Grover Cleveland 1888
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Political Reasons
- depression diplomacy, sense of crisis, fear of revolution and radicalism, rising Anglophobia, influence of special interests, powerful Congressmen
- James G. Blaine 1889-92, John W. Foster 1892-93, Walter Q. Gresham 1893-95, Richard Olney 1895-97
- Democratic president 1893-97
- sought lower tariff, gold standard, civil service, honesty, morality
- against special interests - navy, sugar, banana growers
- opposed by silverites, bosses, socialists, businessmen
- 1893 repeal of Sherman Silver Purchase Act
- Depression deepened after 1893 - Coxey's Army, Eugene Debs and Pullman strike 1894
- need for trade expansion to prevent unemployment, labor unrest
- Republican party gained seats in 1894 elections
- Secretary of State March 1893-May 1895
- U.S. District Judge in 1877 railroad strikes
- feared Fred. Sorge's Socialist-Labor Party
- Postmaster-General for Republican Chet Arthur 1883
- Treasury Secretary 1884
- friends with anti-imperialists - Carl Schurz
Queen Lil
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- Queen Liliuokalani became monarch 1891, sought to replace 1887 "Bayonet Constitution" imposed on her brother Kalakaua by the Reform Cabinet of foreigners led by Lorrin Thurston and William Green
- John Stevens and USS Boston support 1893 revolt
- Gresham opposed conspiracy of Claus Spreckels (father of John D. Spreckels), Sanford Dole (leader of Hawaiian League of Honolulu businessmen)
- advised no annexation, no marines, supported James "Paramount" Blount
- 1894 tariff restored sugar bounty for Hawaii growers
- recognition of Republic of Hawaii, but no annexation until July 7, 1898
- James Dole, cousin of Sanford, created the Hawaiian Fruit and Plant Co. in 1900 to grow pineapples in Wahiawa
- Hawaii Independent & Sovereign web page
- unpopular reciprocity treaty 1891 reduced Europe trade
- Adm. Mello leads coup against pro-U.S. Peixoto govt.
- Rio harbor & customs closed; Brit. helps rebels
- minister Thompson & SOC seek help for Peixoto
- but Gresham orders neutrality if U.S. ships access
- Brit. aid to rebels grows, ships of Adm. da Gama
- Gresham sends Adm. Benham, 3 cruisers Jan. 1894
- USS Detroit fires at da Gama Jan. 29, breaks blockade
- Gresham reluctant to use Navy, but pro-trade
- under control of Brit. since 1860
- United Fruit banana plantations at Bluefield
- Nicaragua's Zelaya sent troops to seize reservation
- Gresham asks Brit to pull out, not intervene
- sends 2 cruisers to Mosquito coast against Zelaya
- marines landed to help Indians against Zelaya
- by Dec., new government for Indians included Americans
- Gresham allowed Nicaragua to claim control, but
protected U.S. interests, excluded Brit.
- Brit land troops to collect indemnity
- Gresham did nothing because Brit occupation was
temporary, no U.S. interests in danger
- Republicans attacked Cleveland for pro-Brit. policy
- Lodge: "peacefully if we can, forcibly if we must.'
- growing fear of anarchy in South America like Africa
- Brit sought Schomburgk line since 1840
- Venezuela made gold concessions to U.S. 1881
- Brit extend claims to Uruan River 1886
- Brit seek Pt. Barima and access to Orinoco River
- Venezuela lobbies for U.S. help - pamphlet on
British Aggressions in Venezuela, or the Monroe
Doctrine on Trial (Oct. 1894)
- Venezuela seizes 2 Brit. officers at Uruan Jan. 2
- Congress passes Livingston Resolution Feb. 20
- that arbitration "be earnestly recommended"
Gresham died May 28 - replaced by Richard Olney
Links:
Sources:
- Topik, Steven C. Trade and Gunboats: The United States and Brazil in the Age of Empire. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1996. 301 pp. and H-Net review
revised 11/15/01 | Imperialism
