U.S. Imperialist Policies:Late 1800s-1914

Michael Quiñones, NBCTWWW.SOCIALSTUDIESGUY.COM

What is Imperialism?

The root word, believe it or not, in empire.

Powerful European countries such as England wanted to either expand their borders and exploit natural resources of weaker territories.

Weaker territories taken over are called colonies.

Many imperialist countries have fought each other for control over colonies.

Anti-Imperialism League

After the Spanish-American War several prominent U.S. citizens, especially intellectuals, opposed American imperialist policies.

People such as John Dewey, Mark Twain, Jane Addams and Andrew Carnegie believed imperialism especially in Asia [the Philippines specifically] was an abrogation [violation] of the republican principles the U.S. was founded on.

Annexation of Hawaii

Americans such as Sanford Dole whose families had moved to Hawaii in the 1830s and 1840s were initially welcomed warmly by Hawaii’s monarchy.

After newer larger plantation owners came to Hawaii in the 1870s and 1880s they pushed to remove the Queen.

Rich fruit company owners led by Dole’s descendants convinced the U.S. military to dethrone and remove Queen Liliuokalani.

Hawaii was officially annexed [taken over] by the U.S. in 1898. It later became the 50th state in 1959.

Fruit Planter Sanford Dole

Hawaii’s Queen Liliuokalani

Open Door Policy From 1898-1900 the United States and European countries competed for spheres

of influence throughout China.

After the United States acquired the Philippines after the Spanish-American War it wanted to expand its Asian markets.

Although there was much apprehension and constant mistrust among China’s guest countries Chinese ports were open to foreign trade.

Boxer Rebellion In response to perceived exploitation by foreign countries young Chinese men,

many of whom were martial artists, rebelled against Western nations with the tacit approval of the Chinese empress.

Off and on for roughly 2 years battles between the Boxers and foreign nations occurred in many provinces throughout China.

Western nations convinced China’s empress that ending the war was beneficial to her and the nation.

China executed many Boxers by beheading and paid reparations to Western nations.

The Platt Amendment

The Platt Amendment was added to a federal law in 1901. The purpose of the Platt Amendment was to ensure that Cuba would

remain tied to the United States [even after independence]. The following conditions were placed on Cuba:[a] Cuba must not make treaties that would weaken its independence.[b] Cuba must allow the U.S. to buy or lease the Guantanamo Bay naval

base.[c] Cuba must keep debts low to avoid foreign conflicts and wars.[d] The U.S. reserved the right to involve itself to maintain order and

independence .

The Roosevelt Corollary

Roosevelt built onto the foreign policy established by President Monroe.

The Monroe Doctrine asserted the U.S. would respond militarily if European powers interfered in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Roosevelt added that the U.S. would intervene by force, if necessary, into the affairs of Caribbean nations if they could not pay debts or posed a threat to U.S. interests.

Big Stick Diplomacy To assert and maintain control of the American sphere of influence President

Teddy Roosevelt used what he called Big Stick Diplomacy. His motto [borrowed from ad old African proverb was “speak softly and carry

a big stick.”] The metaphor was meant to clearly state his intent to carry out a foreign

policy based on strong military action when needed to support U.S. interests. Echoing Alfred Mahan’s opinion that a strong navy would aid this mission the U.S. Navy was essential to projecting U.S. power.

Dollar Diplomacy Roosevelt decided not to run for re-

election in 1908.

His protégé William Howard Taft won the 1908 election.

Taft decided to maintain U.S. foreign policy influence by using financial resources to bribe, loan or prop up failing Caribbean nations.

The use of military force was minimized compared to the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary.

Missionary Diplomacy President Woodrow Wilson proposed and supported alternatives to the

Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary.

Instead of using violence and military force Wilson promoted American idealism [concept that the should spread goodwill and democracy] U.S. and threatened non-recognition of [refuse to trade or communicate with] foreign countries [especially Latin American nations].

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