The Big Stick America and the World October 28th 2014-Notes

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

-Imperialism
~ When powerful nations created empires by dominating other lands
*Expansionism
>expanding/expansion of the empire
-Manifest Destiny
~The idea (prevalent, esp. in the 1840s & 50s) that it was Americas obvious (manifest) and inevitable
fate to occupy the entire continent.
-Monroe Doctrine
~Declaration by President Monroe in 1823 that the United States would oppose efforts by an outside
power(Europe) to control a nation in the Western Hemisphere.
-The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
~Speak softly and carry a big stick
~The US would police areas of the Caribbean and Central America
~The US did not want Europe interfering with the Americas
~Under this policy, the US would intervene in many of these countries
-Reasons for Imperialism:
~Public Support (1)
*Future prosperity depended on access to world markets
*Territorial expansion and expansion of trade
~Military Strength (2)
*Naval Bases and coaling stations throughout the world
*Helped US with expansion
~Economic Pressure (3)
*World Trade would lessen the threat of economic depression
-Causes for the Spanish-American War
~ Spanish Misrule in Cuba (1)
*1895: Cuban Revolt
>Fueled by Spanish rule and falling sugar prices
*Spain
>Sent General Valeriano Weyler- Ruthless Governor
*Reconcentration
>Spanish Policy- Cuban villagers in concentration camps
>Many died from hunger and neglect
~Yellow Journalism (2)
*A style of newspaper writing in the late 1890s that featured sensational headlines and stories
*Newspaper fed the Anti-Spanish hysteria, and downplayed brutal deeds of the rebels
~ Remember the Maine (3)
*U.S.S. Maine 1898
>Sent to Havanas harbor to protect U.S. citizens and property
>February 15, 1898
+Explosion destroyed U.S.S. Maine- 266 sailors dead
*Many U.S. citizens now favored war
~Spanish Concessions (4)
*President McKinley
>Supported Cuban Independence
>Presented Spain with demands
+Withdraw of Spain from Cuba
*deLome Letter

The Big Stick America and the World October 28th 2014-Notes

>Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. whose letter described McKinley as weak

+Printed in the NY Journal & infuriated the American public
*Spanish refused McKinleys offer
>McKinley asked congress for a declaration of war
>Granted April 25, 1898
-Military Operations of the Spanish-American War
~Dewey at Manila Bay
*First fighting took place in Philippines
*Commodore George Dewey
>Commander of U.S. fleet based in Hong Kong
>Fleet sunk or captured the entire Spanish fleet at Manila Bay
>U.S. troops took Manila
-Land Warfare in Cuba
~Poor Preparation
*Army
>Not equipped to launch an invasion of Cuba
~Rough Riders
*Mixed crew of cowboys, college students, adventures
>Theodore Roosevelt
+Promoted to leader of group
*Charged and took San Juan Hill
*The black soldiers of the 9th and 10th regiments assisted the Rough Riders
>Buffalo Soldiers
~Most deaths were a result of Yellow Fever and food poisoning not battle
*Battle Deaths- 385
*YF & FP- 2061