“Catching the Spirit of Empire”: American Imperialism at theTurn of the CenturyI. America during the Age of Imperialism --- From Colony to Colonizera) US becomes a colonial power**ImperialismThe practice, policy, or advocacy of extending thepower of one’s own country outward by either gaining indirect power through a country’s economy or government or by gaining direct power via military, etc.II. Europe’s Imperial Heyday – 19th Centurya) 1880-1950: big years for European imperialismi) Almost the entire world was imperializedIII. America – traditionally anti-imperialist, but…..a) Anti-imperialist because we used to be a colonyb) Were isolationists; avoiding foreign entanglementsIV. Why American Imperialism?a) Profiti) Opportunity to find new marketsb) Power and Prestigec) Cultural Ideasi) Social Darwinismii) Race and Christianityiii) Spreading Democracyiv) Masculinity – Hoganson’s Fighting for American Manhood1. Social changes, plus the death of civil war veterans made for a lack of manhood because men in the early 20th century weren’t fulfilling their role as menv) Alfred Thayer Mahan1. Said we needs to extend the power of our military12. Wanted US to imperializeV. The Spanish-American War (1898) a) Two key events –i) De Lome Letter1. Given to US by a Cuban spy2. Spanish official calls McKinley gutlessii) The Maine explosion1. Feb. 15; “Remember the Maine”b) Newspapers, yellow journalism; strongly anti-SpanishVI. Anti-imperialist Feelingsa) Teller Amendment- if we go to war with Cuba, we will give Cuba freedom immediatelyb) Anti-Imperial League- industry/gold-standard friendly; finds imperialism hypocriticalc) Anti-imperials angered by Platt Amendmenti) 1901- Cuba can’t engage in foreign policy withoutUS’s okayd) Philippines – bought for $20 millionVII. Philippines – America as the new Spaina) US kicks Spanish outb) 1898-1902 US-Philippino Wari) Began because we didn’t give them freedom right awayVIII. American imperialism continues through the 20th century … Nicaragua, Guatemala, Vietnam, El Salvador, etc.
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