Emergence of U.S.

Expansionism
Powers of Europe struggling for spheres of influence in the new
world
Newly independent U.S. figuring out its foreign policy

Washington: No “entangling alliances” with Europe

Idea that U.S. was unique, with no
imperial motivations
Hamilton: U.S. should take advantage of
European conflicts.
U.S. as “embryo of a great empire.”

Senator Rufus King: “I am entirely convinced that if

it [South America] and its resources are not for
us…that they will speedily be against us…”
Agreement in U.S. that the Spanish colonies should remain
in the hands of Spain

Issue of Latin American independence movements

Might ally with England or France

Instability might lead to European

intervention

“We consider their interests and ours as

the same, and that the object of both
must be to exclude all European
influence from this hemisphere.”
– Thomas Jefferson
 The Monroe Doctrine, 1823

Any European attempt to gain territory in the Americas

would be considered an unfriendly act toward the United
States

Two themes of U.S. hegemony in Latin America:

1. Territorial Expansion
2. The Gospel of Democracy
1. Territorial Expansion

Mexico and the issue of Texas

1835: Texan rebellion of independence

The Battle of the Alamo Santa Anna

Texas gained independence in 1837
Annexed by U.S. in 1845

 U.S. Mexican War

Mexico lost

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

+ Gadsden Purchase
“It is scarcely possible to resist the conviction that
the annexation of Cuba to our federal republic
will be indispensable to the continuance and
integrity of the Union itself.”
--J.Q. Adams
Policy of acquisition of territory in the 19th century shifted
to one of creating a sphere of influence.

Issue of European domination of Caribbean

Pan-Americanism: (ostensibly) to prevent war in the Americas

U.S. suggested a common hemispheric tariff on trade

with countries outside hemisphere
Rejected out of fear for sovereignty and U.S.
motives.

Commercial Bureau of the American Republics

Pan-American Union

Organization of American States

“….a new Monroe Doctrine, not of political principles, but of
commercial policy. Instead of laying down dogmas, it
figures up profits.”
The Commercial Advertiser, 1898.

A free trade zone from Canada to Argentina?

Preposterous !
Venezuela vs. the British

Washington as arbitrator

British recognized U.S.

pre-eminence
 Where’s the ideology?!?

“We should become the center of a system which would

constitute the rallying point of human freedom against the
despotism of the Old World.

About the countries of Latin America: if our Government

would take the lead and recognize them, they would become
yet more anxious to imitate our institutions, and to secure to
themselves and their posterity the same freedom which we
enjoy.”
--Henry Clay, 1818
“The [Mexican] race is perfectly accustomed to being
conquered, and the only lesson we shall teach is that our
victories will give liberty, safety, and prosperity to the
vanquished, if they know enough to profit by the
appearance of our starts. To liberate and ennoble—not to
enslave and debase—is our mission.”
--Moses Y. Beach, editor, of the New
York Sun (1848-1868)
Three audiences:

1. Domestic society
Noble cause to mobilize resources

3. Europe
Your cause is less noble than ours so stay out.

5. Latin America
Come join us/get with the program
I fear the degrading ignorance into which their priests and
kings have sunk them, has disqualified them from the
maintenance or even knowledge of their rights, and that
much blood may be shed for little improvement in their
condition.”
--Thomas Jefferson, 1811
 Take up the White Man's
burden,
And reap his old reward--
The blame of those ye better
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:-
"Why brought ye us from
bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?
 Take up the White Man's
burden-
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloak your weariness.
By all ye will or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent sullen peoples
Shall weigh your God and you.
 Take up the White Man's
burden!
Have done with childish days--
The lightly-proffered laurel,
The easy ungrudged praise:
Comes now, to search your
manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold, edged with dear-bought
wisdom,
The judgment of your peers.
 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–
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.
 Take up the White Man's
burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine,
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
(The end for others sought)
Watch sloth and heathen folly
Bring all your hope to nought.
 Take up the White Man's
burden--
No iron 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, make them with your living
And mark them with your dead.