Cuban rebels.

• (The following is not in the text book, but must be included in your notes!)

• As a show of force, the US sent to Havana Harbor the battleship USS Maine. The thought was that the Spanish would not harm US interests or harm Cuban civilians.

Spanish-American War• In Feb. 1898, the Maine exploded in Havana

Harbor.• The Cubans blamed the Spanish. The Spanish

blamed the Cuban Rebels. Neither side considered it could have been an accident. History points to an accidental explosion.

• The US believed the Spanish were behind the explosion and declared war on Spain.

• The Spanish government was in a decline and really was unprepared for war.

Spanish-American War• The US focused first on the Philippine Islands

rather than Cuba. Clearly the US was making the most of Spain’s weakness.

• The US captured Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba and the Philippines from Spain.

• 1901, Cuba was supposed to be independent, but in reality they just had a new manager, the US. This caused a great deal of resentment among the Cuban people towards the US.

• This view carried to other parts of the Latin and South America

Columbia and Panama• The US had always sought out an easier and

quicker route for US warships to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.

• The French began to dig a canal in present day Panama, but failed. The diseases in the rain forest were too much. People such as President Teddy Roosevelt wanted to make it happen.

• In 1903, Roosevelt approached the Columbia government with an offer of $10 Million and a yearly payment for the right to build and maintain a canal in the province of Panama.

Columbia and Panama• The Columbians wanted more. The US

encouraged the Panamanian rebels to revolt. With the help of the US Panama gained its independence from Columbia and the US was given permission to build the canal.

• Thousands of US and other foreign workers died from diseases, but the canal opened in 1914.