Section 4

Imperialism in Latin America

Growing US Influence

-US started gaining power in Central America in late 1800s

-Spanish American War

Cuba was a colony of Spain

-Started to rebel in 1895àSpain brutally crushed rebellion

-Rumors of torture, etc

-US printed rumors in newspapers (yellow journalism)

-Made US mad

-1898àUSS Maine sinks in Havana harboràSpain automatically blamed

-US declares war (“Remember the Maine”)

-US crushes Spain

-First fighting took place in Philippines then in Cuba (Battle of San Juan Hill)

-Treaty gave US Puerto Rico and Guam, bought Philippines for $20 million

-Cuba also free from Spain

-But not from USàMade a protectorate

-Platt Amendment (US could intervene in Cuba)

-Philippines

-P. did not want to be controlled by Spain or US

-Revolted (200,000 Filipinos died)

-US squashed rebellionàkept control of P.

-Panama Canal (1904-1914)

-Panama belonged to Colombia

-France tried to build canal in Panamaàdisaster (300million spent)

-US then starts

-Helped Panama overthrow Colombia (ended up paying them reparations)

-Gains control of Panama Canal Zone

-Roosevelt Corollary

-Latin American countries in debt to European countries

-US afraid of Europe taking them over

-Monroe Doctrine idle threat

-Roosevelt Corollary said US was “world’s policeman” and would use military