American Pageant Chapter 27 APUSH Review (APUSH Period 7 American Expansion)

Summary

This video explores the rise of U.S. imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on key motivations such as economic interests, military strategy, and ideological beliefs like Social Darwinism. The video discusses pivotal events like the annexation of Hawaii, the Spanish-American War, and U.S. expansion into territories like Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba. It also covers U.S. foreign policy under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt, including the construction of the Panama Canal and Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' diplomacy, which expanded America's global influence.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The 1890s marked a significant shift in US history, transitioning from domestic expansion to becoming a global power.
• 💼 Economic motives for imperialism included accessing new markets for goods and acquiring cheap raw materials, driven by the Industrial Revolution.
• ⚔️ Political and strategic desires pushed the US to compete with European and Japanese powers, leading to the pursuit of military bases like Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal.
• 📜 Ideological motives for imperialism, such as social Darwinism and the 'White Man's Burden,' justified colonizing other nations to spread American values and 'civilization.'
• 👑 The annexation of Hawaii in 1898 was driven by US economic interests in sugar and pineapple plantations, despite local opposition led by Queen Liliuokalani.
• 🇨🇺 The Spanish-American War of 1898, sparked by the explosion of the USS Maine and fueled by yellow journalism, resulted in the US gaining control of Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
• 📝 The Platt Amendment allowed the US to maintain a naval base in Cuba and intervene when necessary, despite Cuba's nominal independence.
• 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico was granted limited self-rule and US citizenship, but it did not receive full independence, raising questions about constitutional rights in US territories.
• 🇵🇭 The Philippines experienced a brutal guerrilla war against the US after the Spanish-American War, with independence delayed until 1946.
• 🚢 The construction of the Panama Canal, supported by the US after Panama's independence from Colombia, was a strategic project that cut global travel time and enhanced US military and trade capabilities.

Q & A

What was the main focus of U.S. territorial expansion before the 1890s?

Before the 1890s, U.S. territorial expansion focused largely on western expansion, moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, dealing with countries like Mexico, Spain, and England, and various Native American groups.

How did U.S. expansionism change in the 1890s?

In the 1890s, U.S. expansionism shifted from westward territorial expansion to becoming a global power. This period marked the end of the frontier and the beginning of U.S. imperialism, as the country sought to compete on the world stage, acquire new territories, and establish itself as a global military force.

What were the main motives for U.S. imperialism during this era?

The main motives for U.S. imperialism included economic desires to open new markets for industrial and agricultural goods, political competition with European and Asian powers, strategic military interests like naval bases, and ideological motives such as spreading Anglo-Saxon civilization and Protestant values.

How did the U.S. annexation of Hawaii come about?

The U.S. annexation of Hawaii began with American missionaries and sugar planters in the 1820s and 1860s. The U.S. signed a treaty establishing a naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1887. Despite Queen Liliuokalani's opposition, American plantation owners orchestrated a revolt, and under President McKinley's administration, Hawaii was annexed in 1898.

What sparked the Spanish-American War in 1898?

Several factors led to the Spanish-American War, including U.S. sympathy for Cuban independence, yellow journalism exaggerating Spanish atrocities, the De Lôme Letter insulting President McKinley, and the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana, which was blamed on Spain by the American press.

What were the consequences of the Treaty of Paris following the Spanish-American War?

The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1898, ended the Spanish-American War and ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba to the United States. This sparked debates over imperialism, especially concerning the annexation of the Philippines, and led to the formation of the Anti-Imperialist League.

What was the Platt Amendment, and how did it affect Cuba?

The Platt Amendment, passed in 1901, allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs to maintain peace and order. It also prohibited Cuba from signing treaties that limited its independence and allowed the U.S. to maintain a naval base at Guantanamo Bay. As a result, Cuba became a protectorate of the United States.

What were the Insular Cases, and what was their significance for U.S. territories?

The Insular Cases were a series of Supreme Court decisions that determined that constitutional rights were not automatically extended to people living in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines. This meant that these territories did not receive the same rights as U.S. citizens.

Why was the U.S. interested in the Philippines after the Spanish-American War?

The U.S. was interested in the Philippines for its strategic location near China, where the U.S. sought to access markets. Despite helping the U.S. fight Spain, the Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, were denied independence, leading to a brutal guerrilla war between the U.S. and the Philippines.

What was Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy approach, and how did it impact U.S. involvement in Latin America?

Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy approach was summarized by his phrase 'speak softly and carry a big stick,' meaning the U.S. should use diplomacy but also be willing to use military force. This led to projects like the Panama Canal and the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which justified U.S. intervention in Latin American affairs.