US in the Caribbean

1776 - 1870

Watch the video
Write a short (2 minute-)commentary on the
clip giving the reason stated by the
songwriter why Latin Americans (and
Caribbean people) often oppose US
intervention.
State whether you agree with his position.
Tiburón (shark)
lyrics

Remember the research questions. Which factors
were most important in each US intervention:
economic, political (including strategic/defence)
or ideological?
Were the actions taken to do with:
Defence
Expansionism
Trade and investments (economic factors)
Ideology?
Both of these are
political factors

Assess the reasons for US interest in the
Caribbean 1776-1870
Decide which of the following factors were
important:
Defence
Expansionism
Trade and investments (economic factors)
ideology

key events
American Independence 1776
Latin American Independence.
Monroe Doctrine 1823
Manifest Destiny
Desire for a canal
Growing interest in Cuba
US economic expansion after Civil War

1776 to 1870
Use for reference when reviewing today’s
work to help you understand the “whole
picture” of this period.

American Independence 1776. ended trade
relationship between two sets of colonies. US could
not legally trade with the British Caribbean.
Struggle with Britain over markets in the Caribbean
and other issues. War of 1812-1814, free trade
agreements 1830. Interest in Caribbean is mainly
economic.
Latin American Independence. US concerns are
economic (keeping markets) and ideological
(supporting independence of Latin American
Countries).

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) was
one of South America's
greatest generals.
His victories over the
Spaniards won independence
for Bolivia, Panama,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and
Venezuela.
He is called El Liberator (The
Liberator) and the "George
Washington of South America."
http://www.bolivarmo.com/hi
story.htm

Monroe Doctrine 1823 said “Europe must not
intervene in Latin America and the Caribbean”
Video
Writing exercise:

What was the main reason for the
declaration of the Monroe Doctrine?
Was this reason economic, political, strategic
or ideological?
How might it have affected the island
territories of the Caribbean? Remember: in
1823 only Haiti and the Dominican Republic
were independent.

Britain did not accept the Monroe Doctrine. Had
own interests in the Caribbean.
Manifest Destiny—(Mexican American war 1846)
Ideology affecting US attitude towards expansion.
Reminder
Desire for a canal...

http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/images_lessons/719_1914_panama_
canal.GIF1.gif

Wrangling with Britain over Central
America (wanted a canal) Clayton-
Bulwer Treaty 1850. Concerns are
economic and strategic (political)

Assess the factors:
Zachary Taylor’s secretary of state, John M. Clayton, met with a
British representative, Sir Henry Bulwer, to calm a potentially
troublesome issue in Central America. Both powers had studied
the feasibility of constructing a canal to link the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans through the narrow isthmus in Central America.
Initially the most promising site appeared to be in Nicaragua.
Neither party was prepared in 1850 to undertake the massive
project, but wanted to ensure that one country would not act in
the absence of the other.
Under the terms of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, the two parties
agreed:
Not to seek exclusive control of the canal or territory on either
side of such a canal
Not to fortify any position in the canal area
Not to establish colonies in Central America
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h344.html

Growing interest in Cuba: attractive for many
reasons: economic (markets, investments),
strategic and defensive (position of Cuba), political
(slavery)
US Civil War 1861-1865. slavery ends.
US economic expansion after Civil War. More
businesses search for places to invest and sell
goods. Control over trade of DR, PR, Haiti, San
Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras (p. 172)

Surge in European imperialism, US gets interested
in imperialism: colonies and possessions in Pacific
e.g. 1880s
Cuban struggle for independence José Martí 1895.
US support—economic, ideological. Cruelly
suppressed.
Spanish American War—student presentations
begin.

Video
http://www.besthistorysites.net/ushistory_earlyimperialis
m.shtml OR http://www.history.com/videos/rooseveltfights-in-spanish-american-war#roosevelt-fights-inspanish-american-war

http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/toc.
html