In 1885 John Fiske reformulated the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and showed the civilizing role of American federalism which was now to be "peacefully" extended to the whole world. Expansionism applies to describe the Westward expansion towards the Continent. But at the turn of the century, the two words "imperialism" and "expansionism" were used one for the other.

In the 1890s, there were several motives for expansion overseas: overseas markets were needed and it was feared that if the United States did not do it, other nations would claim them. Moreover the United Sates wanted to compete with the imperial powers.

I. Annexation of Hawaii (1898)

II. The Spanish-American War (Cuba and the Philippines)

Cuba:

The Spanish had had control of Cuba for a long time. A revolution in Cuba started in 1895. Cleveland made a neutrality proclamation. But as time went by the Americans became supporters of the rebels, they had business interests in sugar. In 1897 McKinley promised to restore prosperity and to end the Cuban revolution. The reasons for the intervention were the following: * to oppose the monarchy (Spain)

                * to apply the Monroe Doctrine

                * the Cuban revolution reminded them of the American revolution.

Spain's policy was clumsy: they put rebels into camps (about 100,000 civilians died in those camps) so as to seperate the rebels from the population.

McKinley put pressure on Spain. However when they were in favour to leave Cuba, it was too late. The sinking of The Maine in Havana harbor led the US to declare war on Spain in April 1898.

The Teller Amendment was attached to the Spanish-American War Resolution that disclaimed any intention of the US to exercise sovereignty or control Cuba. 

The Spanish forces capitulated and signed a treaty in December 1898 establishing Cuba as an independent republic, although the American military occupation continued until 1902.

The Platt Amendment, which was passed in 1901, kept the island under the American protection and gave the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. It was abrogated in 1934.

Philippines:

In 1896 a young Filipino, Aguinaldo, led a rebellion against the Spaniards. But it soon ended and he was exiled. In April 1898 the US had declared war on Spain and in May George Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay. Aguinaldo returned to Manila and resumed revolutionary activities against the Spaniards, which led to a success and on June, 12 in 1898 the Philippines, with Aguinaldo as a leader, declared themselves independent from Spain.

The Treaty of Paris was signed in December 1898 and granted possession of the Philippines to the United States. In 1946 the Philippines were eventually granted independence.

III. The Open Door Notes (1899, 1900)

1898 was a turning point in American foreign relations and in their own sense of identity. They had won over the Spanish Empire and had become a world power with colonies in the Caribbeans and in the Pacific or protectorates such as Cuba, Panama.

China had always been perceived as a source of great profits: there was a "China market". The Philippines opened the door to China. Thus the United States were brought into competition with the imperialistic Japanese who also tried to expand their empire. By the end of the 19th century there were spheres of economic influence with trade monopoly (Britain, France, Russia, Gemany and Japan).

The First Open Door Note:

In September 1899, Secretary of State John Hay sent the imperial nations a note demanding them to respect the principle of equal trade opportunity for all nations.

The Second Open Door Note:

In July 1900 the 2nd Open Door Note asked the nations to honor "equal and impartial trade" in China.

The Open Door policy became known as a cornerstone of the American diplomacy.