Chapter 17 Section 4

1. Chapter 17 Section 4 Debating America’s New Role

2. Racism • A belief that differences in character or intelligence are due to one’s race • Many during this era believed that those of Anglo-Saxon heritage were superior to other races - A racial argument against imperialism: Imperialism was just another form of racism

3. Why did some people believe that racism was at work in imperialism? • Americans seemed to desire to bring their values to other people • Kept alive the belief that Anglo-Saxons were better than others • Other races inferior and had to be “Americanized”

4. Compulsory • Something that is mandatory • For example: Compulsory military service

5. What were three economic arguments raised by the imperialists? • 1. Expansion involved too many costs. (Maintaining the armed forces required more taxation, debt, and possibly even compulsory, military service). • 2. Laborers from other countries would compete for jobs with U.S. workers. • 3. Cheap goods from overseas possessions could hurt American industries

6. How did imperialism help the United States maintain it’s “frontier spirit”? • By attempting to obtain new markets and territories, America had to compete with other nations for these prizes • American frontier spirit was reinvigorated by this competition

7. Great White Fleet • President Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet, part of the United States Navy, on a cruise around the world to demonstrate U.S. naval power to other nations

8. What was the significant about the tour of the Great White Fleet? • It reinforced Imperialism’s appeal to Americans as it demonstrated the nation’s impressive naval power to the world

9. Pro Imperialism 1. Imperialism offered a new kind of frontier for American expansion. 2. A new international frontier would keep Americans from losing their competitive edge. 3. Access to foreign markets made the economy stronger. 4. In 1907, President Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet, part of the United States Navy, on a cruise around the world to demonstrate U.S. naval power to other nations. Other nations now knew that the U.S. was a military power

10. Anti-Imperialism 1. A moral and political argument: Expansionism was a rejection of our nation’s founding principle of “liberty for all.” 2. A racial argument: Imperialism was just another form of racism. 3. An economic argument: Expansion involved too many costs. Maintaining the armed forces required more taxation, debt, and possibly even compulsory, or required, military service. In addition, laborers from other countries would compete for jobs with U.S. workers.