Chapter 18: America Claims an Empire

Global competition prompts the United States to expand its

influence and territory, engage in conflicts around the globe, and
build the Panama Canal.

18 1: Imperialism and America

18 2: The Spanish-American War
18 3: Acquiring New Lands
18 4: America as a World Power

18 1: Imperialism and America

Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century, global
competition causes the United States to expand.

I. American Expansionism
A. Why Imperialism?
1. Imperialism—policy of extending control over weaker
B. Global Competition
1. In 1800s, Europeans divide up most of Africa,
compete for China
2. Japan joins race for China; U.S. decides to expand
overseas
C. Desire for Military Strength
1. Admiral Alfred T. Mahan urges U.S. to build up navy
to compete
2. U.S. builds modern battleships, becomes third largest
naval power
D. Thirst for New Markets
1. U.S. farms, factories produce more than Americans
can consume
2. U.S. needs raw materials, new markets for goods
3. Foreign trade: solution to overproduction,
unemployment, depression
E. Belief in Cultural Superiority
1. Some combine Social Darwinism, belief in superiority
of Anglo-Saxons
2. Argue U.S. has duty to Christianize, civilize “inferior
peoples”
II. The United States Acquires Alaska
A. Early Expansion
 1. William Seward—Secretary of State under Lincoln,
Johnson
2. 1867, arranges purchase of Alaska from Russia for
$7.2 million
a. has trouble convincing House to fund purchase
b. Alaska called “Seward’s Icebox,” “Seward’s Folly”
3. Alaska rich in timber, minerals, oil
III. The United States Takes Hawaii
A. The Cry for Annexation
1. Since 1790s, U.S. merchants stop in Hawaii on way to
China, India
2. 1820s, Yankee missionaries found schools, churches
on islands
3. Mid-1800s, American-owned sugar plantations 75%
of islands’ wealth
4. 1887, U.S. pressures Hawaii to allow naval base at
Pearl Harbor
a. becomes refueling station
5. 1890 McKinley Tariff eliminates duty-free status of
Hawaiian sugar
6. Planters call for U.S. to annex islands so will not have
to pay duty
B. The End of a Monarchy
1. 1887, businessmen force King Kalakaua to limit vote
to landowners
2. Queen Liliuokalani tries to remove landowning
requirement
3. With help of marines, business groups overthrow
queen
a. Set up government headed by Sanford B. Dole
4. President Cleveland cannot make Dole surrender
power to queen
a. recognizes Republic of Hawaii
5. Under President McKinley, Congress proclaims Hawaii
U.S. territory

18 2: The Spanish-American War

In 1898, the United States goes to war to help Cuba win its
independence from Spain.

I. Cubans Rebel Against Spain

A. Spanish empire a pathetic shell
 B. American Interest in Cuba
1. U.S. long interested in Cuba; wants to buy Cuba from
Spain
2. During 1868–1878 war for independence, American
sympathies with Cuba
3. 1886 abolition of slavery leads to U.S. investment in
sugar cane
C. The Second War for Independence
1. José Martí—poet, journalist—launches second
revolution in 1895
2. Guerrilla campaign destroys American-owned sugar
mills, plantations
3. U. S. public opinion split:
a. business wants to support Spain
b. others favor Cuban cause
II. War Fever Escalates
A. Spain Takes Action
1. 1896, General Valeriano Weyler sent to Cuba to
restore order
2. Puts about 300,000 Cubans in concentration camps
B. Headline Wars
1. Newspapers exploit Weyler’s actions in media war
a. Yellow journalism—sensational writing used to
lure, enrage readers
C. The de Lôme Letter
1. Headlines increase American sympathy for
independent Cuba
2. McKinley wants to avoid war, tries diplomacy to
resolve crisis
3. Private letter by Spanish minister Enrique Dupuy de
Lôme published
a. calls McKinley weak, swayed by public
b. Spain apologizes, de Lôme resigns; American
public angry
D. The U.S.S. Maine Explodes
1. U.S.S. Maine sent to pick up citizens, protect property
2. Ship blows up in Havana harbor; newspapers blame
Spain
III. War with Spain Erupts
A. The U.S. Declares War
1. Spain agrees to most U.S. demands, public opinion
still favors war
 2. U.S. declares war April 1898
B. The War in the Philippines
1. First battle with Spain occurs in Spanish colony of the
Philippines
2. Commodore George Dewey destroys Spanish fleet in
Manila harbor
3. Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, support Dewey
4. 8/98, Spanish troops in Manila surrender to U.S.
C. The War in the Caribbean
1. U.S. blockades Cuba; Spanish fleet in Santiago de
Cuba harbor
2. Unlike navy, U.S. army has small professional force,
many volunteers
a. volunteers ill-prepared, ill-supplied
D. Rough Riders
1. Leonard Wood, T. Roosevelt lead volunteer cavalry
2. TR declared hero of attack on strategic San Juan Hill
3. Spanish fleet tries to escape blockade, is destroyed in
naval battle
4. U.S. troops invade Puerto Rico soon after
E. Treaty of Paris
1. Spain, U.S. sign armistice August 1898; meet in Paris
to make treaty
2. Spain frees Cuba; hands Guam, Puerto Rico to U.S.;
sells Philippines
F. Debate over the Treaty
1. Treaty of Paris touches off great debate over
imperialism
2. McKinley tries to justify annexation of Philippines on
moral grounds
3. Opponents give political, moral, economic arguments
against

18 3: Acquiring New Lands

In the early 1900s, the United States engages in conflicts in Puerto
Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines

I. Ruling Puerto Rico

A. Military Rule
1. During Spanish-American War, General Nelson A.
Miles occupies island
2. Puerto Rico under military control
 3. People split on independence, statehood, self-
government under U.S.
B. Return to Civil Government
1. PR strategic as post in Caribbean, for protection of
future canal
2. 1900, Foraker Act sets up civil government
a. president appoints governor, upper house
3. 1917, Puerto Ricans made U.S. citizens; elect both
houses
II. Cuba and the United States
A. American Soldiers
1. U.S. recognizes Cuban independence from Spain
2. Teller Amendment says U.S. has no intention of
taking over Cuba
3. After war U.S. occupies Cuba; has same officials in
office as Spain
a. Cuban protestors imprisoned or exiled
4. American military government helps rebuild the
country
B. Platt Amendment
1. U.S. makes Cuba add Platt Amendment to its 1901
constitution
2. Platt Amendment does not allow Cuba to go into
debt; also stipulates
a. no treaties that let foreign power control land
b. U.S. has right to intervene
c. U.S. can buy, lease land for navy
3. Protectorate—country whose affairs partly controlled
by stronger one
C. Protecting American Business Interests
1. U.S. wants strong political presence to protect
American businesses
2. Some object to colonial entanglements, do not think
colonies needed
3. U.S. state department continues to push for control of
Latin America
III. Filipinos Rebel
A. Philippine-American War
1. Filipinos outraged at Treaty of Paris’ call for
annexation
2. 1899, Emilio Aguinaldo leads fight for independence
against U.S.
 3. U.S. forces Filipinos to live in designated zones in
poor conditions
a. white U.S. soldiers see Filipinos as inferior
b. black troops troubled at spreading prejudice
4. 20,000 Filipinos die in fight for independence
B. Aftermath of the War
1. U.S. prez appoints gov who appoints upper house
a. people elect lower house
2. July 4, 1946, Philippines become independent
IV. Foreign Influence in China
A. U.S. Interest in China
1. China as vast market, investment opportunity?
2. France, Britain, Japan, Russia have settlements,
spheres of influence
B. John Hay’s Open Door Notes
1. U.S. Sec. of State John Hay issues Open Door notes
2. Notes ask imperialist nations to share trading rights
with U.S.
3. Other powers reluctantly agree
C. The Boxer Rebellion in China
1. Europeans dominate most large Chinese cities
2. Chinese form secret societies, including Boxers, to
expel foreigners
3. Boxers kill hundreds of foreigners, Chinese converts
to Christianity
4. U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Japan put down Boxers
D. Protecting American Rights
1. Hay issues new Open Door notes saying U. S. will
keep trade open
2. Open Door policy reflects beliefs about U.S. economy:
a. growth depends on exports
b. U.S. has right to keep markets open
c. closing of area threatens U.S. survival
V. The Impact of U.S. Territorial Gains
A. The Anti-Imperialist League
1. McKinley’s reelection mandate for imperialism?
2. Anti-Imperialist League has prominent people from
different fields
3. for various reasons, agree wrong to rule others
without their consent
Section 4: America as a World Power
The Russo-Japanese War, the Panama Canal, and the Mexican
Revolution add to America’s military and economic power.

I. Teddy Roosevelt and the World

A. Roosevelt the Peacemaker
1. Roosevelt does not want Europeans to control world
economy, politics
2. 1904, Japan, Russia dispute control of Korea
3. Roosevelt negotiates Treaty of Portsmouth:
a. Japan gets Manchuria, Korea
b. Roosevelt wins Nobel Peace Prize
4. U.S., Japan continue diplomatic talks
a. pledge to respect each other’s possessions
B. Panama Canal
1. U.S. wants canal to cut travel time of commercial,
military ships
2. U.S. buys French company’s route through Panama
3. Negotiates with Colombia to build Panama Canal;
talks break down
4. French company agent helps organize Panamanian
rebellion
a. U.S. gives military aid
5. U.S., Panama sign treaty; U.S. pays $10 million for
Canal Zone
C. Constructing the Canal
1. Construction of canal is one of world’s greatest
engineering feats
a. fight diseases, geographic obstacles
b. at height, 43,400 workers employed
D. The Roosevelt Corollary
1. Roosevelt fears European intervention if Latin
America defaults
2. Reminds Europeans of Monroe Doctrine, demands
they stay out
3. Roosevelt Corollary—U. S. to use force to protect
economic interests
E. Dollar Diplomacy
1. Early 1900s, U.S. exercises police power on several
occasions
2. Dollar diplomacy—U.S. guarantees foreign loans by
U.S. business
II. Woodrow Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy
A. The Mexican Revolution
1. Missionary diplomacy—U.S. has moral repsponsibility:
a. will not recognize regimes that are oppressive,
undemocratic
2. Under dictator Porfirio Díaz, much U.S. $ in Mexico
3. 1911, peasants, workers led by Francisco Madero
overthrow Díaz
4. General Victoriano Huerta takes over government;
Madero is murdered
5. Wilson refuses to recognize Huerta’s government
B. Intervention in Mexico
1. Huerta’s officers arrest U.S. sailors, quickly release
2. Wilson orders Marines to occupy Veracruz
3. Argentina, Brazil, Chile mediate to avoid war
4. Huerta regime falls; nationalist Venustiano Carranza
new president
C. Rebellion in Mexico
1. “Pancho” Villa, Emiliano Zapata oppose Carranza
a. Zapata wants land reform
b. Villa a fierce nationalist
2. Wilson recognizes Carranza’s government; Villa
threatens reprisals
a. Villa’s men kill Americans
D. Chasing Villa
1. Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing leads force to capture Villa
2. Carranza demands withdrawal of U.S. troops; Wilson
at first refuses
3. U.S. faces war in Europe, wants peace on southern
border
a. Wilson orders Pershing home
4. Mexico adopts new constitution:
a. government controls oil, minerals
b. restricts foreign investors
5. 1920, Alvaro Obregón new president; ends civil war,
starts reforms