Lecture 4 – Toward an American Empire (1877-1914)

US Expansionism

• By 1880s, US ranks with great European powers
• Great military prowess- after all, we fought each other well in the Civil War and demonstrated the strength of the military and gained experience fighting

Latin American Diplomacy

• Notion of Pan-Americanism takes root: idea that there should be a community of the nations of the western hemisphere
• United States regards itself as the dominating power in this region
• Little good will comes from the idea of this political community, but US is seen as the domineering nation

The US in the Pacific

• US purchases Alaska in 1867
• US takes control of the Samoan islands in 1878, a key link to Australia and access to coal
• Hawaii falls under American control
  • 1887 – US gets naval rights
  • 1893- US annexes Hawaii as a new US territory
  • Very valuable because of its port and access to Asia and for the sugar economy

America Builds An Empire

• “The work which the English race began when it colonized North America is destined to go on until every land on the earth’s surface that is not already the seat of an old civilization shall become English in its language, in its religion, in its political habits, and to a predominant extent in the life blood of the people.”  -John Fiske, American  philosopher

Disturbances in Cuba

• These disturbances pre-date US war with Spain
• Cubans rallied for freedom from Spanish colonial rule and under leader Jose Marti
• Many Americans supported a free Cuba and stories of the harsh Spanish circulated
• US government worried that an insurrection in Cuba to be free from Spanish would harm US investments in Cuba
• Eventually leads to the Spanish-American War

The Spanish – American War

• War declared on April 29, 1898
• Lasted ten weeks ending in Spain’s surrender
• A great show of American imperialism

Causes of the War

• Continuing spirit of manifest destiny extends overseas
• Competition with Europe to gain more overseas resources, particularly military bases as well as port access to make trade with Asia easier
• direct tension with Spain
• the growth of “yellow journalism” that sensationalizes news, particularly in the telling of the story of the sinking of an American Ship, the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba

War in the Philippines

• The Philippines were another of Spain’s colonies and were the site of battle during the Spanish-American War.
• Attractive to US for proximity to Asia
• During war, troops sent to occupy the Philippines
• Ultimately Spain has to relinquish all claims to its Pacific islands in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War

On the World Stage

• Theodore Roosevelt takes over when McKinley dies  – Declares, “It is incumbent on all the civilized and orderly powers to insist on the proper policing of the world.”
• Thus America becomes the world’s policeman!

Anglo-American Friendship

• Better relationship develops between the United States and Great Britain
• America becomes a kindred state to the British administration and vice versa
• Goal is to maintain a global balance of power

The Big Stick Policy

• Roosevelt famously says, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
• US builds its navy
• Works on building the Panama Canal
• Becomes an enforcer in the Caribbean

America in the Far East

• Open Door Policy: United States believes to be a world power and to compete, they must have economic influence in Asia
• 1899 – send an open door note to Asia claiming equal access to trade in China

The Boxer Rebellion

• A secret society of Chinese nationalists rebel against foreign (mostly European) influence
• The US sends money and troops to break the Boxers’ efforts
• US sees opening to reclaim its influence in China and the Far East

What is the Value of “Empire”

• Something to think about:  Can a nation actually justify empire? 
• Was this aggressiveness necessary to establish the United States as a world power?
• What were the costs to those we conquered?  What are the ethics of this type of foreign policy?