TOWARD EMPIRE.PPT

TOWARD EMPIRE America: Past and Present Chapter 21 America Looks Outward U.S. expansion shifts after 1890 Strategically placed islands taken, intended only as colonies Catching the Spirit of Empire Domestic concerns dominated the post-Civil War years 1870s bring new interest in areas beyond U.S. boundaries Internationalism began to replace nationalism Reasons for Expansion Expansion abroad sought to gain markets Evolutionary ideas encourage expansion to give guidance to native peoples elsewhere Missionary spirit expressed in Josiah Strongs popular Our Country (1885) Foreign Policy Approaches: 1867-1900 Expansionist foreign policy Acquisitions: Alaska, Midway Islands Erode European influence in Latin America diverts Latin American trade from Europe through a series of reciprocity treaties U.S. supports Venezuela against Great Britain The Lure of Hawaii and Samoa 1875--U.S. grants Hawaiian sugar free entry Queen Liliuokalani retaliates for McKinley Tariff, attempts to reduce U.S. influence 1893--American settlers pull off coup 1898--Hawaii made U.S. possession 1872--U.S. granted port facilities in Samoa 1899--U.S. shares control with Germany Hawaiian Islands The New Navy Alfred Mahan argues that overseas markets are essential for industrial surpluses Large merchant marine, strong navy needed 1889--Secretary of Navy Benjamin Tracy supervises a program of naval construction U.S. gains offensive capability at sea War with Spain The war increased overseas possessions It also gained the U.S. recognition as a “world power” Americans became convinced they had a special destiny A War for Principle February, 1895--rebellion in Cuba Yellow press whips up U.S. sentiment to favor Cuban independence McKinley gains Spanish concessions February, 1898--explosion of the Maine April 19--Congress declares Cuba independent, passes Teller Amendment April 25--U.S. declares war on Spain A Splendid Little War U.S. regular army small, ill-prepared Problems of equipment and supply