Yawp American Empire

Summary

This lecture explores the shift in American foreign policy from a colonial mindset to that of an emerging empire, focusing on the period from 1867 to 1914. It discusses the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which established the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. sphere of influence, and the country's non-interference stance in European affairs. The lecture also covers U.S. interactions with territories like Alaska, China, guano islands, Hawaii, and Mexico, highlighting the use of military, economic power, and cultural influence as tools of foreign policy. The 'Open Door Policy' in China and the strategic importance of Hawaii are emphasized, along with the myth of 'Seward's Folly' regarding the Alaskan purchase.

Takeaways

• 🗽 The Monroe Doctrine, introduced in 1823, declared the Western Hemisphere a zone of U.S. influence and warned European nations against further colonization or puppet monarchies in the Americas.
• 🌎 The U.S. maintained a policy of non-interference in European affairs and sought to avoid entanglements in European wars, focusing instead on internal development and expansion.
• 🛤️ Westward Expansion was a significant focus for the U.S., with an emphasis on settling sparsely populated areas and fostering economic development through infrastructure like railroads and factories.
• 🔄 The U.S. was primarily interested in trade with other nations but was cautious about foreign entanglements, especially regarding European powers and their colonial ambitions.
• 🏰 The acquisition of Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million was seen as a strategic move to increase U.S. territory and access to Asia, despite initial skepticism from some.
• 🚢 The U.S. advocated for an 'Open Door' policy in China, supporting free trade and opposing European carve-outs of Chinese territory, with an underlying interest in outcompeting others in trade.
• 💩 The Guano Act of 1867 allowed U.S. citizens to claim uninhabited islands with bird guano for fertilizer, demonstrating the U.S.'s global reach for resources.
• 🌴 American missionaries in Hawaii played a dual role in spreading Christianity and establishing economic control through sugar plantations, influencing the islands' political landscape.
• 🇲🇽 The U.S. invoked the Monroe Doctrine in response to French intervention in Mexico, supporting the elected president and demonstrating a commitment to hemispheric influence.
• 🔮 The lecture highlights a shift in U.S. foreign policy from isolationism to a more active role in global affairs, particularly in the Western Hemisphere and Asia.

Q & A

What was the primary message of the Monroe Doctrine?

The Monroe Doctrine, delivered by President James Monroe in 1823, primarily stated that the Western Hemisphere was under the United States' sphere of influence and that European powers should not interfere in the Americas.

How did the United States view its role in international affairs during the period of 1867 to 1914?

During the period of 1867 to 1914, the United States generally aimed to maintain good relations with other countries as trading partners but was not interested in colonialism. The country was more focused on internal development, such as Westward Expansion, economic growth, and technological innovation.

What was the significance of the year 1914 in the context of American foreign policy?

The year 1914 marked the beginning of World War I and is considered a turning point in American foreign policy. It was a period that saw a shift in the US's attitude towards international involvement and the beginning of a more active role in global affairs.

Why was the purchase of Alaska in 1867 controversial at the time?

The purchase of Alaska in 1867 was controversial because some, like newspaper editor Horace Greeley, thought it was an unnecessary expense and referred to it as 'Seward's Folly' and 'Seward's Icebox.' However, the majority of Americans were in favor of the purchase due to the opportunity for territorial expansion and the potential for natural resource exploitation.

What was the 'Open Door Policy' regarding China, and why was it important to the United States?

The 'Open Door Policy' was a policy that aimed to support China's sovereignty by advocating for equal trading rights for all nations in Chinese ports. It was important to the United States because it allowed for free trade without the need to establish colonies, and the US believed it could outcompete other nations in trade.

What was the Guano Act of 1867, and how did it reflect American expansionism?

The Guano Act of 1867 allowed US citizens to claim uninhabited islands with bird guano deposits for the United States. This act reflected American expansionism by legally enabling the United States to acquire strategic resources and potentially valuable territories around the world.

How did the United States' involvement in Hawaii demonstrate its projection of power during this period?

The United States' involvement in Hawaii demonstrated its projection of power through missionaries spreading American culture and economic influence, particularly through the establishment of sugar plantations. Additionally, the strategic importance of Hawaii as a Pacific port contributed to the US's interest in maintaining control over the islands.

What was the significance of the US invoking the Monroe Doctrine in response to the French intervention in Mexico in 1865?

Invoking the Monroe Doctrine in response to the French intervention in Mexico in 1865 was significant because it demonstrated the United States' commitment to opposing European interference in the Americas and reinforced its stance as a regional power.

Outlines

00:00

🌎 American Empire and Foreign Policy Shift

This paragraph discusses the transition of the United States from a colonial status to a potential colonial power, with a focus on the period between 1867 and 1914. It highlights the significance of the Monroe Doctrine, which was a declaration by President James Monroe in 1823, asserting that the Western Hemisphere was under the influence of the United States and that further European colonization would not be tolerated. The Doctrine outlined four main points: non-interference in European affairs, recognition of existing colonies, a closed door to future colonization, and a military response to European interference in the Americas. The paragraph also touches on the U.S.'s inward focus on domestic development, such as building railroads and factories, and its reluctance to engage in foreign entanglements, except with neighboring countries like Mexico and Canada.

05:01

🏰 The Monroe Doctrine and Its Enforcement

This section delves into the practical application of the Monroe Doctrine, particularly in response to the French intervention in Mexico during the 1860s. It discusses how the U.S., preoccupied with the Civil War, was unable to intervene directly but later supported the elected Mexican government against the French-imposed Emperor Maximilian. The paragraph also addresses the historical misconception that the purchase of Alaska, orchestrated by Secretary of State William Seward in 1867, was widely opposed at the time, despite most Americans viewing it positively as an opportunity for expansion and resource acquisition. The narrative corrects the myth of 'Seward's Folly' and 'Seward's Icebox,' which was propagated by a New York Tribune editor but did not reflect the general sentiment.

10:02

🚢 Expansion and Economic Interests

The paragraph explores the U.S.'s expansionist policies and economic interests during the period of early American Empire. It covers the acquisition of Alaska, which was seen as a gateway to Asia and the Pacific, and the discovery of gold there, sparking a gold rush. The discussion then shifts to China, where the U.S. advocated for an 'open door policy' to support free trade and prevent European powers from carving up the weakened Chinese empire. The U.S.'s stance was driven by a belief in its ability to outcompete others in free trade, thus serving its economic interests. Additionally, the paragraph mentions the Guano Act of 1867, which allowed U.S. citizens to claim uninhabited islands rich in bird guano for fertilizer, reflecting the country's resource-driven expansion.

15:05

🌴 American Influence in Hawaii and Mexico

This paragraph examines the influence of American missionaries and economic power in Hawaii, leading to the rise of sugar plantations and the eventual control of the islands by American interests. It also revisits the Monroe Doctrine's role in U.S.-Mexico relations, particularly in supporting the elected Mexican president Benito Juárez against European intervention. The paragraph discusses how the U.S. used military and economic aid to shape outcomes in its favor, reflecting a shift in foreign policy that would become more pronounced in the years following 1898. The narrative also touches on the potential for future U.S. interventions in Mexico, hinting at a more assertive stance in the Western Hemisphere.

Keywords

💡American Empire

American Empire refers to the United States' expansion of influence and power beyond its borders, often through economic, political, or military means. In the video, this concept is explored through the lens of the US's changing attitude from being a colony to potentially having colonies of its own, as well as its interactions with other nations and regions such as Alaska, China, and Hawaii.

💡Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy message delivered by President James Monroe in 1823, stating that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention. It is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy and is mentioned in the script as a starting point for discussions on the U.S.'s attitude toward foreign powers and its own territorial expansion.

💡Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion refers to the 19th-century movement of U.S. citizens into the American West, often to acquire land and resources. The script discusses how this period was characterized by a focus on settling sparsely populated areas and developing the nation's infrastructure, which was a significant preoccupation for the U.S. rather than external colonization.

💡Slavery Debate

The Slavery Debate was a contentious issue in U.S. history that divided the country into slave-holding states and free states. The script mentions how this debate slowed Westward Expansion and was a significant political concern leading up to the Civil War, which was fought over the issue of slavery.

💡Guano Islands

Guano Islands are uninhabited islands rich in bird guano, which was used as fertilizer. The Guano Act of 1867 allowed U.S. citizens to claim such islands for the United States. The script uses the Guano Islands as an example of how the U.S. projected its power globally, even over seemingly insignificant resources.

💡Open Door Policy

The Open Door Policy was a foreign trade policy aimed at ensuring equal access to trade opportunities in China for all nations. The script explains that while this policy seemed benevolent, it was also driven by U.S. self-interest, as they believed they could outcompete others in a free trade scenario.

💡Alaska Purchase

The Alaska Purchase refers to the United States' acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The script describes this as a significant territorial expansion that was seen as a great deal for the U.S., despite the historical myth that it was initially unpopular and dubbed 'Seward's Folly.'

💡Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaiian Islands are mentioned in the script in the context of American missionaries who arrived in the 19th century, influenced the local population, and contributed to the economic development of the islands through sugar production. This example illustrates the cultural and economic dimensions of American power projection.

💡Mexico

Mexico is discussed in the script in relation to the Monroe Doctrine, with the U.S. supporting the elected president against a European-backed puppet monarch. It also touches on later interventions by the U.S. in Mexican affairs, showing the complex and sometimes conflicting nature of U.S. foreign policy.

💡World War I

World War I is noted as a significant historical marker in the script, demarcating the end of the period under discussion (1867 to 1914). The script suggests that the U.S.'s involvement in World War I was a turning point in its foreign policy, moving away from isolationism toward a more active role in global affairs.

Highlights

The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 established the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. zone of influence and warned European nations against further colonization.

The U.S. policy post-Monroe Doctrine was non-interference in European affairs and a focus on domestic development and expansion.

The U.S. showed interest in maintaining good relations with other countries primarily for trade purposes.

The U.S. was more concerned with internal politics such as Westward Expansion and the debate over slavery than with foreign entanglements.

The Civil War was a significant distraction for the U.S., limiting its ability to engage in international affairs.

Napoleon's invasion of Mexico in 1861 and the establishment of a puppet monarchy was a test of the Monroe Doctrine.

The U.S. supported the elected president of Mexico, Benito Juárez, against French intervention, demonstrating a commitment to the Monroe Doctrine.

The purchase of Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million was seen as a great opportunity to expand U.S. territory and resources.

Despite historical myths, the majority of Americans supported the purchase of Alaska, contrary to the 'Seward's Folly' narrative.

The U.S. pursued an 'Open Door' policy in China, advocating for free trade and against European carve-outs of Chinese territory.

The Guano Act of 1867 allowed U.S. citizens to claim uninhabited islands with bird guano for fertilizer, expanding U.S. influence.

American missionaries in Hawaii played a dual role in spreading Christianity and establishing economic control through sugar production.

The strategic importance of Hawaii as a Pacific port led to U.S. interest in maintaining control over the islands.

The U.S. invoked the Monroe Doctrine in 1865 to oppose European influence in Mexico and support the elected president.

Political cartoons of the era reflect U.S. attitudes towards foreign policy and the Monroe Doctrine.

The period from 1867 to 1898 saw the U.S. interacting with Alaska, China, the guano islands, Hawaii, and Mexico, often through military, economic, and missionary means.

The year 1898 marked a significant turning point in American foreign policy, with increased engagement and intervention abroad.

Transcripts

these next two lectures are about

American Empire I call this a change in

attitude we were a colony now will we

have

colonies I'd like to explore this change

in attitude and policy how will the US

interact with the outside world I give

you a rough set of dates 1867 to

1914 pretty arbitrary this time I will

say that 1914 marks the beginning of

World War I and so we'll stop the time

period there note too that you'll be

seeing a lot of political cartoons you

have been seeing a lot of political

cartoons and that will just continue in

this

unit I want to start by going backwards

here I told you this time period was

1867 to 1914 I did say it was rough and

now I'm going to go back to 1823

I want to start with the Monroe Doctrine

buried in a routine annual message

delivered to Congress by President James

Monroe in December of

1823 was buried the Monroe Doctrine

basically it said that the Western

hemisphere is our zone of influence and

that Europe should stay

out that's where President Monroe warned

European nations that the United States

would not tolerate further colonization

or puppet

monarchs stay tuned and see if there's

an attempt made to put in a puppet

Monarch by a European nation after this

date the Monroe Doctrine made four basic

points first that the United States

would not interfere in European Affairs

I think this had been our policy since

George Washington was President we

didn't want to get involved in European

Wars secondly the United States

recognized it would not interfere with

existing colonies in the

Americas third the Western Hemisphere

was close to Future

colonization don't go be claiming these

new countries for yourself and four

finally if a European power tried to

interfere with any nation in the Western

Hemisphere we would react we would react

militarily if necessary that was the

Monroe Doctrine and that was our

attitude toward the outside world and to

foreign powers

what was the American feeling toward

foreign policy outside of the Monroe

Doctrine well we wanted to have good

relations with other countries as

trading partners but our idea toward

Empire our attitude was that we were a

colony and that we had shaken off those

Colonial chains we weren't going back

and uh we were sympathetic to other

countries that might also want to stop

being colonies and shake off their

chains and be

self-determining we were more interested

in what was going on in the United

States than we were in the outside world

to be honest remember we've just talked

about the period of Westward Expansion

that the United States was a big country

now that was sparsely populated by

Americans and we wanted to expand and to

put our own people our own citizens in

those uh I hate to say vast empty spaces

but we'll say sparsely populated not

populated by American citizen spaces we

were also interested in economic

development that was one of our primary

concerns we wanted to build railroads we

wanted to build factories we wanted

technological innovation and development

that's what we were interested in we

were interested in internal

politics uh I talk about that in a

couple of ways we have talked about that

in a couple of ways

first of all one thing that slowed down

Westward Expansion was the debate over

slavery should we be a slave country a

free country or a half slave and half

free country remember that whenever a

new state was added to the

Union uh one slave state would come in

and one free state would come in that we

had to maintain that balance until the

Civil War which was another political

concern obviously a big political

concern that the nation was almost torn

apart hard so first we were worried

about keeping this slave and free

balance then we had a civil war over

deciding that the nation would be one

thing a non-slave country and then

third we had to establish political

domination over this part of the

continent back to that Westward

Expansion we were interested in

political

development uh our basic attitude was to

leave us alone as I said we were safe

between two oceans and felt like we

didn't have to worry about most of the

rest of the world the exception being

our neighbors to the South Mexico and

perhaps our neighbors to the north

Canada

otherwise we didn't have to worry about

the rest of the

world you may be wondering from our

perspective here in the 21st century was

this Monroe Doctrine and these worries

about Europe crossing the Atlantic Ocean

and messing in our Affairs messing in

the Affairs of other nations in the

Western Hemisphere was this a real

concern what were we talking about

especially as time went on was this

really something to worry about you may

know that there was a a wave of

Independence movements of of national

Independence in the Western

Hemisphere uh in the mid 1800s and a lot

of those old colonies became independent

nations so were we worried about

European Kings coming

back actually we

were uh napole aan invaded Mexico in

1861 what was going on in the United

States in

1861 the Civil War we were distracted so

we couldn't get involved in that

conflict he invaded and he set up uh one

of those puppet monarchs arguably

Emperor maximilan who was from the house

of hapsburg Lorraine he had some

relation to Spanish monarchy so maybe

that gave him a claim to Mexico and was

supported by conservative pr- monarchy

Mexicans who lived in

Mexico well basically he was an outsider

he was married to a Belgian princess I

think um I think we can even ask if he

spoke

Spanish there was a a civil war over

whether he should be in power and

eventually the elected president of

Mexico Bonito Warez defeated the the

French forces Maximillian was imprisoned

and eventually he was

executed I think it's sort of

interesting that President War Warez

respected maximilan thought he was smart

thought he had some good ideas but he

defended the decision to have the

emperor executed because he needed to

send a strong message to Europe that

Mexico was not a European

Colony our

reaction we evoked invoked that uh

Monroe Doctrine at the end of the Civil

War in 1865 we had a chance to think

about other things and we said hey wait

a minute that's our territory you guys

need to stop it and the US began to S

send military aid and offer economic

help to president

Warz okay we'll put some of the theoret

theoretical considerations aside and

I'll note that in this lecture we want

to talk about how America interacts with

the world we'll talk first about this

early period this 1867 to 1898 period

and we'll talk about how the US inter

interacted with Alaska China the guano

Islands there's a story there Hawaii and

Mexico which we've touched on and then

we'll pause start a new lecture and talk

about what happened after 1898 a date

that your textbook says marked a big

turning point for American foreign

policy we'll also talk about the

different modes with which we react to

other countries

military action but also with respect to

money our uh economic power a growing

economic power during this time and

missionaries I'll call them the three

the three M our military money and

missionaries I want to point your

attention to this cartoon uh keep this

in mind as we keep talking about changes

in American foreign

policy we'll start with a big change

that happened in

1867 William Seward who was the

Secretary of State saw an opportunity to

increase the territory controlled by the

United

States

immensely he learned that Russia wanted

to sell a territory in North America it

wanted to sell

Alaska he thought it was a great deal

that he could buy this vast territory

bigger than the state of Texas for only

$7.2 million

and he got Congress to agree and he did

in fact buy Alaska and took away

Russia's only colony in North

America the reaction of

Americans well the truth is most people

were in favor of it we thought this was

a great idea if we have a chance to buy

some new territory where Americans can

go live more natural resources and this

bargain price how can we say no

interestingly enough there is a

historical mythology that people were

opposed this purchase of Alaska was

called Seward's folly and Seward's ice

box why was it called that when people

and why do we remember it this way when

really most people were in favor of it

well a newspaper editor named Horus gley

the guy that said Go West Young Man the

editor of the New York Tribune thought

it was a bad deal and he was influential

he was power powerful he was good with

language and he came up with the idea of

calling it Seward's folly and this idea

has stuck even though it didn't reflect

reality why did we do it well we talked

about territory more places for us to

settle we talked about resources but we

also saw it as a doorway to Asia to the

Pacific and we were always interested in

trading with the

Pacific not much happened in Alaska

until a little later in the 19th Cent

when gold was discovered and then Alaska

experienced its own gold

rush I'll spend a few minutes talking

about China the US had been interested

in China interested in trading with

China since um the late

1700s during this time period this time

period of a beginning American Empire

there was a a weak dynasty in control of

China and Europe which was ascendant was

interested in carving up this week China

that it was claiming little ports and

and pieces of China for itself picking a

war winning the war asking for

reparations sometimes money and

sometimes that China would seed control

of a port or of a town or let Europe do

something it wanted to do with China

that was an opposition to Chinese

sovereignty the US did not take that

tack instead we were interested in free

trade that we wanted to support that

weak Chinese government and we wanted

everyone to be able to trade we didn't

want a port to be claimed for just one

country and then others to have to pay

to use that Port we wanted the ports to

be in Chinese control and we would all

get to use them U and pay fewer fees

this was called the open door policy and

it was announced in

1899 now it may sound quite benevolent

that we're trying to help China maintain

its sovereignty its um control over

those pieces of itself but in fact we

knew during this time period that we

could out compete anyone that if there

was free trade we knew we would win

there was an element of self-interest in

that position that we

took this is a fairly minor point it's

in the text and because it's about poop

I want to talk about it yes it's an

another poop

lesson bird guano or bird manure

birdshit was valuable during this time

period because it could be used in

making

fertilizer in

1867 uh that same Secretary of State

Seward fostered passage of a law that

would let us citizens stake a claim to

any uninhabited unclaimed Island

anywhere in the world although

particularly in the Pacific Ocean that

had bird guano on it it was called the

guano act and it basically said that a

citizen of the United States could take

possession of unclaimed Islands

containing guano in the name of the

United States having claimed those

islands the power of the United States

was behind us and the US military would

defend those islands from anyone else

who tried to claim them

maybe we can find an island like that

someday that law is still on the books

it was last utilized in

1997 someone found an island in the

Caribbean and claimed it for himself

because it had enough guo on

it there's a process though by which

it's there's an investigation to see if

that Island really has been claimed by

anyone else and sadly Haiti already had

a claim to that island so it was

unsuccessful I offer an appropriate

picture on the

PowerPoint American power was projected

onto the Hawaiian islands and oh dear I

I left my head in the way here um as

early as 1820 missionaries arrived at

the islands in 1820 and began to

interact with the native people who were

ruled by a local monarchy um and to

begin to try to convert them to

Christianity

the missionaries were not just saving

Souls though they bought up plots of

land and began to grow sugar on the

island something that proved to be

extremely profitable and before long

five Big Sugar companies were really in

charge of the

island uh two two uh motivations we see

two ways of projecting American power so

far missionaries were sending American

culture and um American thought I

suppose to a new place secondly American

economic power as the missionaries

become sugar Growers and they use our

economic power to claim this place and

then third Hawaii was viewed as a

strategic Pacific port like an opening

to to the east um so it it seemed like a

good idea for us to keep control of the

Hawaiian

Islands we talked about Mexico earlier

uh I just wanted to bring up again in

1865 we invoked the Monroe Doctrine to

say that Ma Emperor maximilan had to

leave that he was a outside European and

to support the elected president of

Mexico Bonito

Warz we gave military power we gave

military aid we gave economic aid um I

offer you a cartoon that shows again how

we felt about the Monroe Doctrine that

we were going to keep Europe out of the

Western

Hemisphere later we'll find other ways

ways in which the US interacts in Mexico

uh under the Wilson Administration for

example the President woodro Wilson will

find that we take u a human rights

policy toward Mexico and we support duly

elected democratically elected

presidents over military

coups uh we find that we weigh a thumb

on the scale of democratically elected

presidents and eventually even send

military power in order to to make sure

the the party that we favor stays in

power later we will be invaded by Poncho

via someone we did not support um even

though for a time we were sort of

supporting him and then we will invade

Mexico on the eve of World War I because

Mexico can't invade us without having

some sort of

response but we'll come to that later