1890-1920 Foreign affairs: imperialism; engagement in international affairs; Spain and the Philippines; the Panama Canal; the First World War, neutrality and entry Flashcards
Did the US become an accidental empire.
Some historians, such as Harold Evans have argued that the USA never actually sought an empire at all. He argues that the decision to annex the Philippines was due to the deciding vote of Vice-President Garrett Augustus Hobart. Evans insists that, for economic reasons, the USA did not need an empire because it was carrying out a huge amount of trade with Britain.
To what extent did the US become progressive imperialists?
The historian Walter McDougall suggests that US imperialism was motivated by a desire to improve the lives of non-Americans, shown for example in the removal of yellow fever in Cuba and the building of hospitals and schools. In other words, the export of American values to less well-developed countries. Indeed, some historians go further and suggest that the USA became an imperial power because it wanted to dominate the world by creating countries in its own image - believing that other countries would benefit from the pursuit of Americans to civilise the world.
This was linked to the missionary work undertaken by Americans. The impetus to do this work was linked to the belief that White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPS) were a superior people who had a duty to help members of lesser races’ improve their lives by following their example. Missionaries were often followed by colonists, as was the case in the Philippines and Hawaii.
What was the Open Door policy?
This was a term first used to guarantee the protection of equal privileges among countries trading with China. The policy proposed to keep China open to trade with all countries on an equal basis; thus, no international power would have total control of the country.
What is Precusive Imperialism?
It refers to the idea that countries take colonies to prevent others from doing so. Moreover, it links with the idea that the USA wanted to copy the example of European powers such as Britain, France and Germany which had built up empires in Africa and Asia in the later nineteenth century. Therefore, the USA took advantage of its predominant position in Latin America as well as the Monroe Doctrine expand in Central America and the Caribbean.
How did the US involvement in Samoa show preclusive imperialism?
US actions in Samoa were an example of preclusive imperialism. America’s interest in Samoa first began in 1872 when the King of Samoa offered the USA the naval base of Pago Pago on the eastern island of Tutuila. Although this was refused, the USA was aware of increasing German and British interests in the area, with the German Trading and Plantation Company turning Samoa into the most important trading post in the Pacific.
During a civil war in Samoa in 1898, the Americans and British supported the opposing side to that of the Germans. The following year the three powers abolished the Samoan monarchy and signed the Tripartite Convention in which Britain relinquished all rights to Samoa, the USA established a protectorate in Eastern Samoa while Western Samoa became a German colony. The British relinquished all rights to Samoa in return for being given other Pacific island chains formerly belonging to Germany.
What involvement did the US have in Hawaii in the late 1800s?
In 1898, the USA annexed Hawaii. Hawaii was important as a stopping station on the way to Japan and China and US missionaries had settled there. Moreover, since 1875 the USA had imported Hawaiian sugar duty free and Hawaii became increasingly dependent on the US economy. By the 1890s, there were 3,000 American sugar growers out of the 90,000 Hawaiians living on the island.
In 1887, the USA established its first major Pacific naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In 1890, the McKinley Tariff removed duties on raw sugar so the Hawaiian growers lost their trading advantage and began to suffer as a result of competition from other sugar interests, especially in Cuba. In 1891, the Hawaiian king died and the new queen, Liliuokalani, led a rebellion and American residents called for help from the USA. The marines arrived and within three days the rebels surrendered. The USA now planned to annex Hawaii because of its important location but was opposed by those who feared that America would become an imperial power, no better than the Europeans. However, the war with Spain in Cuba strengthened the arguments for annexation, which took place in July 1898.
Why did the US purchase The Philippines?
As part of the Treaty of Paris, 1898, which ended the Spanish-American War, the USA was allowed to purchase the Philippine Islands from Spain for $20 million. There were various reasons for this purchase:
Many felt that the USA would be able to civilise the islanders through converting them to Christianity as well as superior’ American ideals.
In addition, there was preclusive imperialism. The fear was that the Philippines might be taken over by Britain, Germany or Japan.
The islands could not be returned to Spain and the Filipinos, even though they wanted independence, seemed incapable of ruling themselves effectively.
There was strong opposition to the annexation of the islands both in the Philippines and in the USA. The Filipinos had been fighting for independence from Spain and assumed that once the Spanish were defeated, they would be given their independence. The USA had to fight a four-year war of subjugation, costing around $600 million and, by 1904, 126,000 troops were stationed in the Philippines.
Why did the US have interest in Latin America?
The USA looked to extend its influence in Latin America in terms of political influence and developing trade links. While there was no intention of annexing regions, US business interests sought to exploit South and Central America and in doing so raise their standards of living and quality of life.
What involvement did the US have in Puerto Rico?
This island was a Spanish colony but had been given a degree of independence before the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898. It was invaded in 1898 by American troops and, after a little fighting, the Spanish surrendered and withdrew. Under the Organic Act of 1900, Puerto Rico was to be administered by the USA.
What were the Reasons for US involvement in the Spanish-American war?
Overall, there were several reasons for US intervention:
It was partly inspired by an aggressive and patriotic press campaign that inflamed public opinion, known as the ‘Yellow Press’.
In addition, there were economic motives. This was partly to protect US business interests in Cuba but also to offer a deliberate distraction from the Depression of the 1890s.
In many respects, intervention was inevitable given the misrule of the Spanish, the geographical closeness of Cuba and the Monroe Doctrine. The USA had to intervene to restore order.
Moreover, there were real fears in the USA that they would not be able to control an independent Cuba which, in turn, would threaten American interests on the island.
The role of President McKinley who was elected with a pledge to protect US interests and, with so much interest in Cuban sugar, it was essential to maintain stability in Cuba. Traditionally, he has been seen as being reluctant to go to war and, ultimately, only being persuaded by Congress. However, more recently historians have argued that McKinley favoured war as it was in the interests of the USA. Spain would be defeated quite easily and the USA would benefit from greater investment in Cuba as well as increased trade.
What was the Maine incident?
The ‘Maine’ incident While on a ‘friendly’ visit to Havana Harbour, the American battleship Maine exploded, with the loss of 266 crew. Immediately the US press accused the Spanish of sabotage. The Spanish did investigate the incident but came to the conclusion that the explosion had been caused by a fault on the ship. However, an American investigation concluded that it was caused by a mine.
The incident certainly inflamed US public opinion as well as the press and encouraged Roosevelt to order a blockade (surrounding and blocking) of Cuba. Later impartial investigations found that the explosion was caused by a known design problem in the ship - a coal bunker fire close to where the shells were stored.
What involvement did the US have in Venezuela?
In 1895, Britain and Venezuela were in dispute over Venezuela’s border with the British colony of Guiana. President Cleveland demanded that the British agree to send the dispute to arbitration, a demand which was, at first, rejected by Salisbury, the British Prime Minister. The British eventually backed down when the USA threatened to send 54 vessels to the disputed area. Arbitration eventually decided in favour of Venezuela.
How did the US defeat Spain?
In April 1898, US forces launched a double attack on Spanish territories.
The navy attacked Spain in the Philippines and defeated its fleet outside Manila. The navy also played an important role in Cuba with one fleet under Rear Admiral Sampson blockading Santiago and the northern approaches to Cuba and a second fleet blockading the southern approaches to the island.
Meanwhile, 17,000 American troops under General William Shafter landed near Santiago. The combination of land forces and the naval blockade forced the surrender of the Spanish troops after less than three weeks of fighting.
In the action on Cuba, 379 US soldiers were killed and over 5,000 suffered from yellow fever. Moreover, there was a lot of hostility between the Cuban freedom fighters and US troops. The Cuban General with his army of 5,000 played an important role in the defeat of the Spanish on the island. However, the USA ignored the contribution of the Cubans and maintained that it was a purely American victory.
What was the result of the Spanish-American war?
The USA did not include or even seriously consider the Cubans in the final peace settlement with Spain, the Treaty of Paris, which was signed with Spain in August 1898. The Treaty stated that:
Cuban independence was recognised but the USA was allowed possession of Guantanamo Bay.
Spain lost the last parts of its American empire by ceding Puerto Rico in the Caribbean to the USA.
The USA was able to purchase the Philippines for $20 million (see page 92).
Spain also ceded the Pacific island of Guam to the USA.
The USA had demonstrated its areas of interest as set out in the Monroe Doctrine. Moreover, it had protected and provided for the expansion of its economic interests in Cuba. Under Roosevelt, the USA was also to achieve much greater political control over the island.
What happened in Cuba post Spanish-American war?
Once the Spanish had been defeated and withdrawn from Cuba, a major debate started in the USA about what to do with Cuba. It could be given its independence and left alone. On the other hand it could become a colony or protectorate of the USA. In April 1898, just prior to war with Spain, Congress had passed the Teller Amendment which stated that the USA would not annex the island, which would be given its independence.
However, the war led to a change of opinion in the USA where there was a belief that the Cubans were not ready to rule themselves. Moreover, independence might threaten American commercial interests on the island. As a result, in
1901 Congress passed the Platt Amendment.
Cuba’s final treaty with the USA was signed in 1903, which imposed a new political system on the country and made its economy heavily dependent on the USA. For example, Cuban sugar and tobacco were tied to the US markets through preferential tariffs, while US goods entered Cuba at reductions varying from 25 to 40 per cent.
US forces, which had occupied the island since the war of 1898, left in 1902. However, these forces returned in 1906 and remained until 1909 as a result of unrest that began during the presidential elections of 1905. The USA invaded again in 1912 with marines to help the Cuban Government put down a revolt of former slaves.
