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US Expansion in the 1800s

In the early 1800s, US territorial expansion (Manifest Destiny) seemed natural

By 1890, the US had closed the frontier ◦ We had taken all the

land ◦ We had used all the

land we took

US Expansion in the 1800s

With the frontier tamed, the US turned to economic expansion

Industries began selling goods to foreign markets

Foreign trade became vital to America’s economic health and prosperity

US Expansion in the 1800s Captain Alfred T

Mahan Wrote The Influence of

Sea Power on History Argued that to be

strong, the US needed to have a large, powerful Navy

To have a powerful Navy, the US would need to have colonies and naval bases to resupply

US Expansion in the 1800s

Reverend Josiah Strong

Wrote Our Country Claimed the

American people were chosen by God to colonize and “lift up the backward peoples of other lands”

US Expansion in the 1800s

Reasons most Americans were resistant to Expansion: ◦ Dominating territory

abroad not very democratic ◦ Might weaken the US

at home ◦ Might lead to war ◦ All the good colonies

were already taken

Revolutions in Cuba Cuba wanted independence from Spain ◦ Spain refused to give Cubans their

independence Americans sympathized with Cubans Americans saw Cuba as a natural

extension of the US ◦ Only 90 miles from Florida! ◦ Many Americans worked/vacationed in Cuba ◦ Many US sugar companies owned plantations

in Cuba

90 miles!

90 miles!

90 miles!

Revolutions in Cuba Jose Marti, Cuban expatriate, launched a

revolution in 1895 Revolutionaries burned sugar fields,

destroyed mills, and fought Spanish soldiers throughout the island

Spanish troops under the command of Valeriano Weyler put Cubans into “reeducation camps”

Starvation and disease in Weyler’s camps led to the deaths of thousands of Cubans

Cuban Revolutionary Jose Marti

General Weyler

Revolutions in Cuba Americans kept a close eye on the

revolution ◦ US businesses were concerned about their

holdings in Cuba ◦ Many Americans followed the war in the

newspapers President McKinley sought to avoid war

with Spain ◦ Wanted Cubans to have freedom, but didn’t

want the US to get involved in the fight

The Maine Incident

To protect American citizens and property in Cuba, President McKinley sent the USS Maine to Havana Harbor

On February 15th, the USS Maine EXPLODED! IN HAVAN HARBOR! GASP! ◦ Killed 260 American sailors

Americans blamed Spain

USS Maine in Havana Harbor

Wreckage of the USS Maine

Yellow Journalism

Yellow Journalism: sensational headlines and stories, with little attention to facts, designed to grab attention and stir up emotions

William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were newspaper publishers that used Yellow Journalism to attract readers

Yellow Journalism Today

Yellow Journalism Hearst sent photographers to Cuba to cover

the revolution When photographers reported back that

things really weren’t that bad, Hearst replied “You provide the pictures, I’ll provide the war”

Newspapers began exaggerating the conditions in Cuba while making the Spanish look guilty

President McKinley finally bowed to public and political pressure, and asked for a declaration of war against Spain

Outbreak of War Fighting between the US and Spain begins,

but not in Cuba The US Navy invaded the Spanish colony on

the Philippine Islands The Philippine colony was also asking Spain

for its independence, so immediately, both the US military and the Philippine rebels fought against the Spanish together

The Philippines were conquered in 3 months

The War Moves to Cuba

Finally the US invades Cuba Teddy Roosevelt (not President yet) leads

a group of volunteer soldiers called the “Rough Riders” ◦ This group could symbolize the American

enthusiasm for war against Spain propped up by the newspapers at the time

The Rough Riders helped capture San Juan Hill, an important battle in the war

The War Moves to Cuba

The Rough Riders grabbed headlines, but many of the US soldiers in Cuba were African-American

Many African-American soldiers were eager to help liberate the Cubans, many of which were of African descent

On two different occasions, African-American units actually saved the Rough Riders from capture or defeat

The US Defeats Spain

After capturing San Juan Hill, the US Navy defeated the Spanish fleet in Santiago Harbor

The US also captured Puerto Rico with little resistance

Spain signed a cease-fire in August Spanish-American War called the

“splendid little war”

The US Defeats Spain

War’s Toll: ◦ 385 American soldiers killed in action ◦ About 5,000 American soldiers died from

disease and bad food (and bad uniforms)

The US Emerges as an Imperialist Power The peace treaty between the US and Spain said: ◦ Cuba gained its independence ◦ Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines go to the US

While Cuba was now independent, the US set up a military government to help rebuild

Cuba wrote a new Constitution, which included the Platt Amendment: ◦ Cuba could not make treaties with other countries ◦ The US had the right to intervene in Cuba if

necessary ◦ The US gets to keep a military base in Guantanamo

Bay, Cuba

The US Emerges as an Imperialist Power President McKinley decided the Filipinos

were “unfit for self-government”, so he ordered the Philippines become a US colony

Philippine resistance began immediately ◦ Philippine-American war lasts three years ◦ Between 200,000-1,500,000 Filipinos are

killed in the fighting

The US Emerges as an Imperialist Power By 1899, the US was a world power with

an empire that stretched from the Caribbean Sea to the South China Sea

The US held territory in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, Hawaii, Samoa, and other Pacific islands

While not a significant territorial boost, these holdings did allow the US to establish its role and influence over other parts of the world

The US Emerges as an Imperialist Power Some Americans disapproved of US

imperialism ◦ Some worried about getting pulled into wars

with foreign countries ◦ Some believed imperialism went against the

ideals of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution ◦ Some worried the new dark-skinned

Americans might take away from American “purity”

US Imperialism in the 1900s The Spanish-American War opened the door

for more and more US intervention in world affairs

Teddy Roosevelt developed the “Big Stick” policy and the Roosevelt Corollary ◦ From an African proverb: Speak softly and carry a

big stick Big Stick policy: a strong American presence

in the world would guarantee American prosperity

Roosevelt Corollary: the US had a right to act as a police power in Latin America

US Imperialism in the 1900s Roosevelt also developed an “Open Door

Policy” in Asia ◦ Called for equal commercial opportunity for all

nations in China President Taft developed “Dollar Diplomacy” ◦ A strong economic role in foreign countries

(dollars instead of bullets) would advance US authority worldwide

President Wilson developed “Moral Diplomacy” ◦ The US should champion democracy around the

world and help maintain world peace