Roots of Imperialism

1. Roots of Imperialism U.S. History Chapter 9

2. Essential Question • How and why did the United States take a more active role in world affairs during the Age of Imperialism?

3. Imperialism • By the late 1800s the U.S. began to abandon isolationism and become a global power. • With the Western Frontier now closed, Americans began to acquire influence and territory outside its continental borders.

4. Causes of Imperialism • Mid 1800s – Early 1900s powerful nations raced to extend their influence and territory across the globe. • Europeans added to colonies acquired during the Age of Exploration, claiming new lands in Africa and Asia. • Japan and U.S. saw the success of Europe and began to explore the benefits of imperialism for themselves.

5. Economic Causes • Desire for raw materials and natural resources • Tea, rubber, iron, petroleum • Extractive Economies • Imperial country extracted raw materials and shipped them to the home country • U.S. • Resource rich & surplus of goods • American Industrialists wanted to expand trade into foreign markets

6. Military Causes • Imperialist Nations began to stress military strength as a means to protect their interests around the globe.

7. Alfred T. Mahan • U.S. Navy Officer and Military Historian • Called for strong U.S. Navy to protect overseas interests • Called for foreign bases for U.S. ships to resupply and refuel

8. U.S. Navy • U.S. Navy began to modernize its fleet • Built new steel-plated, steam powered battleships like the U.S.S. Maine • By 1900 the U.S. had the 3rd largest navy in the world

9. Cause: National Superiority • Imperialists justified their actions by claiming their racial, national, and cultural superiority. • Social Darwinism “survival of the fittest” • Social Darwinists believed they were destined to ruled over inferior nations/peoples.

10. American Causes • Americans believed they would not survive if European nations took over the rest of the world. • “Manifest Destiny” • God-given right and responsiblity • Spread Christianity and Western Values • Western Frontier was closed • Americans needed a new place to seek fortune and have a fresh start

11. U.S. Power Grows in the Pacific • 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry sailed a fleet of American warships into Japan • He impressed the emperor and established trade between the U.S. and Japan

12. U.S. Power Grows in the Pacific • 1867 U.S. took Midway Islands • Treaties in 1875 & 1887 increased U.S. trade with Hawaii and gave U.S. right to build a naval base at Pearl Harbor

13. Seward Purchases Alaska • 1867 Sec. of State, William Seward, bought Alaska for $7.2 million from Russia • Journalists referred to purchase as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox”, • 1,000 miles north of border • Doubled country’s size, resource rich, & expanded reach across the Pacific

14. U.S. influence in Latin America • 1889, Sec. of State James Blaine held the first Pan American Conference • U.S. and 17 Latin American Countries • Economic Cooperation • Pan American Highway system to connect U.S., central, and south America

15. Hawaii • Economic ties to U.S. since 1790s • Constitution put in place by King Kalakaua limited voting rights to wealthy land owners (mostly whites!) • Many white sugar plantation owners in Hawaii

16. U.S. Acquires Hawaii • Hawaiian Nationalist, Queen Liliuokalani takes thrown and does away with constitution • White planters revolt with the help of the U.S. • New government led by white planter Sanford B. Dole asked to be annexed by U.S.

17. U.S. Annexes Hawaii…FINALLY! • President Harrison couldn’t get senate approval before leaving office • President Cleveland refused to sign because majority of Hawaiians didn’t want to be annexed • President McKinley’s administration finally passed in 1898