US Imperialism Part 1
Spanish-American War
Definition: A 10 week war between the US and Spain ostensibly fought to free Cuba from Spain. It was an easy win for the US which gave the US control of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. While the 1898 Teller Amendment said the US wouldn't annex Cuba, the 1903 Platt Amendment allowed unconditional US involvement in Cuba. Year/era: 1898, during the Gilded Age/Age of Imperialism Historical Context: Cuba was rebelling for independence, and Cuban rebels were starving and dying in concentration camps, sparking US sympathy. The US also had an economic interest in sugar and a political desire to gain an empire, and with the help of Yellow Journalism, the sinking of the USS Maine (killing 260 Americans) was blamed on Spain and the US was able to go to war with Spain over these reasons with wide public support. Historical Connection: This can be connected to the Whiskey Rebellion, as that was another armed conflict won by the US in a pretty short amount of time, and both conflicts involved a call for freedom from one of the parties. They also both helped lead to a change in government style in an involved area. Modern Connection: This can be connected to modern US intervention in the Middle East in the name of protecting the independence of certain countries when the US is truly pursuing their own goals/does not intend to let the country run itself without interference, such as in various countries during the Cold War when the US was trying to prevent communism from spreading. Historical Significance: This is significant because it established the US as a real global power and the land the US won control over in the treaty was the start of the US imperialist empire. Mnemonic Device: To remember the amendments can think of Teller as sounding like "tell her" that we'll let her go free, as in just telling Cuba like feeding it a lie, and Platt as rhyming with flat, because that promise fell flat.
The Philippine-American War
Definition: It was fought between the Philippines and the US for Philippine independence over 3 years, the Philippines led by Emilio Auinaldo. The US won, with only 4000 American casualties, while there were 20,000 Filipino soldiers and 200,000 Filipino civilian casualties. Causes included the refusal of the US to recognize Philippines independence, US imperial motives, and the idea of the "White Man's Burden". Year/era: 1899-1902, during Gilded Age/Age of Imperialism Historical Context: The US gained the Philippines from the Spanish-American War, and Filipinos thought they would be given their independence before realizing they were simply trading hands from Spain to the US, causing them to declare war for independence. The US wanted to expand their imperial power, and thus wanted to keep the Philippines. Historical Connection: This can be connected to the US annexing Hawaii, as that was another event during this time period in which the US forced a foreign nation under its control in the name of expanding US economic and political power as well as "civilizing" the area's natives. However, because Queen Lili'uokalani gave up her power to save her people, there was not a real war or as much violence in Hawaii. Modern Connection: This can be connected to the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was fought with similar guerilla warfare tactics, was fought in the name of independence, and led to severe civilian casualties on the side of the country fighting against the US. Historical Significance: This is significant because it was a war won in the US's favor that more firmly established their imperial and global power, giving them control over the Philippines which was an ideal location for accessing Asian trade. Additionally, it established the US as a country taking part in the "White Man's Burden" of civilizing "backward" countries. Mnemonic Device: The event is kind of in the name of the war. In a shocking turn of events, this is a reach, but Filipino starts with F like fail and fatality, because the Philippines lost and faced many more deaths/casualties.
Motives/Basics of US Imperialism
Definition: Starting in the 1890s, the US started a policy of imperialism ending US isolationism. Imperialism is a policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories. The US's motives for imperialism were economic (Industrial Revolution), militaristic (expanding reach, navy), political (competition with Europe), religious (spread Christianity), and exploratory. Year/era: Started in the 1890s, continued through the World Wars. Started during the Gilded Age. Historical Context: Countries around the world, such as Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Russia, were already imperializing other countries, and the US wanted to be able to compete with those countries. The Influence of Sea Power Upon History by Alfred Thayer Mahan was also published, which made politicians believe expanding the navy and naval bases was important, and imperializing would aid in pursuing that. Historical Connection: This can be connected to Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny in the US as that was another time period in which the US sought to expand their land through various means in order to gain more power. However, imperialism was not focused on American people actually moving into the acquired land in the same way. Modern Connection: This can be connected to the United States' continued intervention in other countries, even when we don't really have the right to do so, such as the CIAs interference in the Middle East, specifically in countries like Iran, Syria, and Iraq. The US has shown willingness from imperialism to now to interfere in foreign leadership to suit political and economic purposes. Historical Significance: This is significant because US imperialism helped make the country a greater global power, gaining it both land, money, and power, while also unjustly subjecting the citizens of those imperialized to a lack of freedom over their own countries and governance. Mnemonic Device: For the motives, you gave us EMPRE, which sounds like empire, which is what the US was trying to create.
US Annexation of Hawaii
Definition: The US wanted Hawaii for ideological reasons (expanding Christianity), economic reasons (sugar and pineapple planters wanted to avoid tariffs), political reasons (fear that if US did not take over Hawaii, another country would), and military reasons (halfway point to Asia, good for trade, refueling, supplies). Although there was Native Hawaiian resistance, the last monarch of Hawaii was overthrown in 1893 in an uprising backed by American businessmen, it was proclaimed the Republic of Hawaii in 1894, and President McKinley annexed it in 1898. The Hawaiians had already lost a lot of power to American businessmen with the 1887 Bayonet Constitution, which the Hawaiian king was forced to sign, and weakened his power, gave the US Pearl Harbor, and disenfranchised 2/3 of Hawaiians. Year/era: annexed in 1898, leadup for over a decade, during the Gilded Age/Age of Imperialism Historical Context: Americans had been in Hawaii for a while, mainly as sugar and pineapple planters by the 1890s, and businessmen such as James Dole did not want to pay the McKinley Tariff which was recently passed. The businessmen also wanted greater control over the land they were planting on. As other countries began to imperialize, including Japan, the US became concerned with losing access to Hawaii at all if they did not take action. Historical Connection: This can be connected to the annexation of Texas in 1845 after the Mexican-American War, another time a territory became independent following a US war with another country before eventually being annexed, however the Texans wanted to be annexed and the Hawaiians were forced into it. Modern Connection: This can be connected to the modern day debate on whether Puerto Rico, another annexed territory, should become a state or stay an annexed territory. The population there has been divided on whether or not to become one for years, but as an annexed territory they are under US control without voting rights. Historical Significance: This is significant because the action expanded US imperial power at the time and gave the US what would eventually become the 50th state. It is also an example of how the US is willing to violently manipulate foreign governments to suit their economic and political purposes while claiming the other side is uncivilized and the US is saving them. Mnemonic Device: Complicated, and as convoluted as always, but stay with me: H is the 8th letter of the alphabet, to remind me of the 8s in 1898, and the "ii" at the end of Hawaii reminds me there are TWO eights. I is also the ninth letter of the alphabet, to remind me that it is 18/9/8.
Yellow Journalism
Definition: Yellow Journalism is sensational writing which exaggerates news in order to influence readers. Two major newspapers which used yellow journalism were the New York Journal owned by William Randolph Hearst and the New York World owned by Joseph Pulitzer, which were both used yellow journalism to increase support for the Spanish-American War. Year/era: started in the mid 1890s, during the Age of Imperialism in the Gilded Age Historical Context: Yellow journalism became prominent at the same time as US imperialism began, so it was a useful tool to increase support for imperialist actions like the Spanish-American War by sensationalizing the sinking of the USS Maine. Historical Connection: This can be connected to the muckraking that occurred around this time, which was another form of journalism. However, while muckraking was investigative journalism meant to expose corruption and share the truth with people, yellow journalism was more concerned with convincing people of an agenda and making profit than the truth. Modern Connection: This can be connected to "clickbait" today, which is used even beyond the obvious Buzzfeed type listicles, as news sources attempt to entice readers using the most sensationalized titles they can, which are often misleading, all in the name of getting more readers and making more money, which was the same goal of yellow journalists and the newspaper owners like Hearst and Pulitzer who encouraged it. Historical Significance: Yellow journalism is significant because it increased public support for the Spanish-American War greatly, and created public pressure to engage in it in the first place. It also increased nationalism in Americans. Mnemonic Device: If i think of traffic light colors like a scale of honesty, yellow journalism would be in the middle, not outright lying but not completely honest either as it was propaganda.
