Chapter 20 The United States Looks Overseas

1. Chapter 20The United States Looks Overseas

2. Key Terms for the Chapter • Isolationism • Avoiding involvement in other countries’ affairs • Imperialism • Building empires by imposing political and economic control over peoples around the world

5. The Turner Thesis • Frederick Jackson Turner • Created idea that western frontier defined American History • expansionists believed that overseas was the new frontier and would bring new riches and power

6. Economic Growth • Expansionists argued that future prosperity depended on building up trade • U.S. had a powerful industrial economy and produced more than Americans would buy

7. Economic Growth • There was a fear that if U.S. did not expand it would be shut out of global markets and denied raw materials • Alfred T. Mahan stated that the key to strong trade was a powerful navy

8. United States Looks Overseas • Purchasing Alaska • 1867 The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (about 2 cents an acre) • Alaska was full of resources (gold and oil) • Alaska Gold Rush of 1897-1898

10. Spreading American Values • In the late 1800s many Americans believed that Americans of the “Anglo-Saxon race” were superior to “lesser races” in other nations • Argument was Americans had a divine duty to spread Christian values and western civilization around the world.

11. Gaining Foothold in the Pacific • Expansionists had interest in various Pacific islands, and saw them essential for expanding influence and trade

12. Samoa

13. Gaining Foothold in the Pacific • Samoa • U.S. had interest in Samoa to use as coaling stations for ships • Other European countries also wanted Samoa and Britain, Germany, and the U.S. almost went to war • In 1899 the U.S. and Germany divided the islands • People in Samoa had no say in the matter.

16. Gaining Foothold in the Pacific • Hawaii • U.S. saw Hawaii as a military outpost in Pacific • 1893 American planters and 50 U.S. Marines overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. • President Grover Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii because the revolt had been illegal • on July 7, 1898 Hawaii became a territory of U.S. when it was annexed by President William McKinley

18. Hawaii

22. Carving Up China • Late 1800s China lost a war and European powers wanted to take advantage of China’s weakness • European power and Japan started dividing China into spheres of influence (areas where another nation has economic and political control)

25. Carving Up China • At first, U.S. were not part of the activity, but U.S. officials feared they would be excluded from trading with China • Secretary of State John Hay called on nations to keep an “open door” policy in China.

26. Carving Up China • Boxer Rebellion • A secret Society called Righteous and Harmonious Fist was formed to try and combat foreigners in China • Became known as Boxers because of their ceremonial exercises that resembled shadowboxing • In spring of 1900 the Boxers began a rebellion to expel foreigners

27. Carving Up China • The boxers attacked and killed westerners and Chinese Christians. • European powers and the U.S. sent in 18,000 troops with modern weapons and crushed the rebellion

29. The Spanish-American War • Cuba had been under Spanish control since 1492 • After Centuries of being under Spain’s harsh control Cuban’s started to rebel • First rebellion started in 1868 and lasted 10 years, but was unsuccessful

31. The Spanish-American War • Cubans started another rebellion in 1895 • To stop the revolt the Spanish began a policy of reconcentration (movement of large numbers of people into detention camps for military or political reasons) • 200,000 Cubans would die in these camps due to poor sanitation and starvation

32. The Spanish-American War • Cubans, led by Jose Marti, asked for help from the U.S. • Marti was a leader of the rebels, but was killed in Cuba before he was able to see Cuba free from Spanish rule

34. The Spanish-American War • Many Americans wanted to help the Cuban rebels, but U.S. government was resistant to send troops • Americans wanted to help Cuba to protect their investments • Americans had over $50 million in sugar plantations, railroads, and iron mines

36. Yellow Journalism • yellow journalism- A sensational style of reporting that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news

37. The Spanish-American War • Newspapers swayed public opinion towards war by using Yellow Journalism • Led by Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal

44. The Spanish-American War • U.S. declares war -February 15, 1898 the Maine sinks and the United States declares war on Spain

45. Spanish-American War • The U.S. Goes to War • April 20, 1898 the U.S. declares war on Spain • The first main battle of the war took place in the Philippines • May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a small fleet of ships to Manila Bay and sank the entire Spanish squadron • The U.S. did not lose a single ship or life

48. Spanish-American War • The Filipinos were also fighting for independence from Spain • Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of the Filipino rebels • Instead of giving independence to the Filipinos the U.S. took control of the islands

50. Spanish-American War • War in the Caribbean • Most of the fighting took place around Santiago and at sea