Lecture Outline: American Imperialism, Part II

Overhead

 

·       Case Study: Spanish – American War, 1898

·       Factors: Greed, Glory, God and a Heavy Dose of Politics

I         Historical Context: War in Cuba and the Philippines

A     Causes of the Conflict

B     American Interests

II      The War and American Policy

A     Increased conflicts between Cubans and Spanish – US supported the Cubans

B     Events

1       Deputy de Lôme Letter – McKinley a “weak hypocritical politician:

2       “Remember the Maine! To Hell with Spain

C     Role of Teddy Roosevelt

1       Assistant Secretary of the Navy

2       Dewey to the Philippines


 

III    “A Splendid Little War”

A     Spain had no European allies

B     Short and successful for Americans

C     TR & the Rough Riders – national hero

IV  The Philippines

A     Forceful annexation of the Philippines

B     Dewey destroyed Spanish fleet and Americans occupied the islands

C     Step toward shaping American political opinion to accept the “political, commercial and humanitarian” reasons for annexing the Philippines.


 

D     Treaty of Paris – ended Spanish American War

1       US purchased the Philippines from Spain for $20 million.

2       Spanish out of Cuba and Puerto Rico

 

V     Filipino-American War

A     Filipinos – Self determination

B     Americans – “White Man’s Burden”


 

VI  The Philippines – Two Points of View about American Foreign Policy and America’s Vision of Itself

A     Imperialists: McKinley, Roosevelt

1       Annexation of Philippines: Greed, Glory, God

2       Racist: Filipinos inferior; needed to be “killed off like the Indians”


 

B     Anti-Imperialists: Andrew Carnegie, Jane Addams, Mark Twain

1       Contradiction in American ideals

a        Unconstitutional – no steps toward statehood

b       Occupation a foreign people without their consent

c        Domestic reforms needed the attention and funds

2       Other Point of view: Racist

a        Could not assimilate: nonwhite, Catholic, inferior in size and intelligence

3       Practical Argument: Long term commitment

a        Occupation

b       Tax $

c        Other Asian wars


 

VII                       1900: Triumph of Expansionism

A     Glory – Patriotism

B     God – White Man’s Burden (Reform Darwinism – Philippines

C     Greed – Trade + Resources = Economic Benefits in Pacific ( Asia) and Caribbean

D     Politics – Teddy Roosevelt’s Rise to Power