Unit 9: Imperialism and Reform

1896-1914

Goals of this Unit

To be able to explain the economic, political, and cultural forces that sparked a spectacular burst of imperialistic expansionism for the United States, culminating in the Spanish-American War. To understand the importance of the strong progressive movement successfully demanding that the powers of government be applied to solving the economic and social problems of industrialization. To explain why a split Republican party will lead to Woodrow Wilsons progressive idealism and isolationism would initiate sweeping reforms domestically, but lead to dangerous military involvements internationally.

The Rise of Imperialism

Europe had been colonizing in Africa and Asia for most of the 1800s Isolationist America turning towards imperialism now

Why Imperialism?
Europe showing economic benefits of imperialism
New markets in rare resources from Africa & Asia

Yellow journalism
Increased public interest in foreign exotic and adventurous lands

Missionaries
Wanted to save un-Christian natives of these lands
Reverend Josiah Strong leader of movement

Capt. Alfred Thayer Mahans Influence of Sea Power Upon History

Stressed that key to power is through the navy Effect of book:
U.S. starts building up Navy Stronger navy allows for imperialism

Why Imperialism?
Widely believed social theories: Darwins survival of the fittest theory:
Weaker nations will wither away due to course of nature Thus, its only natural for stronger nations to conquer the weak

Kiplings The White Mans Burden:

(Read the poem silently and turn to a partner to discuss its meaning)

Theorized that white Europe and America have a responsibility to colonize to help the weaker nations
Thus make own nation stronger

Both used as justification for imperialism

The White Mans Burden

By Rudyard Kipling TAKE UP THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN SEND FORTH THE BEST YE BREED GO BIND YOUR SONS TO EXILE TO SERVE YOUR CAPTIVES' NEED; TO WAIT IN HEAVY HARNESS, ON FLUTTERED FOLK AND WILD YOUR NEW-CAUGHT, SULLEN PEOPLES, HALF-DEVIL AND HALF-CHILD. TAKE UP THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN NO TAWDRY RULE OF KINGS, BUT TOIL OF SERF AND SWEEPER THE TALE OF COMMON THINGS. THE PORTS YE SHALL NOT ENTER, THE ROADS YE SHALL NOT TREAD, GO MARK THEM WITH YOUR LIVING, AND MARK THEM WITH YOUR DEAD.

TAKE UP THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN IN PATIENCE TO ABIDE, TO VEIL THE THREAT OF TERROR AND CHECK THE SHOW OF PRIDE; BY OPEN SPEECH AND SIMPLE, AN HUNDRED TIMES MADE PLAIN TO SEEK ANOTHER'S PROFIT, AND WORK ANOTHER'S GAIN.

International Incidents & Policies

How does each push America towards imperialism and the need for a strong navy?

James G. Blaines Big Brother (AKA Big Sister) policy

U.S. responsibility to protect Latin America

1882 Blaine leads Pan-American Conference

U.S. mediates disputes between Latin American countries

Push towards imperialism/navy? Goals for Blaine were imperialistic:

Make Latin America supportive and reliant on U.S. Allow U.S. to have direct influence in Latin American politics

 1888 Standoff: USA vs. Germany over Samoa

Result: Samoa split in half

1891 Standoff: USA vs. Italy 11 Italian immigrants lynched in New Orleans
Result: USA made payments to Italian families

Push towards imperialism/navy? Navy needed strengthening in case of war 1889 Standoff: USA vs. Britain after gold is discovered in Guiana (Venezuelan region)
Britain attempts to take over and mine gold Issue? Breaking the Monroe Doctrine Result:
Venezuela pleads with U.S. for help U.S. steps in and sticks up for little sister

Britain backs down, war narrowly avoided Push towards imperialism/navy?

Strengthens Latin American dependence on U.S. Navy needed strengthening in case of war

Hawaii
American economic imperialism present in Hawaii since early 1800s
Fruit and sugar companies had lots of power over islands due to economic power Hawaii regarded as a little sister as well

Reasons for imperialism:

Companies feared Japan might try to take over Resistance of native Hawaiians growing McKinleys high import tax was hurting American companies in Hawaii

Solution?
Annex Hawaii

Hawaiis Annexation?
Queen Liliuokalani refused to give up power
1893 Americans in Hawaii & dethrone Queen with some U.S. military help

President Grover Cleveland upset by non-diplomatic methods

Refused to sign off on annexation Temporary republic set up by business owners

Hawaii eventually annexed in 1898 by McKinley

Cuba
1895 Cubans revolt against Spain American roots for Cuba why?
Supports the Monroe Doctrine policy Cuba valuable for ports and location Sentimental of American revolution

Spanish General Weyler sent to stop revolt

Harsh tactics: concentration camps for insurrectos

Effect of Yellow Journalism

Hearst & Pulitzer portray Weyler as super villain
Embellished pictures outrage Americans

The de Lome letter

Stolen letter written by Spanish diplomat insulting McKinley is published in Hearsts newspapers Americans angered

The U.S.S. Maine explosion (1898)

Ship explodes in Havana harbor killing 258 American sailors Cause of explosion unknown but the yellow press blamed Spain American public demanded war for revenge on Spain

McKinley reluctantly gives in, Congress declares war April 1898

Teller Amendment U.S. promises not to annex Cuba after war

Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
War heavily supported by the public America overconfident and underprepared Poor planning on both sides

War in the Pacific

Secretary of the Navy Teddy Roosevelt sees chance for imperialistic gains Roosevelt orders Commodore George Dewey to attack Spain in the Philippines
May 1, 1898 Dewey attacks and first battle of war ensues 10 aged Spanish ships vs. 6 modern American ships Very one-sided naval battle America wins naval battle
Unprepared: couldnt invade must wait on foot soldier reinforcements Aug 13 U.S. captures Manila from Spain with help of Filipino insurgents against Spain

Americans save Filipino rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo from exile to help fight Spain

Now with U.S. controlling Philippines, a coaling station needed between Southeast Asia & California
Hawaii officially annexed in 1898

War in the Caribbean

U.S. led by Gen. William Shafter Teddy Roosevelt resigns from Sec. of Navy to fight in war
Organizes Rough Riders cavalry horseless cavalry Unprepared: couldnt get horses from ships to shore

Spain sends fleet to Santiagos narrow harbor

Mistake: creates a gauntlet for Spain to get in or out

U.S. sends ships and troops to Santiago

Unprepared: soldiers issued wool uniforms suffer in extreme summer heat U.S. navy blockades harbor and soldiers surrounded the Spanish from the other side of the harbor Spain tries to run gauntlet out of the harbor and gets mowed down by the U.S. navy

U.S. easily takes Spanish-owned Puerto Rico and Guam too Spain surrenders and signs armistice by August 1898

Aftermath of Spanish American War

Effects of the Splendid Little War
Unprepared: poor medical planning more soldiers (5,000) will die of disease than in battle (4,000) U.S. seen as a rising world power North vs. South tension disappears a bit
Common enemy was the Spaniards, not each other

Teddy Roosevelt rises to fame Post-war treaty proposed:

Cuba would be free U.S. would gain Puerto Rico, Guam, and control of Philippines

What to do with all these countries?

Cuba
Promised freedom to Cuba, but America wanted to ensure a stable government would take power:
Temporary military government led by Col. Leonard Wood Sets up Cuban government, education system, agriculture Makes medical advancements to combat rampant disease

U.S. leaves Cuba by 1902 creates Platt Agreement:

U.S. approves all Cuban treaties U.S. could intervene if Cuban economy crashes U.S. military owns one coaling station in Cuba
Guantanamo Bay

Puerto Rico

Retained as an unincorporated territory of the U.S.

Issue: Do American laws apply here? Series of Insular Cases taken to Supreme Court Supreme Court declares American laws dont extend to these new lands

Improvements made in sanitation, transportation, education, etc Foraker Act gives P.R. limited elected government 1917 Puerto Ricans granted full U.S. citizenship
Many freely move to New York City

The Philippines Dilemma

Big issue at treaty talks: What to do with the Philippines? Give back to Spain?
Spain ruled harshly and abusive of natives

Let Filipinos rule themselves?

Could result in chaos due to rival warlords

U.S. takes over the country?

Would make U.S. look like imperial bullies Angry Filipinos willing to fight for freedom

McKinley decides to take over Philippines

Swayed by yellow presss effect on public opinion and imperialist business owners $20 million paid to Spain for Philippines

The Philippines Dilemma

Senate still needs to approve treaty debate ensues:
Anti-Imperialist League lobby against annexation:
Unlike Hawaii or Alaska, Philippines had a heavily resistant population and out of U.S. jurisdiction

Imperialists lobby for annexation:

The White Mans Burden used as justification

Treaty approved by one vote in Senate

Filipino Resistance
Filipinos felt deceived by USA, wanted independence
Feb 4, 1899 Emilio Aguinaldo leads uprising ironic?

Philippine-American War
Fighting lasts for over a year America uses cruel tactics to suppress Filipinos American soldiers die more from disease than battle

Diplomatic solutions taken

William H. Taft sent to serve as civil governor of Philippines Taft well liked by Filipinos

Filipino Resistance
Taft institutes benevolent assimilation policy:
Goal was to caringly help and improve the Philippines Millions of American dollars invested in Filipino infrastructure:
Sanitation, roads, education, economy, healthcare

Fighting fades away, but desire for independence still alive Philippines not granted freedom until 1946.

Imperialized China

Separated into spheres of influence by Europe

Various European countries had exclusive trade rights in coastal cities of China

American business wants in on Chinas natural resources Sec. of State John Hay drafts Open Door Policy
Suggests that Chinese cities should be open to all nations for trade ban all exclusive trade rights

Europe not willing to compromise 1899 Chinas Boxer Rebellion against foreigners quelled by combined forces of Europe and America Open Door Policy now accepted at treaty talks America now has open and lucrative trade with China

 Issues:

Election of 1896

Base currency off gold, silver, or both? Demands of working class vs. worried upper classes

Reps nominate William McKinley

Safe choice: Civil War vet, good Congressional record, pro-tariff, friendly and likeable Very pro-business

Dems nominate William Jennings Bryan

Boy orator of the Platte Young (36), great speaker & debater from Nebraska Anti-tariff, used Populist Partys main platform: coin more silver
Populists started joining the Democrats:
Dem-Pop Party

McKinley exploits economic fears of country, drums up far more campaign money McKinley easily wins election Results & effects of election?
Currency will be based on gold, not silver Victory for business owners and upper classes

President William McKinley

Very safe and cautious with his decisions
Made decisions based off public opinion Two issues: gold vs. silver & fix economy

Dingley Tariff Act (1897) significantly raised tariff to 46%

Goal was to increase revenue & fix economy after Panic of 1893 Clevelands low Wilson-Gorman Tariff deemed ineffective

Gold Standard Act (1900)

Allowed for people to trade paper money for gold More symbolic than anything Giving people the option brought calmness and confidence in the economy

Gold discovered in Alaska causes inflation

Helps lower classes

Prosperity
McKinley successful in fixing economy
Country pulled out of recession Pro-business policies, inflation from gold discovery, gold vs. silver debate solved

Allows for calmness and confidence in economy

Calmness and confidence economic growth Uncertainty in economy hinders growth

Election of 1900
Rematch between McKinley and William Jennings Bryan Mudslinging:
Bryan: McKinley is an imperialist bully and war monger McKinley: Bryan as president would kill American prosperity

McKinley chose famous and beloved Teddy Roosevelt as VP McKinley is easily reelected McKinley shot and killed 6 months into second term
Assassin was a disgruntled anarchist Secret Service reassigned to full-time duty of protecting presidents and politicians

President Theodore Roosevelt

AKA Teddy or TR Short, brawny New Yorker, Harvard grad Theory of role: a president should lead, not supervise Motto: Speak softly and carry a big stick
Ironic because TR was boisterous, stubborn, and temperamental

BELOVED by the public why?

Press often portrayed him a spunky, cartoonish, war-hero

Imperialist Teddy: Panama Canal

TR wants canal in Central America built why?
Would greatly benefit trade and power of navy French engineer Philippe Bunau-Varilla hired

Obstacles:
European jurisdictions Location of canal: Nicaragua? Panama? Panama chosen, but is part of Columbia refused to give up land

The Panama Canal

Bunau-Varilla incited Panama rebellion in 1901 U.S. Navy helps Panama in wining independence from Columbian tyrants
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty signed between Panama and U.S.

Approves construction and lease of canal to U.S Panama Canal completed in 1914
Obstacles of sanitation, disease, and overwhelming engineering task overcome Construction led by George Washington Goethals

 Canal causes major tension because of Big Stick Policy

U.S.-Latin America Relations Damaged

Bullying techniques used to cause war between Panama and Columbia

Latin American countries consistently behind in repaying debts to Europe TR worried Europe would intervene problem?
Violates Monroe Doctrine Creates the Roosevelt Corollary Amendment to Monroe Doctrine stating U.S. will intervene and collect debts for Europe

U.S. significantly intervenes in Cuba in 1906, and later Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic TRs Big Stick Policy contradicts the intended Good Neighbor Policy Latin American relations with U.S. deteriorate

Teddy the Peacemaker

1905 TR asked to mediate treaty talks after Russo-Japanese War
Both Japan and Russia unhappy with results, especially Japan Relations between all three countries decline

1906 TR successfully mediates a dispute in North Africa Wins Nobel Peace Prize for peace-making work

Rocky Relations with Japan

Japan bitter after TRs mediation Small number of Japanese laborers begin to migrate to California
Yellow peril sweeps through state thanks to influence of press

1906 Asian immigrants segregated from SF Schools Japan outraged at treatment of Japanese in California talks of war
TR makes Gentlemans Agreement to end issue Asian segregation in schools ends, Japan halts emigration to U.S.

TR worried agreement makes America look weak Sends the Great White Fleet on diplomatic good-will mission
Subtly shows power of U.S. military

U.S. and Japan sign Root-Takahira agreement respect for each others territories

Progressive Party Rises

New reform movement gaining influence Progressives
Roots from Greenback Party (1870s) and Populist Party (1890s)

Goal: to achieve social justice by using government as an agency of human welfare Calling for more government intervention, less laissez-faire capitalism 1902 Muckrakers emerge writers and social critics exposing corruption and injustice through newspapers and magazines
Cosmopolitan Magazine The Shame of Cities by Lincoln Steffens

Who was the Progressive Party?

Mostly made up of middle class
Felt squashed between business tycoons at top and working class at bottom

Political reforms wanted:

Initiative and referendum public can propose & vote on laws Recall voters can remove elected officials Secret ballot ensures free and fair voting Female suffrage

Womens Movement
Lillian Ward & Jane Addams lead suffrage movement
Create Hull House in Chicago to help working class and immigrants

Womens rights gaining strength through legislation:

1908 Muller v. Oregon extra laws to protect female workers deemed constitutional 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire new motion for laws for better hours, conditions, safety, and worker compensation

Prohibition Movement
Anti-Saloon League join Womans Christian Temperance Movement Well-organized, well-financed Many states started banning alcohol
Half of Americans by 1914 live in dry areas

1919 18th Amendment passes Prohibition

Alcohol sale, consumption, and possession banned

Teddy the Progressive

TR deeply influenced by muckrakers progressivism ironic?
TR created the derogatory name

Teddy calls platform: The Square Deal:

Vows to accomplish the Three Cs:
Control corporations Consumer protection Conservation of natural resources

1st C: Control the Corporations

Creates the Dept. of Commerce and Labor
Bureau of Corporations responsible for: Investigating interstate trade Stops railroad corruption & bullying Breaking up monopolies (AKA trusts)

Teddy the Trust buster

TR proudly begins to break up monopolies Disbands over 40 bad trusts
Biggest was JP Morgans trust

Good trusts were allowed to operate

2nd C: Consumer Protection

1906 The Jungle by Upton Sinclair exposes horrible conditions of meat packing industry
Has major influence on public and Congress

1906 Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act both passed
Proper labeling techniques, inspection, prevents tampering Results in increased exports of American meat

3rd C: Conservation of Natural Resources

By 1900, America realizing natural resources not unlimited TR leads conservation movement
1902 Newlands Act massive irrigation projects in West TR lawfully protects 125 million acres of forest

TR still a pragmatist over a conservationist

Example: Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite Leads to a philosophical split

The Roosevelt Panic of 1907

Sudden sharp economic downturn Beloved Teddy solely blamed Congress passes AldrichVreeland Act (1908)
Authorizes national banks to release money into circulation An elastic supply of currency could now help during recessions Would lead to the Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Election of 1908
TR still very popular announced he would not run for a third term
Endorses a similar-minded politician

William Taft is Rep. Nominee

Taft was BIG and very likeable

William Jennings Bryan is Dem. Nominee for 3rd time Taft easily wins election
Much help from TRs popularity

Socialist Party candidate Eugene Debs gets 3% of popular vote significance?

Debs rose to fame in Pullman Strike in Chicago Sign of the times: social justice movement

Teddys Legacy
Brought big business under control Increases role of presidency Passes wide range of reform Showed U.S. was a world power
Therefore U.S. had major responsibility TR stressed

President William H. Taft

Taft was well-liked, but less like TR than expected:
Hands-off approach to leading Mildly progressive Desired stability rather than reform

Taft pushed Dollar Diplomacy policy:

America would strategically invest in foreign countries to gain power Therefore, U.S. could gain power and money simultaneously Very different from TRs Big Stick Policy

Dollar Diplomacy in action:

Purchase of Chinese railroads fail blocked by Russia & Japan U.S. heavily invests in Latin America U.S. now responsible for maintaining stability in Latin America

Taft the Trustbuster

Taft out-busts TR 90 trusts disbanded in his term
Biggest was Rockefellers Standard Oil Company

Taft attempts to break up U.S. Steel Company

TR had deemed it one of the good trusts Taft refuses to halt investigation, TR furious

Republicans Split
Old, traditional Reps vs. New, progressive Reps 2 big dividing issues: the tariff & conservation
Old Reps: high tariff, develop land for economic benefit New Reps: low tariff, conserve lands

Taft promised to lower tariff during campaigning

Signs Payne-Aldrich Bill which raises tariff Further splits Rep. Party

Taft allows for Wyoming, Montana, Alaska to be open for development

Very unpopular with public

Whos bound to gain power from this split?

Democrats win heavily in Congressional Elections in 1910

The Taft-Roosevelt Rupture

The Republican Party officially splits:
1911 National Progressive Republican League Led by Senator Robert La Follette

Roosevelt so upset by Tafts presidency, he decides to run again Progressive Republican Party nominates TR June 1912 Republican Presidential Convention
Taft vs. Roosevelt, winner would run as Rep. nominee for president Convention votes on Taft why? Incumbent, fear public wouldnt vote for a 3rd term president

Teddy refused to step aside, vows to run as a 3rd party candidate

Election of 1912
Republican Party nominates Taft Progressive Party nominates Roosevelt
Bull Moose Party

Democratic Party nominates Dr. Woodrow Wilson

Governor of New Jersey Very progressive minded

Two Major Platforms:

Roosevelts New Nationalism
Only disband bad trusts, female suffrage, social welfare programs

Wilsons New Freedom

Disband all trusts, supported small business

Mudslinging and incident:

Major mudslinging between Taft and Roosevelt Roosevelt shot on campaign trail, survives

Election of 1912
Wilson wins easily
Popular vote: Wilson: 42% Roosevelt: 28% Taft: 23%

Why is this significant?

Majority wanted a Republican president, not Wilson

Taft retires from politics, goes to law school

Becomes Chief Justice of Supreme Court in 1921

Teddy goes on expedition of South Africa Side note: Eugene Debs (Socialist) gets 6% of popular vote

President Woodrow Wilson

Born and raised in South, very intelligent, deeply religious, believed president should lead
Very different than TR:

Stubborn idealist, not a pragmatist

Sometimes detrimental to achieving goals Not a peoples person A Progressive President

Wilson vows to tear down triple wall of privilege:

The tariff, the banks, the trusts

Domestic: Triple Wall of Privilege

Major reforms made: Tariffs: The Underwood Tariff (1913)
Reduced tariffs on imports Initiated a graduated income tax

Banking: Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Creates appointed Federal Reserve Board Oversee 12 regional, federal banks Issue paper money to regulate amount of currency in circulation Made conservative appointments to Board to keep business tycoons happy

Trusts: Federal Trade Commission Act (1914)

Investigates activities of trust Goal: stop crooked business practices affecting consumers Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) also passed
Forbade price discrimination, interlocking directorates, helped union rights

Domestic: Wilsonian Progressivism

Follows up with several reforms:
Protection for farmers Better treatment and pay for sailors

Paved way for better workers rights:

Workers Compensation Act (1916) Adamson Act (1916)
8-hour workday and overtime

Made small steps toward ethnic equality

Appoints Louis Brandeis, first Jewish Supreme Justice Little done for African Americans during progressivism
W.E.B. Du Bois created National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

International: Wilsons Foreign Policy

Wilson a pacifist and anti-imperialist:
Blocked American involvement in mass loan to China Got Congress to repeal Panama Canal Tolls Act (1912)
American ships now had to pay tolls

Jones Act (1916) granting territorial status of Philippines

Promises independence when stable government is established

Defused situation with Japan over treatment of Japanese in California Purchases Virgin Islands from Denmark for protective reasons
United States Virgin Islands

International: Wilsons Foreign Policy

Wilson a pacifist and anti-imperialist:
Why might this have a dangerous outcome on America internationally? America already had many businesses and land overseas
From Tafts Dollar Diplomacy Abandoning them?

Forced to send Marines to protect American investments in Haiti and Dom. Rep. after violence erupts Mexican Revolution

Mexican Revolution (1910)

Extremely poor and oppressed population revolts
Political chaos breaks out among rival warlords Mass immigration to Southwestern U.S. ensues

Fearing war, Wilson declines to protect American businesses

Rebel Pancho Villa despises American business in Mexico Raids and kills 16 American engineers Kills 19 more in near border in New Mexico

Wilson sends in Army to catch Pancho Villa

Meet resistance from rival Mexican armies Troops called back to U.S. in 1914 why? WWI starts, never catch Pancho Villa

War Breaks Out in Europe

1914 Austrian prince Franz Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian nationalist Complex alliances pulls all of Europe into war one by one Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire (Turkey) Allied Powers: Russia France England Australia

Wilson declares U.S. officially neural