Imperialism and America

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Imperialism and America

• America starts taking land

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Goals

• 1. Explain the economic and cultural factors that
  fueled the growth of American imperialism.
• 2. Describe how the United States acquired
  Alaska.
• Summarize how the United States took over the
  Hawaiian Islands.

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American Expansionism

• Is American expansion new?
• No. America used Manifest Destiny to move toward
  the pacific ocean.
• By 1880s people believed America should join the
  imperial powers.

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American Imperialism

• What is imperialism?
• Policy of stronger nations extending their
  economic, political, or military control over
  weaker territories.

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American Imperialism

• Was this a new idea.
• No. By early 1900 only two nations in Africa were
  still free Ethiopia and Liberia.
• Many countries also fought for control of China.

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Why Imperialism?

• What fueled the new American imperialism?
• 1. desire for military strength
• 2. thirst for new markets (money)
• 3. belief in cultural superiority

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Military Strength

• Other nations built huge armies and the US wanted
  to follow for global power
• Alfred T. Mahan urged build up of Navy, US built
  battleships Maine and Oregon 3rd largest navy in
  the world

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Markets

• Industrialization and technology led to greater
  production
• Americans had more than they could consume,
  needed new markets to sell
• Also needed raw materials for industry

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Cultural superiority

• Social Darwinism made Americans believe we should
  rule
• Believed in Anglo-Saxons, free market, and
  survival of the fittest
• America had a responsibility to spread
  Christianity and civilization

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Alaska

• Early imperialism is William Seward (SOS) bought
  in 1867 for 2 cents an acre
• From Russia called Sewards folly
• Turned out to be rich in lumber, minerals, and
  oil

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Hawaii

• Important as a stop on the way to trade in Asia
• Missionaries setup schools and became sugar
  planters
• Sugar dominated the Hawaiian economy and
  Americans made a lot of money

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Sugar and Annexation

• Hawaiian sugar was traded duty free until the
  McKinley tariff in 1890
• Hawaiian planters demanded to be annexed so the
  tax would go away
• US knew Hawaii was valuable took Pearl Harbor in
  1887 for navy

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Sugar and Annexation

• In 1887 business leaders had law changed so only
  they could vote
• When king died, Queen said not to this idea
• American planters led a revolt with the marines
  helping

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Sugar and Annexation

• Put Sanford B. Dole as leader of Hawaii
• Cleveland demanded he step down, Dole refused
• US annexed Hawaii under McKinley, became 50th
  state in 1959