LEQ Prep

• By which time period did Americans start to turn away from isolationist policies and towards imperialistic ideals?

  The 1890s signified a pivotal period in time where America strayed away from their founding principles of independence/liberty and towards expansion and empire building.
• Which two groups of Americans wished to find markets overseas?

  Farmers and Factory workers desired overseas market since agriculture and industry was booming in America. They also believed overseas market may relieve tension brought on by labor violence and agrarian unrest.
• Influences that pointed towards Imperialism:

  Yellow Journalism, Missionaries, Darwin's Theory
• Yellow Journalism

  Sensationalism/dramatizing in reporting that was mainly used to stir up emotion within the American population.
• Missionaries


  Wished to save uncivilized souls in un-Christian lands.
• Darwin's Theory


  TR applied this to nations. It was the order of things for the strong to conquer the weak.
• Big Sister Policy (Sec. of State James Blaine)

  The aim of this policy was to get Latin American countries behind America's leadership and open their markets to the U.S.
• U.S. & Britain Standoff (What Policy did it practice?):


  This standoff occurred over gold discoveries in Guiana. Th e actual dispute was between Britain and Venezuela; America just invovled themselves by sticking up for their "little sister" by saying the British were breaking the Monroe Doctrine.
• Result of the U.S. & Britain Standoff:

  America and Britain would almost go to war. However, the British were distracted by Germans down in South Africa and decided a war with America was not worth it. The gold lands were split and crisis was averted.
• Important Thing #1 about Hawaii during the 1800s:

  Since America was extremely dependent on Hawaii for sugar production, they regarded Hawaii as an unofficial part of the U.S. Thus, America warned other nations to leave Hawaii for the U.S.
• Important Thing #2 about Hawaii during the 1800s:

  American fruit and sugar companies were deeply entrenched within Hawaii. They largely ran the island because of their economic power.
• Important Thing #3 about Hawaii during the 1800s: 



  There was a growing resistance from native Hawaiians towards the U.S. due to increased American influence and encroachment.
• Why were sugar companies concerned about the American situation in Hawaii?

  Americans sugar companies were worried that Japan might try to take over Hawaii and that the McKinley tariff had raised prices of Hawaiian sugar/fruit imported to the U.S.
• What did the sugar companies do to get Hawaii for themselves?

  The solution of these sugar companies was to annex Hawaii into the U.S.
• What was the resistance towards the Annexation of Hawaii and how did the U.S. overcome it?


  Queen Liliuokalani resisted America's attempts to annex Hawaii. She belived the power of rule resised with natvie Hawaiians. In order to overcome this resistance, Americans staged a revolt and the U.S. military helped forcefully dethrone the queen. This was all done completely unofficial from Washington D.C. Papers were drawn right after the dethroning asking Washington to annex Hawaii.
• What was the federal response to the proposal of annexation?

  Grover Cleveland had just become president during this time, and he disliked the way that Hawaii was being forcefully taken. Therefore, he stopped the annexation.
• 1895


  Cuba revolted against Spain
• Insurrectos


  Cuban rebels that revolted against their Spanish overlords on sugar plantations by burning everything.
• Why did America support the Cuban Revolts?

  (1)America loved liberty and independence. (2) It would be good for the Monroe doctrine to kick a European country out of the area. (3) Cuba was the gateway to the Caribbean where America dreamed of building the Panama Canal.
• What was the role of the yellow press during the late 1800s?

  The yellow press namely published fabricated and dramatized stories of Spanish behavior in order to rile up Americans into a spirit of war.
• What was the De Lome letter and what impact ddi it have?

  The De Lome letter was a letter written by Spanish official Dupuy de Lome which entailed de Lome criticizing President McKinley and pointedly calling him a wimp. This angered many Americans, building up even more tension.
• U.S.S. Maine


  The event that blew up all American frustration. It happened on February 15, 1898, and was an explosion of the U.S.S Maine at Havana harbor which ended up killing 260 Americans
• What were the consequences of the U.S.S. Maine?


  Despite lack of evidence, the American public was convinced that the Spanish were the culprits behind the explosion and they demanded war. President McKinley was still reluctant to enter war.
• April 11, 1898


  President McKinley asked Congress to declare war with Spain.
• Teller Amendment

  As soon as Congress declared war, the Teller Amendment was passed. It said that America would give Cuba its freedom after kicking out Spain.
• How was America during the war?

  America entered the war in a very happy and confident mood.
• What was Commodore George Dewey's role before/during the war?

  Even before war was declared TR ordered Dewey to move to the Philippines, which was controlled by Spain, if war broke out.
• America Advantage during the war:

  (1)America had modern ships while the Spanish had more antique ships. (2) American guns could outshoot the guns of the Spanish.
• Who was Emilio Aguinaldo and what did he do?

  At first EA was an ally to the U.S. as he aided America by leading a groups of Filipino insurgents in order to capture Manila from Spain. This occurred on August 13th.
• Why did America want to get Hawaii after getting the Philippines?

  America wanted to grab Hawaii to use as a halfway coaling station between California and the Philippines.
• July 7, 1898


  Congress and President McKinley agreed to annex Hawaii.
• What was the Spanish American War known for?

  Ill Prepared
• Why was the U.S. ill-prepared?

  (1) The men had wool uniforms for use against Natives out west, not for the Caribbean tropics. (2) The majority of U.S. soldiers would die from disease due to poor medication and planning than from fighting.
• August 12th


  Spain signed an armistice with America after America captured Puerto Rico and destroyed Spanish ships near Santiago.
• Results of the Spanish American War:

  Cuba was free and independent like the Teller Amendment had said it would be. However there were strings attached. Namely, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines were under the control of the U.S.
• Philippines Problem #1

  The U.S. could give the Philippines back to Spain. This option was opted out due to the decades of spanish abuse and misrule.
• Philippines Problem #2

  The U.S. could get the filipino people run the country by themselves. This was alluring but the fear was that competitive warlords like Germany would throw the country into total chaos.
• Philippines Problem #3

  The U.S. could take over the islands. However, this would portray America as an imperial bully, and after finally getting the Spanish off their backs, the Filipino people did not really want the U.S. controlling them.
• Philippines Solution:


  McKinley decided that America should take over the Philippines. This decision meshed with the interests of the public and businesses. $20 million was paid to Spain for the Philippine islands.
• Who two groups arose after the proposal to aquire the Philippines?

  The Imperialists and Anti-Imperialists