3. IMPERIALIST STIRRINGS
From the end of the Civil War to the
1880’s, isolationism was the driving force
behind U.S. foreign policy.
By the end of the century, a momentous shift
occurred in U.S. policy.
By century’s end America itself would become
an imperial power, an astonishing departure
from its venerable anti-colonial traditions.

4. Identify and explain the reasons for the country’s outward look.

5. Explain how America’s new international interest manifested itself in several ways.

6. MONROE’S DOCTRINE and the VENEZUELAN SQUALL
America’s anti-British feeling flared
anew over Venezuela in 1895-1896. The
dispute was over a jungle boundary
between British Guiana and Venezuela.
Explain the Venezuela’s claims. What
further complicated the situation?
Describe the U.S. position. What
action did President Cleveland take?

7. Fortunately, Britain’s position with Germany prompted them to submit to arbitration.
What was ironic about the arbitration ruling?
The British, feeling increasingly isolated in Europe, were determined to cultivate
Yankee friendship. This Great Rapprochment became a cornerstone of both country’s
foreign policies as the 20th century opened.

8. Events of the late 19th century proved to the U.S. government that it better get into the
game of imperialism, or wind up with nothing.

9. SPURNING the HAWAIIAN PEAR
Hawaii had early attracted the attention of Americans – by the 1840’s the U.S. warned
other powers to stay out. Two agreements (1875 & 1887) tightened America’s grip on
Hawaii.

10. Explain why troubles erupted between white sugar growers and the native govt. The
unauthorized use of U.S. troops assisted a successful rebellion against the native govt.
Hawaii seemed ready for annexation, but Pres. Cleveland balked and sent a special
investigator to assess whether the natives wanted annexation.
The question of annexing Hawaii touched-off the
first full-fledged imperialistic debate in American
experience.
Cleveland was savagely criticized for not seizing
this “ripe plum,” which he refused to do.

11. THE U.S. AND ITS IMPERIALIST DILEMMA
IMPERIALIST v. ANTI-IMPERIALIST
•Possessions mean enhanced power * Expansion contradicts Monroe Doctrine
•Establishes the U.S. as a world power * Expansion/exploitation contradicts
democratic principles that is the
bedrock of the country
* New markets
•Spread democracy & Christianize * How can the U.S. “spread” democracy
through imperialistic exploitation?
*Power & Profit * Moral Principle
Power & profit would prevail. “Hypocrisy” would hurt American standing to present.

14. CUBANS RISE in REVOLT
Cuba’s masses rose against the Spanish in 1895. The insurgent’s strategy was a scorched-
earth policy, hoping that this would either drive the Spanish out and/or prompt the U.S.
to become involved.
American sympathies went out
to the Cubans – our tradition of
fighting for freedom and
millions of dollars of economic
interests.
American rage intensified over
Cuba with the incoming of
Spanish General “Butcher”
Weyler – why?
An outraged American public
demanded action and Congress
passed a resolution in support of
the Cubans, but Cleveland
refused to budge.

15. Atrocities in Cuba were made to order for the new “yellow journalism” in the U.S. Where
atrocities did not exist, they were invented. Hearst is alleged to have said, “you furnish
the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”

17. What moves did Spain make in attempt to defuse the situation with the U.S.?
Early in 1898, because of the deteriorating situation in Cuba, the battleship Maine was
sent to Cuba to protect American interests.
Who was Dupuy de Lome? What did he
do that further pushed President
McKinley to war?
What did the Spanish govt. do in an
attempt to express regret for the
incident?

19. A tragic climax came on February 15, 1998, when the Maine mysteriously blew up in
Havana harbor, with a loss of 260 officers and men.

20. Yellow journalistic headlines hastily accused the Spaniards of sinking the Maine.
Two investigations followed, one by U.S. naval officers, and the other by Spanish officials.
The Spanish commission stated that the explosion had been internal and presumably
accidental. The American commission reported that the blast had been caused by a
submarine mine.

22. Various theories have been offered as to how the Maine blew up. There was never any
hard evidence that it was the work of the Spanish. Spain had everything to lose and
nothing to gain by blowing up the ship. In 1976, an American report concurred with the
Spanish finding, but it was too late. There would be war with Spain.

23. McKINLEY UNLEASHES the DOGS of WAR
War fever reached pitched levels in the U.S. despite the Spanish agreeing to
Washington’s two basic demands: revocation or re-concentration and an armistice with
Cuban rebels.
Describe the dilemma for McKinley regarding war with Spain. Despite his personal
opposition to war, he yielded and gave the people what they wanted – why? On April
11, 1898, McKinley sent his war message to Congress; Congress responded with the Teller
Amendment – explain the amendment.

25. WILLIAM McKINLEY
McKinley was cautious by nature – he was
often accused of worrying too much about
public opinion.
He was hesitant to engage the
Spanish, especially after Spain made
concessions.
His private desires clashed with aggressive
& imperialist public opinion. Big business
did not clamor for war.
Why did McKinley acquiesce?
•He had no faith in Spain’s promises
regarding Cuba.
• He realized that a showdown was
inevitable.
•He believed in the Democratic principle
that people should rule.
•Political pressure & fear for upcoming
elections.

27. DEWEY’S MAY DAY VICTORY at MANILA
Americans plunged into war light-heartedly, but there would be challenges – what were
these challenges? Identify Spain’s “apparent” superiority.
T.R. and Commodore George Dewey teamed up
to score the biggest victory of the war.
On Feb. 25, 1898, T.R. ordered Dewey to
attack the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay –
describe the course of the battle.

29. Manila was captured on Aug. 13, 1898 with the help of Filipino insurgents, led by Emilio
Aguinaldo.
Victory in the Philippines led to the annexation of Hawaii on July 7, 1898 – a “strategic
rationale” was offered as justification. Hawaii received full territorial status in 1900.

30. THE CONFUSED INVASION of CUBA
War preparations for battle in Cuba illustrated how ill-prepared both sides were, but the
U.S. was less ill-prepared. The “Rough Riders”, a part of the invading army, now charged
into history.
This regiment of volunteers was commanded by Col. Leonard Wood, but TR was the driving
force behind the regiment. TR rushed the regiment into battle against the ill-prepared
Spanish.

32. Landing largely horseless in Santiago, the “Rough Riders” charged on foot up San Juan Hill
to victory.

33. CURTAINS for SPAIN in AMERICA
Facing vastly superior naval and army forces, the Spanish surrendered Santiago and an
armistice was signed on Aug. 12, 1898. The U.S. made a “land grab” of Puerto Rico before
the hostilities ended.

34. If the Spanish had held out a few
months longer in Cuba, the American
army might have melted away.
Malaria, typhoid, dysentery, and yellow
fever took a deadly toll. Also, spoiled
beef poisoned many soldiers.
One of the war’s worst scandals was the
high death toll from sickness – approx.
400 lost their lives in battle; over 5000
perished from disease.

36. McKINLEY HEEDS DUTY, DESTINY, AND DOLLARS
Late in 1898 Spanish and American
negotiators met in Paris to formally
end the conflict.
What did the U.S. acquire? What
posed a dilemma for the U.S.
govt.?

37. Seemingly the least of the evils (and public opinion) was to acquire the Philippines and give
them their independence at a later date. To appease an angry Spain, the U.S. agreed to
pay $20 million for the Philippines.

38. AMERICA’S COURSE (CURSE?) of EMPIRE
The signing of the pact of Paris touched off one of the most impassioned debates in American history.
The U.S. had never acquired so much land not attached to the contiguous U.S.

39. An Anti-Imperialist League sprang up to fight McKinley’s expansionist moves. They
argued that the Filipinos wanted their freedom and despotism abroad might and/or will
beget despotism at home.
Expansionists countered with an appeal to patriotism and possible trade profits.
And, wealthy Americans must help to uplift (exploit) the underprivileged, underfed, and
under clad of the world.
Sen. Bryan’s (D) crucial support allowed the treaty to pass the Senate on Feb.
6, 1899, with one vote to spare.

41. PERPLEXITIES in PUERTO RICO & CUBA
By the Foraker Act (1900), Congress
accorded Puerto Ricans a limited
degree of popular govt., and in 1917
granted them U.S. citizenship.
The thorny question centered on the
constitutionality of American actions
in these newly acquired possessions.
The Supreme Court, in 1901, with the
Insular Cases, decreed that Congress
could determine the applicability of
the Constitution to these new
possessions.
Cuba presented challenges & successes, including yellow fever which was conquered by Dr.
Walter Reed, and the U.S. honored its Teller Amendment by withdrawing its forces in
1902. Old World imperialists could not believe it, but the U.S. was not completely cutting
Cuba loose.
The Cubans were forced to write into their own constitution of 1901 the so-called Platt
Amendment. List the major provisions of this legislation as relevant to Cuban-
American relations.

43. NEW HORIZONS in TWO HEMISPHERES
In essence, the Spanish-American War was a kind
of coming-out party. The conflict did not cause
the U.S. to become a world power; it merely proved
that the nation was already a world power.
The war itself was short (113
days), spectacular, low in casualties, and
successful. And the European powers grudgingly
accorded the U.S. more respect.

44. An exhilarating new spirit thrilled America. America did not start the war with
imperialistic motives, but it wound up with imperialistic and colonial fruits. And the much-
criticized British imperialists were pleased.
By acquiring the Philippine Islands, the U.S. became a full-fledged Far Eastern power.
With singular shortsightedness, the Americans assumed dangerous commitments that
they were later unwilling to defend by proper military outlays.
The lessons of un-preparedness were not altogether lost and Capt. Mahan’s big-navyism
seemed vindicated. Elihu Root established a general staff and founded the War College.
And the conflict further closed the “ bloody chasm” between North and South.