Introduction
Beginning in the 1870s, Imperialism becomes one of the main focuses of the United States. Imperialism includes the extension of a nation’s power over other lands. The four main reasons the U.S. wanted to join the Imperialist race was for economic interests, military needs, ideology, and the main reason, the scramble for more territory.
Beginning in the 1870s, Imperialism becomes one of the main focuses of the United States. Imperialism includes the extension of a nation’s power over other lands. The four main reasons the U.S. wanted to join the Imperialist race was for economic interests, military needs, ideology, and the main reason, the scramble for more territory.
Obtaining Hawaii
The first chuck of land the U.S. wanted to acquire was Hawaii. In the 1820s, many U.S. ships started arriving with traders and missionaries on board. The more Americans that traveled to the islands of Hawaii, the more investors gained control of the sugar industry. Eventually, these sugar tycoons help in establishing Hawaii as a part of the United States, but before that, the monarchy of Hawaii, under control of King Kalakaua until he died, ended. After King Kalakaua died, his sister Liliuokalani became the queen. The sugar rebels started trouble and caused Queen Liliuokalani to surrender her position. Finally, William McKinley took office and congress voted for Hawaii to become an American territory, and later became a state in 1959.
King Kalakaua
China and Japan
The U.S. received more trading privilegess in China after the British forced them to open up five more trading posts. This created struggles for China’s rulers to keep foreign interest from overrunning the country. Not only was the Western Hemisphere trying to enter in China, but also Japan and European powers. Japan took over Taiwan and tried to seize other land in China. The European powers established their own spheres of influence in China which is a geographical area where an outside nation exerts special economic or political control. Since the U.S. didn’t have a sphere of influence, Secretary of State John Hay proposed the Open door policy in 1899. The goal of this policy was to give all nations equal trading rights in China. In return a group called the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, also called Boxers, began attacking foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians which lead to the Boxer Rebellion.
Until Japan took Taiwan from China in 1895, they wouldn’t have been considered an imperialist country. The U.S. then pressured the U.S. to open its ports for trade too. President Millard Fillmore sent four steamships to Japan which left unindustrialized Japanese citizens in awe of the American naval strength. This action made Japan realize that it could no longer maintain its isolated position, so the leaders sign a treaty to open Japan to trade with the U.S. After this, Japan transformed itself by building a strong military. After they built their army, the Russo-Japanese War broke out. When asked by Japan, President Theodore Roosevelt helped negotiate a peace treaty. Japan was the obvious winner of the war and came out the strongest power in East Asia and a rival of the U.S. and China for the Pacific region. Japan was hungry for more power and territory which made the U.S. feel intimidated. The U.S. therefore decided to show just how powerful they were by sending out four squadrons of battleships.
American steamship
Spain, Cuba, and the United States
During the 19th century, Cuba was undergoing many issues within its own country and Spain. They went through several wars which caused the Americans to become sympathetic toward the Cuban cause. The media played a large role in the Cuban issues. A paper called the New York Journal supported the Cuban rebels. They rivaled the New York World. Both newspapers used yellow journalism which was shocking illustrations that were printed like a comic series. While more and more of the provocative pictures were published in the New York Journal, President McKinley changes his mind and decides to get involved in the wars. The main reason the U.S. got involved was the de Lôme letter which ridiculed McKinley for being “weak and catering to the rabble.” When the U.S. ship, the Maine, unexpectedly blew up, the United States reached its breaking point with Spain. This leads McKinley to demand that Spain give Cuba its independence, and when Spain refused, the U.S. declared war on Spain. War started off in the Philippine islands. The U.S. helped Cuba fight off Spain in the war for Cuba’s independence. Later the fighting moved to Cuba and the U.S. military was not as prepared as it should have been. Even with some set-backs, the U.S. still came out victorious and sank the entire Spanish fleet which consequently made the Spanish surrender two weeks later. In return, the United States received Guam and control over the Philippines in exchange for $20 million. The U.S. now moved into the ranks of imperialist nations. After the U.S. gained control of the Philippines, the question came up whether to annex them or not. Those in favor wanted to because they felt the U.S. had a duty to spread its values and others voted in favor of annexation for the economic values. Those against it didn’t want to annex the Philippines because annexing the Philippines would violate the idea of self-government and exporting oppression.
Example of the New York Journal
U.S. Control over Cuba and Puerto Rico
The U.S. feared that other imperialist nations might try to take Cuba as their territory so the U.S. forced Cuba to include the Platt Amendment as part of their new constitution. This amendment limited Cuba’s ability to make treaties with other nations and gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. It also made it so Cuba had to sell or lease land to the United States for naval and coaling stations. The U.S. also governed Puerto Rico as a U.S. territory, and in 1952 Puerto Rico became a self-governing commonwealth of the United States.
Map of Cuba
Panama Canal
Panamanian revolutionaries were plotting to break free from Colombian rule while the U.S. was trying to get permanent use of the land strip that the canal would cut through. Roosevelt supported the rebellion on November 2nd. The next day Panama declared its independence and the U.S. immediately recognized the Republic of Panama. A treaty was written which gave the United States complete sovereignty over a 10-mile-wide Canal Zone. Construction of the canal started in May 1904 and after facing many difficulties and obstacles, the first ship, the Ancon, passed through the canal in August 1914.
Building the Panama Canal
Revolution in Mexico and U.S. Involvement
American’s aided Mexico by being a foreign investor. This money helped Mexico, under the rule of Porfirio Diaz, to expand its railroad and double its production of goods, cotton being one of those goods. However, most Mexicans at the time opposed Diaz and his centralization on wealth due to the fact that most of them lived in poverty. Diaz’s rule sparks the Mexican Revolution and the want of native land to be returned to its
rightful owners. Soon after a man named Victoriano Huerta deemed himself as the president of Mexico. Although many European nations recognized Huerta’s government, Wilson and the U.S. did not. When Huerta refused the 21 gun salute requested for by the U.S. admiral Henry Mayo, because American’s aboard a ship called the Dolphin were arrested, the U.S. authorized the use of armed forces against Mexico. However, when the U.S. found out about a ship filled with weapons being sent over to a port in Veracruz by the Germans, they rushed over and were met by gunfire. This lead the U.S. troops to take over and occupy the city for the next six months. Thanks to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, the U.S. and Mexico were able to avoid going to war over this problem.
After Huerta left, Venustiano Carranza stepping into the position as president of Mexico, and as a leader he was opposed by two men named Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Wilson, however supported more moderate Carranza which aggravated Villa, so therefore, Villa crossed the border to America and killed 17 Americans. This quickly resulted in President Woodrow Wilson beginning the hunt for Villa. The U.S. troops were not able to find Villa and every day the troops spent in Mexico created more and more dislike toward the U.S. In the end, due to a poor Mexican economy, many Mexican men and women immigrated to the United States in hopes of finding a job and a more stable life.
Wanted Sign for Pancho Villa