The “American The “American Empire”Empire”Text chapter 20Text chapter 20

The “American Empire”The “American Empire”

Three international events of the late Three international events of the late 1800s showed many Americans that the 1800s showed many Americans that the U.S. must become involved with the rest U.S. must become involved with the rest of the world, in a dominant way.of the world, in a dominant way.

The “American Empire”The “American Empire”

ISSUE 1.The island territory of Cuba ISSUE 1.The island territory of Cuba revolted against its mother country, Spain, in revolted against its mother country, Spain, in 1895. 1895.

American manufacturers had millions American manufacturers had millions invested in Cuba (plantations primarily) and invested in Cuba (plantations primarily) and did an annual business of over $100 million did an annual business of over $100 million with Cubans.with Cubans.

Stabilizing Cuba was an election issue in Stabilizing Cuba was an election issue in 1896 for Republican William McKinley.1896 for Republican William McKinley.

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ISSUE 2. Britain, a long-time ally of the U.S. ISSUE 2. Britain, a long-time ally of the U.S. entered a dispute in 1895 with the new nation entered a dispute in 1895 with the new nation Venezuela over its border with the British colony Venezuela over its border with the British colony of Guiana. of Guiana.

Britain refused to recognize the Monroe Doctrine Britain refused to recognize the Monroe Doctrine at first, but later backed off its insistence for US at first, but later backed off its insistence for US aid in this matter in exchange for US aid to Britain aid in this matter in exchange for US aid to Britain in its colony dispute in South Africa against the in its colony dispute in South Africa against the Germans.Germans.

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This trading of favors got the U.S. even This trading of favors got the U.S. even more interested in developing its own more interested in developing its own array of colonies. array of colonies.

It also began a new kind of military It also began a new kind of military friendship between the U.S. and Britain, friendship between the U.S. and Britain,

would eventually drag the U.S. into would eventually drag the U.S. into Britain’s outright European war with Britain’s outright European war with Germany in 1917.Germany in 1917.

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ISSUE 3. China and Japan were at war in 1894-ISSUE 3. China and Japan were at war in 1894-95 over colonization Japan was attempting on the 95 over colonization Japan was attempting on the Chinese mainland. Chinese mainland.

Japan won, easily, and the U.S. feared that Japan Japan won, easily, and the U.S. feared that Japan might close off China and all of the Orient to might close off China and all of the Orient to western traders. western traders.

Many in Congress began to see that a naval base Many in Congress began to see that a naval base in the Pacific would give the US a “close eye” on in the Pacific would give the US a “close eye” on Japan, and keep China open.Japan, and keep China open.

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The United States announced in 1899 The United States announced in 1899 that it intended an “Open Door” policy that it intended an “Open Door” policy where China was concerned.where China was concerned.

somewhat pompous? somewhat pompous? The U.S. intended to keep any country The U.S. intended to keep any country

from claiming China and Chinese from claiming China and Chinese markets for itself.markets for itself.

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Smaller side-issues Smaller side-issues Brazil and Nicaragua both underwent Brazil and Nicaragua both underwent

revolutions in the mid-1890s. revolutions in the mid-1890s. The United States sent massive aid to The United States sent massive aid to

the existing governments (which were the existing governments (which were oppressive, but which were able to oppressive, but which were able to survive their revolutions.)survive their revolutions.)

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President Cleveland insisted that the aid President Cleveland insisted that the aid was necessary, in order to maintain U.S. was necessary, in order to maintain U.S. trade in the area. trade in the area.

This policy was called “Pan Americanism,” This policy was called “Pan Americanism,” and was a logical trade extension of the and was a logical trade extension of the Monroe Doctrine.Monroe Doctrine.

Pan-Americanism left hard feelings among Pan-Americanism left hard feelings among oppressed people in South America.oppressed people in South America.

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In 1893, Hawaiian monarch Queen In 1893, Hawaiian monarch Queen Lilioukalani was threatened by revolution Lilioukalani was threatened by revolution in that island kingdom. in that island kingdom.

Documents show that “Queen Lil” was Documents show that “Queen Lil” was ready to accept the inevitabililty of ready to accept the inevitabililty of overthrow of her monarchy, and may overthrow of her monarchy, and may have even welcomed a democracy in have even welcomed a democracy in Hawaii.Hawaii.

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But the United States Congress was But the United States Congress was concerned that such a revolution would concerned that such a revolution would leave Hawaii open to seizure by a foreign leave Hawaii open to seizure by a foreign country and intervened in the revolution.country and intervened in the revolution.

President William McKinley ordered an President William McKinley ordered an ultimatum to Queen Lil: accept ultimatum to Queen Lil: accept ownership by the United States willingly, ownership by the United States willingly, or the US will force you to do so.or the US will force you to do so.

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Queen Lil bowed to the pressure and in Queen Lil bowed to the pressure and in 1898 the United States formally annexed 1898 the United States formally annexed Hawaii “for its protection.”Hawaii “for its protection.”

Even today, native Hawaiians resent the Even today, native Hawaiians resent the US’ heavy handed tacticsUS’ heavy handed tactics

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McKinley allowed himself to be goaded McKinley allowed himself to be goaded into war with Spain that same year, lured into war with Spain that same year, lured by the possession of Spain’s colonies in by the possession of Spain’s colonies in the Pacific.the Pacific.

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A revolution in Cuba was the pretext for the A revolution in Cuba was the pretext for the war. war.

The United States sent non-military aid to The United States sent non-military aid to the Cuban “freedom fighters” against the the Cuban “freedom fighters” against the repressive Spanish, and sent the Battleship repressive Spanish, and sent the Battleship Maine to Havana harbor as a show of force.Maine to Havana harbor as a show of force.

The ship blew up mysteriously (possibly The ship blew up mysteriously (possibly sabotaged by pro-war mercenaries)sabotaged by pro-war mercenaries)

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On that pretext the United States declared On that pretext the United States declared war on Spain. Within 18 months the war war on Spain. Within 18 months the war was concluded and the United States gained was concluded and the United States gained possession of all Spanish colonies.possession of all Spanish colonies.

However, by the “Platt Amendment” to the However, by the “Platt Amendment” to the war declaration, the US was specifically war declaration, the US was specifically forbidden to annex Cuba as a colony, and forbidden to annex Cuba as a colony, and agreed merely to protect its independence.agreed merely to protect its independence.

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US ownership of these colonies was a US ownership of these colonies was a boon to the US’ stature in the world.boon to the US’ stature in the world.

However, occupation of the colonies was However, occupation of the colonies was quite another matter. quite another matter.

In the Philippines, particularly, Emilio In the Philippines, particularly, Emilio Aguinaldo led a band of anti-US Aguinaldo led a band of anti-US insurgents who killed more Americans insurgents who killed more Americans than the Spanish-American war had.than the Spanish-American war had.

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US marines were forced to fight more US marines were forced to fight more and more harshly against the insurgency, and more harshly against the insurgency, leading to strong anti-American feelings leading to strong anti-American feelings in the area that lasted 50 years more, in the area that lasted 50 years more, and that even today have still have not and that even today have still have not been settled.been settled.

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An odd coalition of anti-imperialists An odd coalition of anti-imperialists strongly objected to American colony-strongly objected to American colony-gathering: notable among them were gathering: notable among them were Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, Andrew Carnegie, and Samuel Gompers.Andrew Carnegie, and Samuel Gompers.

Pro-colonialists included Theodore Pro-colonialists included Theodore Roosevelt, Alfred Thayer Mahan, and Roosevelt, Alfred Thayer Mahan, and President McKinley.President McKinley.

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Mahan’s book on the importance of naval Mahan’s book on the importance of naval superiority had been an early factor in superiority had been an early factor in convincing many in Congress of the need convincing many in Congress of the need for Pacific naval bases.for Pacific naval bases.

Another writer, William T. Stead, wrote Another writer, William T. Stead, wrote that it was America’s destiny to become a that it was America’s destiny to become a major world leader in major world leader in The The Americanization of the WorldAmericanization of the World (1900.) (1900.)

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China during this time was ruled by a China during this time was ruled by a corrupt puppet regime called the Manchu corrupt puppet regime called the Manchu Dynasty. Dynasty.

The Manchu were supported and The Manchu were supported and controlled by the government of Great controlled by the government of Great Britain. Britain and its allies (including a Britain. Britain and its allies (including a strong US influence) enforced the Open strong US influence) enforced the Open Door policy.Door policy.

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This caused many hard feelings against all This caused many hard feelings against all western nations by Chinese nationalists who western nations by Chinese nationalists who called himself the “Society of Righteous and called himself the “Society of Righteous and Harmonious Hands,” called “The Boxers” by Harmonious Hands,” called “The Boxers” by the British. the British.

The Boxers rebelled against British rule in The Boxers rebelled against British rule in 1900, but the revolt was harshly put down by 1900, but the revolt was harshly put down by Britain and its allies (including the US)Britain and its allies (including the US)

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Even though Cuba was guaranteed its Even though Cuba was guaranteed its independence under the protection of the independence under the protection of the US, the peace treaty that ended the US, the peace treaty that ended the Spanish American War had provided for Spanish American War had provided for a US naval base there. a US naval base there.

In 1901, the US opened a permanent In 1901, the US opened a permanent American naval base at Guantanamo American naval base at Guantanamo Bay there.Bay there.

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Also in 1901, the US and Britain jointly Also in 1901, the US and Britain jointly agreed to cancel an agreement they had agreed to cancel an agreement they had had since 1850 (the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty) had since 1850 (the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty) to build a canal through Panama together. to build a canal through Panama together.

Deaths from malaria and yellow fever Deaths from malaria and yellow fever caused the British to back out; the caused the British to back out; the cancellation of the 1850 treaty was done cancellation of the 1850 treaty was done via the Hay-Paunceforte Treaty in 1901.via the Hay-Paunceforte Treaty in 1901.

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This gave the US a green light to build This gave the US a green light to build such a canal by itself.such a canal by itself.

During the Spanish-American War, During the Spanish-American War, American military doctors had learned American military doctors had learned much about the prevention of yellow fever much about the prevention of yellow fever and malaria; they felt this new knowledge and malaria; they felt this new knowledge would make building the canal possible. would make building the canal possible. US military Dr. Walter Reed led this move.US military Dr. Walter Reed led this move.

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Originally Nicaragua had been Originally Nicaragua had been considered as the canal site. considered as the canal site.

US urged Panama to revolt against its US urged Panama to revolt against its parent country, Colombia, in 1901. In parent country, Colombia, in 1901. In exchange for US aid in this revolution, exchange for US aid in this revolution, Panama agreed to give up land for Panama agreed to give up land for building the canal to the US and to allow building the canal to the US and to allow the US to control the canal for 75 years.the US to control the canal for 75 years.

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Difficulties in putting down the Difficulties in putting down the insurgencies in newly-acquired territories insurgencies in newly-acquired territories had led to some brutal actions by US had led to some brutal actions by US Marines, and inevitably resulted in a Marines, and inevitably resulted in a series of suits against the US by series of suits against the US by Philippine citizens now under the Philippine citizens now under the protection of the United States. protection of the United States.

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In these suits (collectively called “The Insular In these suits (collectively called “The Insular Cases” since all dealt with residents of the Cases” since all dealt with residents of the islands acquired from Spain) the Court issued islands acquired from Spain) the Court issued one collective opinion: one collective opinion:

““The Constitution does not necessarily follow The Constitution does not necessarily follow the flag,”the flag,”

meaning that the US were not automatically meaning that the US were not automatically granted the same civil rights as “real granted the same civil rights as “real Americans.”Americans.”