The Big Stick America and the World

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

Imperialism: When powerful nations created empires by dominating other
lands
Reasons for imperialism:
The more you can expand, the more money you will get
Trading with more countries gets more money
Military needs to protect countries that we trade with
Manifest Destiny: The idea ( prevalent especially in the 1840s and 50s) that
it was Americas obvious (manifest) and inevitable fate to occupy the entire
continent
Monroe Doctrine: Declaration by President Monroe in 1823 that the United
States would oppose efforts by an outside power to control a nation in the
Western Hemisphere
Remember the Maine
U.S.S Maine 1898 Sent to Havanas harbor to protect U.S. citizens and
property
February 15 1898 Explosion destroyed U.S.S Maine 266 sailors dead
Many U.S. citizens now favored war
th

USS Maine After Spanish Concessions

President McKinley- Supported Cuban independence
President McKinley - Presented Spain with demands, including the
withdrawal of Spain from Cuba
deLome Letter - Spanish Ambassador to the U.S whose letter described
McKinley as weak
o Printed in the NY Journal & Infuriated the American Public
Spain refused- McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war
Granted - April 25th, 1898
Military Operations of the Spanish-American War
Dewey at Manila Bay:
o First fighting took place in Philippines
Commodore George Dewey- Commander of U.S. fleet based in Hong Kong

 Deweys fleet sunk or captured the entire Spanish fleet at Manila Bay
U.S. troops took Manila
Land Warfare in Cuba

Poor Preparation: Army- Not equipped to launch an invasion of Cuba

Rough Riders- Mixed crew of cowboys, college students, adventurers.
o Theodore Roosevelt- Promoted to leader of the group
The Rough Riders charged and took San Juan Hill
The black soldiers of the 9th and 10th regiments assisted the Rough Riders
Buffalo Soldiers - Black soldiers in the 9th and 10th regiments
most deaths were a result of yellow fever and food poisoning, not battle
o Battle deaths - 385
o YF & FP - 2061
Aftermath of the War
Treaty of Paris- Dec. 10, 1898
o Peace treaty that ended Spanish-American War
o This committed the U.S. to the responsibility of being a world power
Territorial Gains of the United States
Puerto Rico- Territory closest to the United States
Guam - South Pacific
Philippines o American occupation of the Philippines met bitter opposition from the
Filipinos
o Philippine insurrection lasted longer than the Spanish-American War
Divided Public Opinion
Most Americans agreed with McKinley - Govern Philippines
Some felt colonialism was wrong
Violated Americans belief in liberty, and might drag the U.S. into foreign
wars
Platt Amendment
Stipulated that the Cuban government could not enter any foreign
agreements, must allow the U.S. to establish naval bases as needed on the
island, and must give the U.S. the right to intervene whenever necessary

Far East Foreign Policy

Open Door Policy:
o U.S. - Open China (to trading) to all nations on an equal basis
o Secretary of State John Hay- Sent Open Door notes to nations
involved in China
Boxer Rebellion
1900 - Secret Chinese society, known as the Boxers, rose up to expel the
foreign devils
Uprising lasted 2 months - Europe and U.S. broke the siege
U.S. believed in maintaining an independent China - Sent another Open
Door note
Panama Canal- The Big Ditch
Roosevelt wanted to move the military quickly between the Atlantic and
Pacific
1902- US bought the canal rights for $40 million from a french company
The US still had to lease the canal route; Panama was a province of
Columbia
1903- Panama Revolution- The Rep. of Panama was created and they leased
the canal zone to the US
1904- Work began, but was halted the next year due to yellow fever
Dr. William Gorgas- Helped destroy mosquitoes and yellow fever
This allowed work to resume- Ships were passing through by 1914
Peacemaker in the Russia -Japanese War (1905)
Russia and Japan fought for control over Manchuria
Roosevelt helped bring peace, Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
U.S. - Wanted to maintain the Open Door Policy in China
Battleship Diplomacy 1907-1909
1907 - Sent the U.S.s Great White Fleet of 16 battleships around the
world
Mainly done to impress Japan