07 - Imperialism 1898-1917 overlaps the economic boom and...

July 10, 2007
Imperialism
• 1898-1917
• overlaps the economic boom and beginning of Social Darwinism and its
acceptance
• in 1871 Germany had become a unified nation and they compete with England
and France for industrialization and economy
• Russia expands, and tries to acquire land in China
• Russia is always going to look for a warm water seaport
• Entered war with Ottomans and lost
• Spain has few colonies left (they have all gained their independence)
• Admiral Mahan: advocated that the US build up their navy, because every
world power has historically had a large navy, US heeds his advice
• Progressive movement wanted to deal with corruption in the local, state, and
national governments and et rid of immorality
• Foundation: Monroe doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary (handout)
• Leaders: protestant missionaries (to spread their religion), businessmen (make
more money by opening up market in other country), and people who wanted to
increase US influence
• Wanted to create an empire for US to prove that they are on the ame playing field
as Russia and Europe
• Jingoist- war monger (first solution to solving problems is to going to war)
• McKinley does not initially want to go to war
• Americans started to see Cubans as freedom fighters and the Spanish as bad
• Muckrakers wanted to bring truth to light
• Yellow journalists- William Randolph Hurst (owns the new york world) and
Joseph Pulitzer (owns the new york journal)
• Yellow journalists tweak the news so that it would get a reaction out of
readers (example downplaying victories or losses, tweaking numbers, focus
on one side
• McKinley pressures Spain to give Cuba their independence
• Two things led the US the war with Spain
• Feburary 1898: telegraph was intercepted
• USS Maine exploded within a week of the letter coming out
• McKinley does not want to go to war with Spin
• He sends them a letter with three conditions:
1. repay money for Maine
2. free concentration camps in Cuba
3. stop fighting in Cuba
4. pay Cubans penance (not abided by)
- Teller amendment: stated tht we were not going to war to acquire land in

Cuba, went to war to give them their independence
- Jingoists and yellow journalists motto became “Remember the Maine!”
- People were led to believe that Cubans were light skinned and disciplined