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American Imperialism. What is Imperialism?. Imperialism - policy by which strong nations extend their political, economic and military control over weaker territories. - To seek an over-seas empire. Alfred T. Mahan’s Theory on Naval Supremacy.
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What is Imperialism? Imperialism- policy by which strong nations extend their political, economic and military control over weaker territories - To seek an over-seas empire
Alfred T. Mahan’s Theory on Naval Supremacy He urged construction of a fleet of steel ships, acquisition of overseas bases, and construction of a canal across Central America. The United States eventually followed all of his recommendations.
Alaska and Hawaii • Alaska is purchased by William Seward from Russia (“Seward’s Icebox”) • Main purpose is for expansion of territory and for natural resources (timber and oil) • Hawaii was owned by many American sugar cane planters. • To protect their investments, Hawaii was annexed to the United States.
Causes of Spanish American War • Imperialism • Yellow Press- newspaper writers exaggerate stories to provoke the public toward a cause • Battleship Maine explosion • De LômeLetter- Enrique de Lôme ambassador to the U.S. from Spain insults President McKinley
The Yellow Press demanded war. Headlines screamed, “Remember the Maine!” William Randolph HearstJoe Pulitzer (N.Y. Journal) (N.Y. World)
The Spanish-American War Begins. The war began with U.S. victories in the Philippines. • Commodore George Dewey surprised and easily defeated a Spanish fleet at Manila Bay. • Rather than surrender to the Filipino independence fighters led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Spanish troops surrendered to U.S. forces.
Guantánamo Bay was captured. • Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders,stormed San Juan Hill. • A Spanish fleet was destroyed at Santiago. • Spanish troops surrendered in Cuba and on the island of Puerto Rico. U.S. troops easily defeated the Spanish in Cuba.
Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. • Guam and Puerto Rico became American territories. • Under the Teller Amendment, Cuba could not be annexed by the United States. In the Treaty of Paris, Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
