Primary Source Set: American Imperialism

Teaching with Primary Sources — MTSU

PRIMARY SOURCE SET

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS

The issues and debates of the age of Imperi-alism continue to be relevant topics in to-day’s world. Questions like what our role in the international community should be and whether we should intervene in other coun-tries’ affairs are constantly being discussed.

Have your students analyze this primary source set and select sources to create a timeline of American Imperialism. Then ask the students how imperialism changed over time. Have your students read this article about modern American Samoa. In what ways is imperialism still affecting us today? Should the United States have territories? Why or why not? Can imperialism be bene-ficial? How is imperialism a negative thing?

SUGGESTED LINKS

A Guide to the Spanish-American War

Monroe Doctrine

The Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures

Teaching With Primary Sources-August 2015 Newsletter

The Industrial Revolution in the United States-Primary Source Set

ALSO SEE:

Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War

Spanish American War Centennial Website

A War In Perspective 1898-1998

Evolution: Darwin: In the Name of Darwin (PBS)

Everything You Need to Know About the Territo-ries of the United States

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

American imperialism extended during the late 19th-early 20th century in which America exerted military, cultural, and economic influence on surrounding countries. The ori-gins of American imperialism can partly be found in the ide-as of Social Darwinism and American exceptionalism. Ac-cording to proponents of these theories, America was an exceptional country whose mission it was to bring democra-cy and civilization to countries considered savage. Oppo-nents of American imperialism believed that it violated the values of republicanism because the people did not control their own government. America’s urge to expand can be traced to the founding of the nation and leaders such as Thomas Jefferson who saw expansion as way path to securi-ty. The most notable example of American imperialism is the forceful annexation of Hawaii and the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. The age of Imperialism saw conflict arise between America and other countries, most notably Spain. Spanish treatment of Cuban subjects and the explosion of the U.S.S Maine re-sulted in the United States declaring war on Spain. Spain ultimately lost the war, ceding Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States while abandoning all claims to Cuba. With American imperialism reaching new heights, the U.S. was primed to play a larger role in international politics as the world headed for the First World War. To-day, the U.S. controls sixteen territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

School begins / Dalrymple. [1899]

"Who will haul it down?" / Dalrymple. [1899]

Liliuokalani [1915]

Proposed annexation of Hawaii. [1898]

Topographical map of the Hawaiian Islands. [1893]

"Kamehameha the Great" statue, Hawaii. [2005]

Strategic map of our war with Spain. [1898]

[Spanish-American War] [n.d.]

The herald., June

22, 1898, Image

1. [1898]

Restos del U.S.S. Maine,

Habana. [c. 1900]

[Existence of war - Spain.] By the President of the United States of America: a

proclamation Whereas by an act of Congress approved April 25, 1898, it is de-

clared that war exists and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, A. D.

1898. [1898]

Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they

captured, Battle of San Juan. [1898]

Crew on

Hayuey,

Cuba.

[n.d]

Cuba's opportunity / Keppler. [1902]

Cuba Libre. [c. 1869]

Harvesting sugarcane in Cuba. [c. 1940]

His 128th birthday--"Gee, but this is an awful

stretch!" / Keppler. [1904]

In the insurgent trenches. [1899]

Rebel Leader of the Philippine Forces . [1899]

Phillipsburg

herald., April

02, 1901,

Image 1.

[1901]

Battle of Manila. [n.d.]

Anti-imperialist

league offic-ers [1899]

"I rather like that

imported affair" /

Grant Hamilton.

[1904]

[The Strenuous Resolve] [1902]

James Monroe

to Thomas

Jefferson,

October 17,

1823. [1823]

Stand pat! [1904]

Dee-lighted president Roosevelt has illustrated his message to congress.

[c. 1910-1918]

Panama Canal. [1913]

Map showing line of proposed lock canal

with summit elevation at 85 feet : [Panama

Canal] [1906]

The Daily

Missoulian.,

March 21,

1910, Morn-

ing, Image 6

[1910]

Panoramic view of the canal of Pan-

ama, From the relief constructed by

Ch. Muret on official documents.

[1881]

CITATIONS

Teachers: Providing these primary source replicas without source clues may enhance the inquiry experience for students. This list of citations is sup-

plied for reference purposes to you and your students. We have followed the Chicago Manual of Style format, one of the formats recommended by the

Library of Congress, for each entry below, minus the access date. The access date for each of these entries is 11/7/16.

Dalrymple, Louis, Artist. School Begins/Dalrymple. Drawing. New York: Keppler & Schwarzmann, 1899. From Library of Congress:

Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012647459/

Liliuokalani. Picture. 1915. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/

item/2004679211/

Dalrymple, Louis, Artist. “Who will haul it down?”/Dalrymple. Drawing. New York: Keppler & Schwarzmann, 1899. From Library of

Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012647455/

Davis, R. H. Dr, and Burk & Mcfetridge. Topographical map of the Hawaiian Islands. Map. Philadelphia: Linton & Garrigues, 1893.

From Library of Congress: Geography and Maps Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2009583839/

Bland, Richard Parks, Author. Proposed Annexation of Hawaii. Book. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1898. From Library of

Congress: Online Catalog. https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search

Highsmith, Carol M., Photographer. “Kamehameha the Great” statue, Hawaii. Photograph. 2005. From Library of Congress: Prints and

Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2010630464/

Taylor, F.H., Artist. Strategic map of our war with Spain. Map. War Map Publishing Company, 1898. From Library of Congress: Geog-

raphy and Maps Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/98687203/

Jackson, Williams Henry, Photographer. Restos del U.S.S. Maine, Habana. Photograph. Detroit Publishing Company, ca. 1900. From

Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/det1994000014/PP/

McKinley, William, Author. Existence of war-Spain. Print. 1898. From Library of Congress: An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of

Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera. https://memory.loc.gov

[Spanish-American War]. Image. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004669668/

The Herald. “The Battleship Indiana and Seventeen Other Warships, Convoying Thirty-Two Transports with General Shafter’s Army

of 15,000 Men, Reach Santiago De Cuba.” Newspaper. June 22, 1898. From Library of Congress: Chronicling America. http://

chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Keppler, Udo J., Artist. Cuba’s Opportunity/ Keppler. Drawing. New York: Ottmann Lith. Co., Puvk Bldg., 1902. From Library of

Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2010651559/

Crew On Hayuey, Cuba. Photograph. Bain News Service. From Library of Congress: George Grantham Bain Collection. https://

www.loc.gov/item/ggb2004008256/

Cuba Libre. Image. 1869. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photograph Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/96512056/

William, Dinwiddie, Photographer. Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they captured, Battle of San Juan. Pho-

tograph. 1898. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96521936/

Harvesting sugarcane in Cuba. Photograph. 1940. From Library of Congress: Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photo-

graph Collection. https://www.loc.gov/item/fsa2000055893/PP/

Rebel Leader of the Philippine Forces. Photograph. From Library of Congress: The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War. https://

www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/aguinaldo.html

Battle of Manila. Boardgame. Weller & Groban. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/

item/2003681000/

The Phillipsburg Herald. “Aguinaldo A Prisoner.” Newspaper. April 2, 1901. From Library of Congress: Chronicling America. http://

chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Millet, Francis Davis. In the Insurgent Trenches. Photograph. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1899. From Library of Congress: The

World of 1898: The Spanish-American War. https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/philinsurge.html

Keppler, Udo J., Artist. His 128th Birthday—”Gee, but this is an awful Stretch/ Keppler. Drawing. 1904. From Library of Congress:

Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/98511150/

Hamilton, Grant E., Artist. “I rather like that imported affair”/ Grant Hamilton. Drawing. New York: Ottmann Lith. Co., Puck Bldg.,

1904. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011645569/

Monroe, James, Author. James Monroe to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1823. Letter. 1823. From Library of Congress: The Thomas Jef-

ferson Papers at the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib024770/

Stand Pat! Image. 1904. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2010645537/

Chicago Liberty meeting, held at Central Music hall, April 30, 1899. Text. Chicago: Central Anti-Imperialist League, 1899. From Library

of Congress: The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War. https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/league.html

[The Strenuous resolve]. Drawing. 1902. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/

item/2004678654/

Bartholomew, Charles Lews, Artist. Dee-lighted president Roosevelt has illustrated his message to congress. Drawing. ca. 1910-1918. From

Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2010645518/

The Daily Missoulian. “The Gateway to An Empire.” Newspaper. March 21, 1910. From Library of Congress: Chronicling America.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Harris & Ewing, Photographer. PANAMA CANAL. Photograph. 1913. From Library of Congress: Harris & Ewing Collection. https://

www.loc.gov/item/hec2008002216/

Wuhrer, L. and Muret, Charles, Artists. Panoramic view of the canal of Panama, From the relief constructed by Ch. Muret on official docu-

ments. Image. 1881. From Library of Congress: Maps and Geography Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011590001/

Isthmian Canal Commission. Map Showing line of proposed lock canal with summit elevation at 85 feet: [Panama Canal]. Map. Balboa

Heights, Canal Zone: The Commission, 1906. From Library of Congress: Maps and Geography Division. https://www.loc.gov/

item/87694582/