US imperialism

Identifications

1.      Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis (Ch 17)

a.       Turner decisively rejected the then common belief that the European background had been primarily responsible for the characteristics of the United States. He also justified overseas economic expansion as a means to secure political power at a time when America began focusing on expanding its influence throughout the world

b.      launched a new school of historical inquiry into the effects of the frontier on U.S. history

2.      Alfred T. Mahan/The Influence of Sea Power upon History /

a.       captain Alfred Thayer Mahan’s 1890 book which helped create and develop the expansionist movement. Mahan wanted to expand United States navy, to build an isthmian canal, to establish strategic colonies as coaling stations, and to protect US political and economic interests.

3.      Jingoists

a.       nationalists who thought that a swaggering foreign policy and a willingness to go to war would enhance the nation's foreign policy

b.      Characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy. Support tough policies. "Cowboy" image (teddy Roosevelt). Manifest destiny. Expand US. to those less privileged

4.      Samoan Islands

a.       also way station for pacific trade --> Hayes administration got treaty for American naval station at Pago Pago however, Great Britain and Germany also got treaties and all 3 nations tried to dominate --> us and Germany divide Samoan islands and Britain got other pacific territories

5.      Hawaii-Queen Liliuokalani

a.       Hawaii was a crucial link for American expansionists who wanted to extend trade across Pacific to China

                                      i.       Refueling station along the route to Asia and a fine naval base

b.      Queen Liliuokalani: Hawaiian nationalist eager to rid island of American influence

                                         i.       Overthrown by American sugar planters, backed up by U.S. marines who needed to protect American lives

6.      Cuba

a.       Jose Marti led the colony's struggle to achieve freedom from Spanish colonization and rule; he gathered rebel forces to cut railroad lines, destroy sugar mills, set fire to cane fields -within a year, rebels controlled more than half the island

b.      American expansionists targeted their island with business interests

c.       The Spanish strike back: implement "reconcentration" camps where 200,000 Cuban citizens die from filth, disease, starvation

d.      First round in struggle that would ultimately lead to the Spanish-American war -advent of America's imperial moment

7.      Joseph Pulitzer

a.       He used yellow journalism in competition with Hearst to sell more newspapers. published the first comic, the yellow kid, owner of the “New York World”

8.      yellow journalism

a.       Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers

9.      William Randolph Hearst

a.       spearheaded and pioneered by William Randolf Hearst, who was eager for war with Spain (outburst after a stolen copy of a letter to Cuba sent by Spanish minister)

10.  U.S.S. Maine

a.       Dispatched by President McKinley in response to leaders of the Spanish army who remained hostile and desired renewed efforts to quash the rebellion despite Spanish government's promise of ending reconcentration policy and greater autonomy

11.  Spanish-American War

a.       War fought between the US and Spain in Cuba and the Philippines. it lasted less than 3 months and resulted in Cuba’s independence as well as the us annexing Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

12.  George Dewey/ Manila Bay

a.       As soon as war declared, Admiral Dewey ordered Asiatic battle squadron from China to Philippines -began shelling Spanish ships in Manila Bay on May 1 -exterminates entire Spanish squadron (381 Spaniards killed, one American died)

b.       No plans to follow up his shelling/victory with invasion -fleet did not carry marines to take city of Manila

c.       Shows that President McKinley was unprepared for war and victory -only learning of Dewey's success did he send 11,000 American troops to secure the Philippines

d.      Marked the end of the wooden navy, when the more powerful American Steel Navy destroys the entire Spanish Wooden Navy in one single battle. Fought in the Philippines. George Dewey and US were victorious.

13.  San Juan Hill

a.       One of the most important battles of the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt and Rough Riders defeated Spain. Placed America at an advantage. Two days later, American ships destroyed the Spanish fleet in Cuba. In August, the US and Spain agreed to a treaty ending the war

14.  Rough Riders

a.       The first U.S. volunteer cavalry. Got good recognition. during the Spanish-American War

b.      the first united states volunteer cavalry, a mixture of ivy league athletes and western frontiersmen, volunteered to fight in the Spanish-American war. enlisted by Theodore Roosevelt, they won many battles in Florida and enlisted in the invasion army of Cuba

15.  Leonard Wood

a.       a physician who served as the chief of staff of the united states army, military governor of Cuba and governor general of the Philippines

b.      commander of the rough riders

16.  Teller Amendment

a.       which renounced any aim to annex Cuba -set the stage for idealism, moral outrage, as well as ambition for empire, trade, and glory to lead America to the path of war

b.      Renounced any American claim to Cuba

17.  Platt Amendment

a.       This amendment gave the U.S the right to take over the Island of Cuba if that country entered into a treaty or debt that might place its freedom in danger. This amendment also gave the U.S. the right to put a naval base in Cuba to protect it and the U.S holdings in the Caribbean. This amendment was resented very much by the Cubans. n

18.  Guantanamo Bay

a.       Acquired by sending marines. the united states assumed territorial control over Guantanamo bay under the 1903 Cuban-American treaty, which granted the united states a perpetual lease of the area without the Cuban government reacting

19.  The Philippines

a.       Spanish colony in the Pacific whom the US helped free from the Spanish, but soon after took as their own colony

20.  Emilio Aguinaldo

a.       Philippine leader of a rebellion against Spanish rule (1896-1898) and an uprising against American authority (1899-1901) that ended with his capture and subsequent oath of allegiance to the United States.

21.  Philippine Government Act

a.       also known as the organic act; established a governor and a two house legislature to rule the Philippines; US would appoint the governor and the legislature's upper house, but Filipino voters would elect the lower house, but would not have US citizenship in the unorganized territory

22.  John Hay

a.       secretary of state in the McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt administrations; he was the author of the open door notes, which attempted to protect American interests in china in the early 20th century by asking European countries to pledge equal trading rights in china and the protection of its territory from foreign annexation.

China

23.  Open Door policy

a.       Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan carved spheres of influence in China. American leaders feared that the Europeans and Japanese would try to bar the US from trading in China. 1899 Secretary of State, John Hay, sent a letter to all the nations with spheres around China. He urged them to follow Open Door Policy, under this policy any nation could trade in the spheres of others

24.  Boxer Rebellion

a.        An uprising in china in 1900, spurred by angry Chinese militants, or boxers, over foreign control; several hundred Europeans, Christians, and Chinese died.

b.      This was the popular peasant uprising in china (supported nationally), that blamed foreign people and institutions for the loss of the traditional chinese way of life. "boxers" were traditionally skilled fighters that attacked westerners, beginning with christian missionaries

25.  Panama Canal

a.       Theodore Roosevelt acquires the canal zone by recognizing the new Republic of Panama after they revolt against Columbia.

b.      -Built in response to a need for a "path between the seas" to defend America and promote its growing trade

c.       -Gave U.S. commanding position in Western Hemisphere: required U.S. to "police the surrounding premises"

Columbia

26.  Philippe Bunau-Varilla

a.       Led Panama Revolution from NY hotel and after the revolution, declared himself ambassador to US. Agreed to have Canal built.  He was also an official of the French company which would build the canal.

27.  Roosevelt Corollary

a.       Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force

28.  Russo-Japanese War/

a.       a war between the Russian empire and Japan in 1904-05, caused by territorial disputes in Manchuria and Korea. Russia suffered a series of humiliating defeats, and the peace settlement gave Japan the ascendancy in the disputed region.

29.  Portsmouth Peace Conference

a.       gave Japan captured territories. forced Russia to withdraw from Manchuria and stay out of Korea . signed on a ship off of the coast of Portsmouth New Hampshire

30.  "yellow peril"

a.       the belief that mass immigration of Asians threatened white wages and standards of living

31.  Great White Fleet

a.       1907-1909 - Roosevelt sent the Navy on a world tour to show the world the U.S. naval power. Also to pressure Japan into the "Gentlemen's Agreement."

32.  Mexican Revolution/Pancho Villa

a.        1910: Revolution overthrowing dictator Díaz plunged country into turmoil; ruthless general Huerta emerged as head of government (wealthy landowners and foreign investors endorsed Huerta, who was a conservative likely to protect their holdings)

b.      Wilson refused to accept Huerta's government and threw his support behind Carranza as long as he participated in American-sponsored elections (he refused)

c.       Carranza ultimately forms a new constitutionalist government but refused to follow Wilson's guidelines, so Wilson endorsed Villa (peasant born general who had broken from Carranza)

d.      Wilson's recognition of the Carranza regime turns Villa against America; slaughtered Americans which spurred a hunt for Villa "dead or alive"

            Questions

1.      How and why did America emerge as an imperial power by 1901? Consider both expansionist motives and examples of territorial acquisition.

a.      Why: (1) since other nations were doing it, so the US had to do it to stay a great nation. (2) The corporations needed more markets to sell their goods to since they were overproducing. (3) In order to have a stronger navy, US needed bases on Pacific Islands. (4) Roosevelt and Lodge built upon the social Darwinist rhetoric of the day and argued that war, as a vehicle for natural selection, would test and refurbish American manhood, restore chivalry and honor, and create a new generation of civic-minded Americans. (5) Patriotic fervor.

b.      How: (1) acquired first protectorate over Samoa Islands w/ Germany and Britain.  (2) Annexed Hawaii after sugar planters in the island asked for it. Cleveland hesitated, but McKinley acquired it right away. (3) then with the help of yellow journalism, US entered the conflict b/w Cuba and Spain. Won freedom for Cuba, but brought it under US control. Also got Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines (4) went to china for protection of US commercial opportunities, not territorial expansion.

2.      How did America handle its relations with Asia and Latin America in the first two decades of the 1900s?  Cite at least three examples of policies pursued by Roosevelt, Taft, and/or Wilson.  Who had the best approach and why?

a.       The US acted superior to these nations (police) and Monroe Doctrine.

b.      Panama Canal- started a rebellion against Columbia after it refused the terms of the Canal.

c.       Roosevelt Corollary- addition to Monroe Doctrine, US would intervene in all “chronic wrong-doing done by Latin countries.

d.      Treaty at New Hampshire, b/w Russia and Japan, after which US tried to curb Japan  imperialism

e.       In the Mexican Revolution, when the peasants revolted and a new leader emerged, Wilson refused to recognize him since he wanted to protect US economic affairs in oil wells etc. Wilson used extreme force to try to bring down Pancho villa.