The Big Stick America and the World

A. Imperialism and the Spanish American War

Imperialism: when powerful nations created empires by dominating other lands

(expanding)
Manifest Destiny: the idea (prevalent especially in the 1840s and 1850s) that it
was Americas obvious (manifest) and inevitable fate to occupy the entire

continent
Monroe Doctrine: declaration by President Monroe in 1823 that the US would

oppose efforts by an outside power to control a nation in the Western Hemisphere

B. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
Speak softly and carry a big stick
The US would police areas of the Caribbean and Central America
US did not want Europe interfering with the Americas
Under this policy, the US would intervene in many of these countries
C. Reasons for Imperialism
Public Support
o Future prosperity depended on access to world markets
o Territorial expansion and expansion of today
Military Strength
o Naval bases and coaling stations throughout the world
o Helped US with expansion
Economic Pressure
o World trade would lessen the threat of economic depressions
D. Causes for the Spanish American War
Spanish Misrule in Cuba
o 1895: Cuban Revolt
a) Fueled by Spanish rule and falling sugar prices
b) Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler: ruthless governor
o Reconcentration: Spanish policy; Cuban villagers were put in

concentration camps
a) Many died from hunger and neglect
Yellow Journalism
o A style of newspaper writing in the late 1890s that featured sensational
headlines and stories
o Newspapers fed the Anti Spanish hysteria and downplayed brutal deeds
of the rebels

Remember the Maine

o USS Maine (1898): sent to Havanas harbor to protect US citizens and
property
o Feb. 15, 1898: explosion destroyed the USS Maine 266 sailors dead
o Many US citizens now favored war
Spanish Concessions
o President McKinley supported Cuban independence
o He presented Spain with demands, including the withdraw of Spain from
Cuba
o deLome Letter: Spanish ambassador to US whose letter described

McKinley as weak
a) printed in NY Journal and infuriated American public
o Spain refused: US asked Congress for war against France
E. Military Operations of the Spanish American War
Dewey at Manila Bay
o First fighting took place in Phillipines
Commodore George Dewey commander of US fleet based in Hong Kong
Deweys fleet sunk or captured the entire Spanish fleet at Manila Bay
US troops took Manila
F. Land Warfare
Poor Preparation
o 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
Rough Riders charged and took San Juan Hill
The black soldiers of the 9th and 10th regiments, called the Buffalo Soldiers,
assisted the Rough Riders
Most deaths were a result of yellow fever and food poisoning, not battle
o Battle Deaths: 385
o Yellow Fever and Food Poisoning: 2,061
G. 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
o The Republic 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 mosquitos and yellow fever

This allowed work to resume ships were passing through by 1914
H. Peacemaker in the Russo Japanese War (1905)
Russia and Japan fought for control of Manchuria
Roosevelt helped bring peace; awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
US wanted to maintain the Open Door Policy in China
I. Aftermath of the War
Treaty of Paris December 10, 1898
o Peace treaty that ended the Spanish American War
o This committed the US to the responsibility of being a world power
J. Territorial Gains of the US
Puerto Rico territory closest to the US
Guam South Pacific
Phillipines
o American occupation of the Phillipines met better opposition from the
Filipinos
o Phillipine insurrection lasted longer than the Spanish American War
K. Divided Public Opinion
Most Americans agreed with McKinley to govern the Phillipines
Some felt colonialism is wrong
o Violated Americans belief in liberty and might drag US into foreign wars
L. Platt Amendment
Stipulated that the Cuban government couldnt enter any foreign agreements
Must allow US to establish naval bases as needed on the island
Must give US right to intervene whenever necessary
M. Far East Foreign Policy
Open Door Policy
o Us open China (to trading) to all nations on an equal basis
o Secretary of State John Hay sent Open Door notes to nations involoved
in China
N. Boxer Rebllion
1900 Secret Chinese society, known as the Boxers, rose up to expel the foreign
devils
Uprising lasted 2 months Europe and US broke siege
US believed in maintaining an independent China sent another Open Door note
O. Battleship Diplomacy (1907-1909)
1907 sent USs Great White Fleet of 16 battleships around the world
Mainly done to impress Japan