European and American Imperialism

29 September (continued 04 October) 2004 (Lecture #15)

• Industrialism – gives the country the reason and ability to conduct imperialism (steam ships, railways, rifled guns, etc.)
• Imperialism – process where by a country dictates the policies of another from a position of power

American Imperialism

• Spanish-American War – pivotal event turning Americans from peaceful isolation into an imperialist power

o Yellow journalism – press publishes stories to influence the people

o Maine sunk – in Havana to show force; media says it was destroyed by Spanish (probably false) à war declared

§ Teller Amendment – war is for Cuban sovereignty

• Cuba – US soldiers fight with determination and overwhelm better trained and equipped Spanish soldiers

o Spanish fleet destroyed (US far superior here; essentially no casualties)

o US allows Cuba to form the Constitution but makes it a US protectorate up until 1934

• Philippines

o US sunk the Spanish fleet here no losses)

o Spain waits under a two month siege so they can surrender to white US rather than Filipinos who were winning

o US takes Philippines as a colony, killing 225,000 to suppress a rebellion (lose only 4,000)

o The war brings the US back together

o US takes islands throughout the Pacific (including Hawaii) and Puerto Rico

Teddy Roosevelt

• Opening the panama Canal (1914) – huge efficiency increase

o When Columbia tries to raise price for land, but the US supports (indirectly) Panamanian revolt which succeeded

o Panama is then happy (of course) to rent the land to the US at the former price

• US takes over Moroccan government when it cannot control its people
• The Great White Flag – cruise around the world of the combined US fleet; show the world he carries the big stick doctrine

o Allows the US to use force in the hemisphere to ensure stability

• Peacemaker – negotiates peace with several countries
• Won the Medal of Honor and Nobel Peace Prize

Taft

• Dollar diplomacy; still uses military force to stabilize the Americas

Conclusions

• 19^th/20^th century – increased influenced in Western influences
• US becomes Weltmach (German: great power) through economic and military power
• Use of this power conflicted with US ideals