Imperialists vs. Anti-Imperialists

Imperialists vs. Anti-Imperialists

By: Tessa Benedon, Amy Fels, Jordan Gunnelson, Greg Lisowski

The Imperialists

The Anti-Imperialists

Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan

• Historian, naval strategist, and incredibly influential advocate of imperialism

Argued three main points:

1. Increased industrial expansion created a need for international markets

2. U.S. must ensure that no other nation owns land within 3,000 miles of American boarders

3. A powerful navy must be built

• As a result of his writings, a large navy was constructed and the U.S. expanded economic interests overseas
• "The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783" and "The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire, 1793–1812"

William McKinley

Anti-Imperialist League

The League's Platform argued that "a self-governing state cannot accept sovereignty over an unwilling people."

• The Anti-Imperialist League (1898) originally was formed to petition against the ratification of the Treaty of Paris and to combat the annexation of the Philippines.
• Proud Supporters of the Anti-Imperialist League include Andrew Carnegie, William James, Samuel Gompers, and Mark Twain.

• Softer imperialist, compared to others like Roosevelt, but still influential
• Sought military action in Cuba only after all diplomatic possibilities had been exhausted

William James:

- Founder of the Anti-Imperialist League.

- Saw imperialism as unconstitutional.

- Defended the rights of the colonial people, but main interest was the United States.

- His organization forced imperialists to defend their ideas, as well as consider the consequences of expansion.

• Annexed Hawaii in 1898
• Paris Peace Treaty of 1898 represented an expansion of presidential power and power of the U.S. as a country
• Sent thousands of troops to subdue Filipino revolt

- Leading spokesperson of the labor movement.

- Opposed both the Treaty of Paris and the colonization of the Philippines.

- Laborers supported the Spanish-American war, not colonialism.

- Gompers was hugely concerned with the new labor force that would result from new Filipino citizens, taking away jobs from American laborers.

Failure of the Anti-Imperialist League

1. President McKinley's decisive decision making

2. Defined what they stood against, not what they stood for

3. Confusion of arguments...

• Senator George Frisbie Hoar voted for Hawaiian Expansion
• William Jennings Bryan voted for the ratification of the Treaty of Paris

Samuel Gompers:

THE FINAL TAKE?

Members of the Anti-Imperialist League were against imperialistic foreign policy...

- Possible Shortage of Jobs

- Racism

Henry Cabot Lodge

William Jennings Bryan

• A Republican from Massachusetts elected to the House of Representatives and later the Senate.

Theodore Roosevelt

• Prominent Democratic Leader
• "Cross of Gold" Speech
• Ran for President in 1900

The Spanish-American War

• Supported a strong navy
• An advocate for American action against Spain in 1898
• Supported the acquisition of Philippines
• Called for united support of the WWI effort

The Spread of Christianity

• Never truly stated his opinions until political timing was right
• Very enthusiastic about the Spanish-American War
• Fought as a Colonel in the volunteer regiment
• Bryan opposed the annexation of the Philippines but accepted the Treaty of Paris
• Often times pointed to the freedom of Cubans

Bryan believed and repeated that Christianity did not need to be spread around the world by American force.

• Believed the U.S. was the greatest country in the world and had a duty to civilize other nations
• Viewed imperialism as a humanitarian and did not view himself as a conqueror
• Roosevelt Corollary: The U.S. assumed responsibility for keeping order in Latin America

"The destiny of this Republic is in the hands of its own people, and upon the success of the experiment here rests the hope of humanity. No exterior force can disturb this Republic, and no foreign influence should be permitted to change its course. What the future has in store for this nation no one has authority to declare, but each individual has his own idea of the nation’s mission, and he owes it to his country as well as to himself to contribute as best he may to the fulfillment of that mission."

"If elected, I will convene congress in extraordinary session... to establish a stable form of government in the Philippine Island.... to protect the Filipinos for outside interference while they work out their destiny."

Regarding Insurrection in the Philippines

• "Our opponents put forward as their chief objection that we have robbed these people of their liberty, and have taken them and hold them in defiance of the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence in regard to the consent of the governed. As to liberty, they have never had it, and have none now, except when we give it to them protected by the flag and armies of the United States. The taking of the Philippines does not violate the principles of the Declaration of Independence, but will spread them among a people who have never known liberty. "

"We cannot sit huddled within our own borders and avow ourselves merely an assemblage of well-to-do hucksters who care nothing for what happens beyond."

Mark Twain

• Samuel Clemens
• Famous Writer

Josiah Strong

Anti-Imperialist

There must be two Americas: one that sets the captive free, and one that takes a once-captive's new freedom away from him, and picks a quarrel with him with nothing to found it on; then kills him to get his land. . .

• Some believe he was anti-imperialist because of his knowledge of racism -> Huckleberry Finn
• He began writing and giving speeches about his beliefs:
• New York Herald

• A Protestant clergyman, writer, editor, and a leader of Social Gospel Movement.

"I am an anti-imperialist. I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land."

Senator Albert Beveridge

• A American historian and U.S. Senator from Indiana.

• Wrote Our Country which called for support of Anglo-Saxons to spread their superiority to American West
• Was strong voice for American imperialism allowing it to expand its sphere of influence.
• Wanted to civilize all "savage" races
• Believed in responsibility to Christianize the world

• Supported annexation of Philippines
• Construction of new navy

Regarding American Imperialism

"If I read not amiss, this powerful race will move down upon Mexico, down upon Central and South America, out upon the islands of the sea, over upon Africa and beyond. And can any one doubt that the results of this competition of races will be the 'survival of the fittest?'"

"We are a conquering race. We must obey our blood and occupy new markets and if necessary new lands."