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Expansion on the World Stage
Hyperlinked materials are considered part of each lecture and
should be reviewed.
Video Clips
In many of the cyberlectures, I have added
video clips from a variety of sources. I believe that video often is
very effective to bring a topic to life.
In some cases, especially the History
Channel, you will have to tolerate a 30 second advertisement. I
apologize for the inconvenience.
Various developments provoked the
previously isolated United States to turn its attention overseas in
the 1890's. Among the stimuli for the new imperialism was the desire
for new economic markets, the sensational "news" of the yellow
press, missionary zeal, Darwinist ideology, the rivalry of the Great
Powers and naval competition.
Armed American intervention in the
Venezuelan boundary dispute of 1895-1896 demonstrated an aggressive
new assertion of the Monroe Doctrine and led to a new British
willingness to accept American domination in the Western Hemisphere.
Long-time American involvement in Hawaii climaxed in 1893 in a
revolution against native rule by white American planters. President
Cleveland temporarily refused to annex the islands, but the question
of incorporating
Hawaii into the United States triggered the first
full-fledged imperialistic debate in American history and our
obvious practice of "international darwinism". One of the most
controversial questions of American foreign policy revolved around
the American role as a power in the Far East and our participation
in creating the Open Door policy in China and providing troops to
quell the
Boxer Rebellion.
Our participation in the "splendid little"
Spanish
American War began in 1898 for numerous reasons
including endangered United States business investments and American
outrage about Spanish oppression in Cuba. American support for the
Cuban rebellion had been whipped up into intense popular fervor by
the "yellow press". After the mysterious explosion on the
U.S.S. Maine,
also (view this video clip from the History Channel
Spanish American War)
in February
1898, this public passion pushed a reluctant President McKinley into
war, even though Spain was ready to concede on the major issues. An
astounding first development of the war was Admiral Dewey's naval
victory, in May 1898, in the Spanish owned Philippines. Then in
August, American troops, assisted by Filipino rebels, captured the
city of Manila in another dramatic victory. Despite mass confusion,
American forces easily and quickly overwhelmed the Spanish in Cuba
and Puerto Rico. After a long and bitter national debate over the
wisdom and justice of American Imperialism, which ended in a narrow
pro-imperialist victory in the Senate, the United States took over
the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico as colonial possessions.
Regardless of serious doubts about imperialism, the United States
had strongly asserted itself as a proud new international power.
America's decision to claim ownership of the Philippines aroused
violent resistance from the Filipinos, who had expected
independence. The brutal guerrilla war that ensued was longer and
costlier than the Spanish-American conflict. At the same time,
imperialistic competition in China deepened America's involvement in
Asia. Hay's Open Door policy helped prevent the "Great Powers" from
dismembering China. The United States committed troops to the
international expedition to suppress the Boxer Rebellion.
These foreign "successes" and a prosperous
economy catapulted William McKinley into his second term as
president of the United States. In September of 1901, he visited
Buffalo, New York to see the wonders of the twentieth century at the
Pan-American Exposition.
Fifteen year old Jacob Gfg464lvs, my grandfather, was also at the
Exposition, on the only special day trip ever provided for all the
older boys at the Father Baker's orphanage. The boys were to see
visit the pavilions of the future and actually see the President of
the United States. As my grandfather stood in line to see President
McKinley, he witnessed McKinley's assassination by a deranged
anarchist.
At age forty-two, Vice President Theodore
Roosevelt became the President of the United States (listen to a
portion of his
1912
Square Deal Speech
). Over the next few years,
Roosevelt negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, but angered
both parties in the process. Several incidents indicated that the
United States and Japan were now competitors in East Asia. In the
Western Hemisphere, President Theodore Roosevelt brought a new
energy and assertiveness to America's foreign policy. When his plans
to build a canal in
Panama
were frustrated by the Colombian Senate, he helped promote a
Panamanian independence movement that ultimately enabled the canal
to be built. He also altered the Monroe Doctrine by adding a
"Roosevelt Corollary" that declared an American right to intervene
in Latin America as an "international police power". Subsequently,
the United States sent troops to occupy Nicaragua (1912-1933), Haiti
(1915-1934), and the Dominican Republic from 1916-1924. Our national
identity began to include the words "world power".
What about life, liberty and pursuit of
happiness for all people?
For each module I recommend that you visit A Biography of
America
http://learner.org/resources/series123.html# ,
an exceptional
video instructional series for high school and college students
produced by WGBH Boston in cooperation with the Library of Congress
and the National Archives and Records Administration. These thirty
minute lectures incorporate first person narratives, photographs,
film footage and documents related to various historical time
periods. Combined with my introductory comments, the required
textbooks and our discussions, I believe you will acquire a more
in-depth and enjoyable encounter with history. Please note the
requirements and possible download limitations—which is why this is
not a requirement. Please follow the directions below and give it a
try!!!!
You can view Annenberg/CPB programs of your
choice online with a broadband connection whenever you see this
icon.  There is no
charge for this service.
Simply select a
program and go
to the individual program description listing and click on the icon.
Free sign up required for first-time users. To hear the sound
and view video, you should have Windows Media Player, DSL, a
cable modem, or a LAN connection to a T1 line or greater, and have
Javascript enabled. For more information, please visit our
broadband FAQ.
For this topic—visit
http://learner.org/resources/series123.html#
and access
the presentation: TR and Wilson.
Our textbook offers a very comprehensive Online Student
Learning Center. Click on the link below, Select the
appropriate chapter and you will have access to: Chapter
Objectives, Chapter in Perspective, Chapter Overview,
numerous Interactive Activities, Primary Source documents
and my favorite--Internet Exercises/Recommended Sites
Related to the Specific Topics--CHOOSE A CHAPTER
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072870982/student_view0/index.html
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