The United States and Latin America

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Elwin Anderson
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1 Main Idea The United States and Latin America Imperialism in Latin America involved the United States and European nations seeking to strengthen their political and economic influence over the region. IMPERIALISM=BULLYING United States gets involved EUROCENTRIC AND WHITE MAN S BURDEN. Money and political prestige. Content Statement/Learning Goal: Describe the political, economic, and social roots of imperialism expansion. Describe how imperialism involved land acquisition, extraction of raw materials, spread of Western values, and maintenance of political control. Describe how the consequences of imperialism were viewed differently by the colonizers and the colonized.

4 "God Himself placed in every human heart the love of liberty.... He never made a race of people so low in the scale of civilization or intelligence that it would welcome a foreign master. -William Jennings Bryan while accepting Democratic nomination for president in 1900

5 Mark Twain I have seen that we do not intend to free, but to subjugate (place under control) the people of the Philippines. We have gone to conquer, not to redeem (save). I am opposed to having the [American] eagle put its talons on any other land. The New York Herald, October 15, 1900

6 Spanish-American War: (1898) war fought between Spain and the United States that began after the sinking of the battleship USS Maine; the United States won the war in four months, gaining control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines Roosevelt Corollary: a policy proposed by U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt as an addition, or corollary, to the Monroe Doctrine; it pledged to use U.S. military force to prevent European interference in the internal affairs of Latin American nations while reserving for the U.S. the right to intervene.

7 1.Uprising in Cuba/Growing U.S. Influence The United States had become a growing economic and political power in Latin America by the late 1800s. Uprising in Cuba Island of Cuba one of Spain s colonies in the Americas 1860s, Cuban nationalists began fighting for independence Spain exiled leaders of nationalist revolts Cuban Nationalists One exiled leader, José Martí, continued struggle for independence from New York City Poet, journalist, Martí urged Cubans to continue fight Founded Cuban Revolutionary Party; returned to Cuba, 1895 Martí was killed in an uprising against the Spanish. Thousands of Cubans were forced into Spanish-controlled camps where many died. Butcher Weyler

8 Sympathy for Rebels Many people in U.S. felt sympathy for Cuban rebels. Viewed Cuban struggle for freedom as similar to American Revolution. Give Cuba freedom of democracy. Anti-Imperialists protest any involvement. Pulitzer vs Hearst rivalry. Wanted to sell newspapers. U.S. newspapers printed scandalous stories and large, shocking illustrations about events in Cuba. American newspapers urged United States to enter war YELLOW JOURNALISM Spanish-American War Begins February 1898, U.S. battleship Maine exploded in Havana s harbor Many American s and newspapers immediately blamed Spain Fire most likely an accident. Spain offered to pay for damage done by loss of Maine. McKinley calls for 125,000 volunteers. 2. The Spanish-American War Spain Declares war after McKinley call for troops. U.S. reciprocates.

9 2.Spanish-American War/Peace Treaty Short War: John Hay splendid little war War disastrous for Spain Spanish army defeated in Cuba, navy fleets destroyed in Philippines, Cuba U.S. won war within four months. American Casualties of Cuban Campaign: 5,400 deaths only 379 from battle. Many died from yellow fever or unsanitary conditions Treaty ending Spanish-American War United States received Puerto Rico, Guam Agreed to purchase Philippines for $20 million dollars Spain agreed to give up Cuba, but U.S. did not want Cuba to have full independence U.S. made Cuba a protectorate by forcing it to include Platt Amendment as part of new constitution Platt Amendment allowed U.S. to intervene in Cuba, approve foreign treaties, lease land at Guantánamo Bay for naval base

10 Status in Philippines Nationalists in the Philippines, another Spanish colony, believed Spanish- American war would bring them independence Instead became U.S. colony U.S. and McKinley felt Filipinos were incapable of governing themselves. Andrew Carnegie offers $20 million to buy independence of Philippines. U.S. refuses. No Independence Three years of fighting More than 200,000 Filipinos died from combat, disease Did not win independence 3. Revolt in the Philippines U.S. place Filipinos in concentration camps Betrayal and Revolt Rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo, who cooperated with U.S. forces against Spanish, felt betrayed Rebels revolted against U.S. Philippines had been in revolt when coming into U.S. possession. Ruling Philippines Until 1935, U.S. ruled Philippines through governor appointed by U.S. president 1946, Philippines granted full independence Hawaii annexed in 1898

12 Alaska: Seward s Folly (1867) Becomes a state in 1959

13 U.S. gained control over more territory with building of Panama Canal Wanted two ocean navy. Cement status as world power. Scene as necessity after Spanish-American War 1880s, French company had tried unsuccessfully to build canal across Isthmus of Panama, then part of Colombia 1903, U.S. bought French property, equipment Colombia refused to allow U.S. to build canal. Offered $10 million. Panama Canal Zone U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt sent warships to support uprising against Colombia Panama declared independent, signed treaty granting land to build canal; became Panama Canal Zone, ruled directly by U.S. Remained this way until The Panama Canal Building the Canal , Panama Canal built. 8 years and $400 million. Major medical advances required to control effects of yellow fever, malaria on canal workers. Took 75,000 workers. 30,000 die in construction of canal. Shortened sea voyage from San Francisco to New York City by about 8,000 miles

17 Monroe Doctrine 1823, Monroe Doctrine declared Americas off limits to European imperialism, except for colonies that already existed Seen as idle threat by U.S. until end of Spanish-American War Considerable Financial Interests Roosevelt Corollary 5. A Warning to Europeans Late 1800s, Europe and U.S. had considerable financial interests in Latin America; many nations there were deeply indebted to foreign creditors 1904, European creditors threatened force to collect in Dominican Republic To protect U.S. interests, maintain stability, Roosevelt announced the Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine The U.S. vowed to use military might to keep Europeans out of the Americas Roosevelt, Speak softly and carry a big stick.

19 6. Increasing U.S. Power United States sent troops to several nations in early 1900s U.S. forces entered Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Cuba to restore civil order United States took control of finances in those countries Claimed need to prevent financial chaos Reality: U.S. used Roosevelt Corollary to become even more involved in political affairs of Latin American countries

Why did the US want to claim small islands in the Pacific Ocean such as Midway Island and Wake Island?

US History & Government Imperialism Why did the US create an empire in the late 19 th Century? Social: Economic: Political: Religious: Military: China Why did the US want to claim small islands in the