Becoming a World Power Unit 23 (1876-1916) American Nation

Textbook Pages 614-639

President Theodore Roosevelt Powerpoint by Mr. Zindman The Panama Canal

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1. A Pacific Empire
The United States increased its role in world affairs throughout the second half of the nineteenth century. As the nation became an industrial and commercial power, American leaders sought new trade opportunities in Asia, Alaska, and Hawaii. Many other overseas territories came under United States control as well. As a result of the Spanish American War of 1898, the United States acquired an overseas empire. The United States created an era of imperialism in the Caribbean and Pacific. After the war, the United States played an increasing role in the affairs of Latin America. As a result, many Latin Americans began to view the United States with distrust and anger.

Latin Americans today

Spanish American War

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Expansionism Isolationism

In his farewell address, as you recall, George Washington had advised the nation to steer clear of permanent alliances. He urged Americans to have as little possible connections with our foreign nations. This policy was called isolationism, or having to little to do with the political affairs of other nations. Earlier In his career George Washington followed a policy of expansionism, or extending its national boundaries. Americans further pressed further westward to settle.
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The Purchase of Alaska

In the 1860s the Secretary of the State, William Seward wanted the United States to dominate trade in the Pacific in 1867, he persuaded Congress to annex the Midway Island. In this way the island became part of the United States. Russia in the 1800s owned Alaska. Seward was playing a card game with the Czar and he offered to sell and Alaska for $7.2 million dollars to the United States. The land cost of 2 per acre. Most Americans called this purchase Sewards Folly. They called this land the icebox.

Opening Trade with Japan

Japan was a small island nation. Fearing outsiders, the Japanese had cut themselves off from the world in the 1600s. American merchants wanted to open Japan to trade. They also wanted the Japanese to help shipwrecked sailors who washed up on their shores. President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan in the early 1850s. Paris presented Japanese officials with a letter from President Fillmore. In it, the President asked Japanese to open trading relations with the United States. Perry returned in one year with some warships and a show of power. The Japanese emperor signed the Treaty of Kanagawa. The treaty accepted American demands to help shipwrecks sailors. It also opened Japanese ports for trade.
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Commodore Matthew Perry

The period between 1870 and 1914 has often been called the Age of Imperialism. Imperialism is the policy of powerful countries seeking to control the economic and political affairs of weaker countries or regions. During this period the United States and Japan became the imperial powers. One reason for the growth of imperialism is because industrial nations of Europe want to raw materials from Africa and Asia. Imperialism had other causes. Many Europeans believe they had a duty to spread their religion and culture to people to whom they consider to be less civilized.
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American factories turned out huge amounts of steel and other goods. The nation was growing rapidly, and arguments in favor of expansion held great appeal. Expansionists also argued that the Americans had a right and a duty to bring western culture to the uncivilized peoples of the world. Other expansionists stressed the need to offset the vanishing frontier by gaining European land.

Click on the pictures to learn more about a Democracy

Captain Alfred Mahan, of the United States Navy, argued that the United States needed a larger navy to protect American merchant ships. A bigger navy would need more bases throughout the world. Congress had begun to enlarge the modernized the navy. New steam hulled ships were being built. The navy ships were called the Great White Fleet because they were painted white.
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The United States took part of the island of Samoa. The people of Samoa had little say in the matter. The United States demonstrated they have power in the lands of the Pacific Ocean. Soon afterwards the Americans took the land called Hawaii from the King Kalakaua. When he died his sister, Liliuokalani came to the throne. She resented the Americans that settled in Hawaii. Faced with American guns, Liliuokalani give up her throne. She wrote a protest to the United States government.
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By acquiring Hawaii and Samoa, the United States gained important footholds in the Pacific. Rivalry among the industrial nations was very dominant. China had once been the most advanced empire .in the world, however, years of civil war weakened the empire. In addition, China failed to industrialize as other nations have in the 1800s.
Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan carved spheres of influence in China. A sphere of influence is an area, usually near seaport and run by a nation. The sphere had special trading privileges.

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2. War With Spain

In 1868, the Cuban people rebelled against Spanish rule. The revolution was crushed. Lola Rodriguez de Tio wrote patriotic poetry in support of Cuban independence movement. The rebels fought against Spanish rule with a growing concern. Americans invested more than $50 million in the island of Cuba. American trade with Cuba was worth about $100,000,000.00 a year. Opinion split over whether the United States should intervene in Cuba. Hearst used yellow journalism, or sensational stories that were often biased or untrue. Hearst said, you supply the pictures we will supply the war.
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In 1898, fighting broke out in Havana, the Cuban capital. President McKinley sent the battleship Maine to Havana to protect the American citizens there. On February 15, a huge explosion ripped through the ship. The explosion killed at least 260 of the 350 sailors and officers on board. Yellow journalists used the explosion to push the Americans into the war in Cuba. The real cause of the explosion remains a mystery today.

The battleship Maine

The battleship Maine sinking

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On April 25, 1898 President McKinley declared war on Spain. This war was called the Spanish-American War. The Spanish-American war lasted only four months. The navy Secretary, Theodore Roosevelt, felt it was important to attack the Spanish in the Philippines as soon as the war began. George Dewey, commander of the Pacific fleet followed Roosevelts instructions immediately after war was declared.

Theodore Roosevelt

George Dewey

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Theodore Roosevelt

Meanwhile, American troops had landed in Cuba. None were more eager than Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt organized The First Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, later called the Rough Riders. During the battle for the city of Santiago, Roosevelt led the roughriders in charge of the San Juan Hill. This battle was called The Battle of San Juan Hill. American troops were successful in taking the hill. 14

Two days later, the Americans destroyed the Spanish fleet in Santiago Bay. The Spanish army in Cuba surrendered. American troops then landed on Puerto Rico and claimed the island. Spain then agreed to sign an armistice, thus ending the fighting. In a peace treaty signed in Paris in December of 1898, Spain agreed to grant Cuba its freedom. After the war, American soldiers remained in Cuba while the nation debated who would rule. In the end, the United States let the Cuban people write their own constitution. However, Cuba had to accept the Platt Amendment. The amendment allowed the United States to intervene in Cuba and gave the United States control of the naval base in Guant Namo Bay. In effect, the amendment made Cuba an American protectorate, a nation whose independence is limited by the control of a more powerful country.

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Each nation made their own laws and privileges. They encouraged an open door policy in China. Under the policy, all nations could trade with one another in China Many Chinese opposed foreign influences in the country. These people will call the boxers. In 1900, the boxers rebelled. They attacked farmers in China. They killed more than 200 people. Americans armed with modern weapons stopped the boxer rebellion and freed all the captives that the boxers held. This is called a Boxer Rebellion.
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3. The United States in Latin America

When Theodore Roosevelt became President in 1901, he was determined to build a canal through the Isthmus of Panama. An Isthmus in a narrow strip of land connecting larger bodies of land. Panama was the perfect place for canal because of its location. Roosevelt knew that a canal would greatly benefit the American commerce and military capability. It would also reduce the cost and shipping goods. A revolution between Columbia and Panama began. The people of Panama revolted against the Columbians this made it very hard for Roosevelt to build the isthmus. Soon, Panama won their independence from Columbia. The United States recognized the new nation. Panama and then agreed to let the United States build a canal. 17

Colonel George Geothals

In building the Canal, tropical heat at mosquitoes made it very difficult. Two tropical diseases were very common; Yellow Fever and Malaria. Under the supervision of army engineer Colonel George Geothals, more than 40,000 workers struggled to dig the canal. Finally in 1914, the first coach and steamship traveled through the Panama Canal. In 1904, Roosevelt announced an important addition to the Monroe Doctrine. In the Roosevelt Corollary, he claimed the right of the United States to intervene in Latin America to preserve law and order. Over the next twenty years, sell the Presidents including Roosevelt, used this police power.
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Roosevelt successor, William Howard Taft, also favored a strong American role in Latin America. He urged American bankers to invest in Latin America. This policy of building strong economic ties to Latin America became known as the dollar diplomacy. American investors responded eagerly. They helped build roads, railroads, and harbors in Latin America. The United States use built a force to keep order in Latin America. Woodrow Wilson, elected President in 1912, disliked the heavy handed foreign policies of his past predecessors. He proposed instead a policy of moral diplomacy. Wilsons goals were to condemn imperialism, spread democracy, and promote peace. Nevertheless, Wilson ordered military intervention in lead America more than any other President.

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Relations with Mexico

Mexican President Diaz was the Mexican President from 1884 to 1911 welcomed American investments. Meanwhile, most Mexicans remain poor. These harsh conditions led to widespread discontent. In 1910, Mexicans rebelled against Diaz. Francisco Pancho Villa led the resistance in a Civil War in Mexico. To capture Villa, President Wilson sent General John J. Pershing with an army of several thousand soldiers. In 1917, after failing to capture Villa, Wilson ordered Pershings army to withdraw. 20

Slide show by Mr. Zindman

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