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American Imperialism. Rise of the American “Empire”. Rise of Imperialism. Toward the end of the 1800s many nations moved to create large empires by acquiring territory to control called Neo-Imperialism .
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American Imperialism Rise of the American “Empire”
Rise of Imperialism • Toward the end of the 1800s many nations moved to create large empires by acquiring territory to control called Neo-Imperialism. • Neo Imperialism is the process by which one state possessing superior military strength and more advanced technology imposes its control over the land, resources, and population of a less developed region. (National Bullyism)
Rise of Imperialism • The Neo- Imperialistic nations included the Western nations of England, France, Italy, and Germany (later America) and one rising Eastern power, Japan. • The Neo-Imperialistic drive was motivated by Economic, Nationalist, Military, and Humanitarian factors, which led to conflict and eventually the Great War (WWI). • World Influence was key to hegemony (complete control/ World monopoly)
Economic Factor • The Second Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s with the push for new products and mass production led many businesses to look outward for New Markets and Natural Resources. • To build many of the new products businesses need access to natural resources and raw materials that were not within there own boundaries, or could be harvested cheaper in another area. • The move into these areas also opened them up to new markets to sale the abundance of new products for more profits or to protect profits from saturated markets at home. (mercantilistic imperialism)
Military Factor • As the imperials moved into the different regions, to protect their investment from other imperials and the native people of the region, these actions led to a general arms race and defense mentality called Militarism. • The imperials started to build their armies, issue universal male conscription (draft), and built new and stronger navies, influenced by American naval professor Alfred T. Mahan ‘s The Influence of Sea Power Upon History. • The growth of navies led to the need for island bases for refueling stations in the Pacific Ocean and other parts of the world.
Nationalist Factor • Within the Imperial nations many people called expansionist wanted to expand their nation’s influence for the sole purpose of world hegemony (king of the hill). • The need to be on top was driven by the belief in Anglo-Saxonism (that English speaking people were superior to others) and Social Darwinism (that societies are naturally strong or weak, due to natural selection the strong will survive and thrive). • Both of these ideas led to an ultra from of nationalism called Jingoism (aggressive, usually militarily driven foreign policy).
Humanitarian Factor • The Imperialistic nations believed that it was their responsibility to spread their superior forms of government and religions to create a more “civilized” world within their imperial influence. (America believed this as an extreme part of its new manifest destiny to spread the liberty of democracy to the world) • The American religious enthusiasm of the Social Gospel movement led to a missionary zeal to “Christianize” the world from the work Our Country by Josiah Strong.
Humanitarian Factor The other major factor of humanitarianism was the issue of the “White Man’s Burden” coined by Rudyard Kipling to represent the responsibility of the Anglo-Saxon race to spread its superior Western Culture (westernization/Americanization) and Democratic forms of government to spread the virtues of “civilization” John Fiske’s Manifest Destiny propelled the idea of America’s new destiny as civilizer of the world. (spread the virtues of Americanism)
Relations Among Nations • The interaction between Nation-States can be done in a multitude of ways in concern to the type of relationship developed between the two states. • The basic working agreement between two or more nations is called a treaty. (whether it be economic, political, or etc.) • A treaty can be unilateral (one way) or reciprocal (equal interaction between the two) • A sphere of influence is when a larger nation has some informal say into the developments within the area of influence. (usually economic)
Relations Among Nations • A Protectorate is an agreement in which a nation agrees to some oversight by the larger nation in return for protection. • A colony is an area that is controlled by a distant power through the use of settlers placed in positions of power. • A territory is an area that has been formally annexed (to incorporate an area into one’s nation) through the process of annexation. • Incorporated territory – organized government- citizenship • Unincorporated territory- ruled by Congress –no citizenship
Rise of America • America’s rise as a world power was also directed by a constant push to move West; to expand the land, power, and influence of America called Manifest Destiny. This push led America to the Pacific Ocean, to gain control of the Ocean, and into Asia. • America’s main imperial goals were to control the Western Hemisphere (southward) and to control trade in the Pacific Ocean and Asia (West)
Areas of American Focus • America chose not to focus its attention on Africa and the Middle East as much of Europe did, but rather focused its imperial drive Southward to Central /South America/Caribbean and Western into the Pacific Ocean with the ultimate goal of China.
Rise of America • The development of America as a world power began as early as the nation, through trade relations with other nations. • American business was the first major pusher of America into the world, which led to the Monroe Doctrine (statement of superiority in Western Hemisphere). • Due to the rise of major industrialization within America, American businessmen wanted the same support and protection provided to them at home also abroad, which led the American government more into Foreign Affairs (Issues dealing outside of the state of America). (Growth of Multinationals)
Rise of America • The second major pusher of America into foreign affairs was the Christian church, whose missionaries wanted to spread Christianity, first into the western Indian lands and then into the islands of the Pacific Ocean and the lands across the Ocean. • The missionaries introduced the people of other nations not only to their religion, but also their culture, language, and to political and economic ideas. (Converting them to their way of life)
Rise of America • The United States has always seen itself as having a purpose not just in concern to its own lands, but to the world as well. • Thomas Jefferson referred to the nation as an “Empire of Liberty” with a national goal to spread the principles and beliefs of the American Revolution to all nations, such as democracy, republicanism, equality, and liberty. • Liberator of World!?
Rise of America • The belief of America’s superior sense of morals and beliefs has led it to intervene in support of, on behalf of, or for “the betterment” of other nations throughout American history. (American exepectionalism) • The United States has used many tactics over the years to gain influence, power, or control over foreign nations by using diplomacy (international negotiation), offering rewards, placing sanctions, threatening military intervention, offering military assistance, and/or supporting coups or revolutions.