2/3/09, sorry guys - it's late.

Chapter 22 - 2/3/09

-Frederick Jackson Turner argued that the frontier was essential to the growth of the American economy and cultivation of democracy.

-Turner claimed life on the frontier made America unique.

 

The US Looks Abroad

-Several factors cause Americans to start looking overseas.

--Rapid industrial growth

--Technological advances

-->Transoceanic cables, steamship travel

--England, Germany, Russia, Japan, and others sought overseas and colonies

 

Some groups argued that America should enter competition.

-Protestant missionaries, businessman, and imperialists.

 

Protestant Missionaries

-Christian duty to teach gospel to Asian masses (China).

 

-Businessman looked for foreign markets in which to sell.

 

-Imperialists wanted U. S. to become a major world power and saw economic expansion as a way to do this.

 

Imperialists…

-They believed in strong navy.

-Many took Social Darwinism approach.

-Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan was influential imperialist.

-He wrote “The Influence of Sea power Upon History”.

 

-From 1880s on there was large support for a large navy.

-In 1878 U. S. secured base rights to Pago Pago in Samoa.

-In 1885 U. S. leased Pearl Harbor.

-In 1889 U. S. established protectorate over part of Somoa to keep Germany and Britain out.

-In 1891, American sugar plantation owners in Hawaii desposed the King and put Queen Liluokalani into power.

-In 1893, Hawaii declared U. S. protectorate.

 

-Jingoism caught on. Jingoists were nationalists who thought a swaggering foreign policy and willingness to go to war would enhance US rep.

 

Spanish-American War

-In 1895 Cubans revolted against Spain and destroyed much of the island.

-Spanish response = brutal

--Cubans forced into concentration camps.

-American press inflamed U. S. public opinion against Spanish military leader in Cuba calling him “Butcher” Weyler.

-William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World kept Americans aware of Spanish atrocities.

--Both papers printed sensational shocking stories in lurid detail in order to sell papers. Known as “Yellow Journalism”

 

-When riots broke out in Havana in late 1897, President McKinley ordered the USS Marine a battleship into Havana harbor to protect America of their property.

 

-On Feb. 15 1898 Maine exploded into the harbor killing 260 sailors.

--Americans were convinced Spain had struck.

--‘Yellow’ press screamed “Remember the Maine”.

 

-McKinley offered Spain terms to avoid war.

--Pay indemnity for USS Maine

--Close concentration camps

--End fighting against Cuban rebels

--Commit to Cuban independence

 

-In April 1898 Spain accepted all but the last term and on April 11 McKinley asked Congress for declaration of war.

-Congress declared war on 14^th of April

-Spain declared war on 24^th of April

 

-Also known as the Splendid Little War, Spanish American War began in April and ended in August.

-Fewer than 500 people were killed.

-Naval superiority was man reason for victory.

-On land, the United States was less prepared.