The Imperialist Vision Chapter 7 Section 1 US History

Building Support for Imperialism Right after civil war, no interest in American Expansion outside of the US or being involved internationally Focused on reconstruction and building industry In 1880s felt time to expand Economic and military competition from other nations Feelings of culture superiority

Building Support for Imperialism A Desire for New Markets Several European Nations already expanding “Imperialism”: economic and political domination of a strong nation over weaker one Expanded for many reasons Factories needed raw materials from all over world Didn’t have all resources economy needed Biggest reason: Tariffs high between industrialized nations so needed to find new markets without high tariffs Growth of investment opportunities slowed in western Europe so began looking overseas to expand investment in industries (like RR and factories) Looked in Asia and Africa specifically

Building Support for Imperialism To protect these investments Europeans began controlling these areas Some became colonies Some became “Protectorate” : local gov’t stayed in place BUT larger country controlled them (“protected them against rebellions and invasion) US noticed expansion of Europeans and wanted to compete Until late 1800s expanded in North America Now that west was mostly settled, needed new areas and overseas markets to expand in

Building Support for Imperialism A Feeling of Superiority Besides economics, the ideas of Social Darwinism helped feeling that expansion overseas was good If country wasn’t strong enough to survive competition then that was “natural order” Other people, like author John Fisk, believed that English speaking nations had better character, ideas and systems of gov’t Fisk’s ideas became known as “Anglo-Saxonism” Very popular, liked with Manifest Destiny (west settled, now time for overseas!) American Minister Josiah Strong also agreed and supported this idea, linked it to Christian Missionary ideas Helped convince many Americans to agree with this idea

Building Support for Imperialism Building a Modern Navy US became more aggressive in foreign affairs Three international crises showed this 1888: US risked war to stop Germany from taking control of Samoa 1891: Mob in Chile attacked American sailors in Alparaiso, threatened war unless Chile paid reparations 1895: US baked Venezuela against Great Britain in border dispute (risked war again) All three crises eventually ended peacefully

Building Support for Imperialism More willing to go to war = support for building a large modern navy Argued that if not have bases overseas, European nations could shut US out of foreign markets Captain Alfred T. Mahan (US Navy) also supported this argument 1890 published book that pointed out that prosperous peoples in past had large and powerful navy Also more merchant ships = need for US Navy fleet to protect them during travels argued that US needed ships to defend its right to trade with other countries His book pushed powerful senators and secretaries of Navy under both Pres. Harrison and Pres. McKinley to support him

American Expansion in the Pacific Since earliest days of expansion Amer. Looked west (settled west) When started overseas expansion only natural to keep looking west across Pacific Before imperialist ideas became popular, Amer. Was already sending ships to trade with East Asia.

American Expansion in the Pacific Perry Opens Japan American’s wanted to trade with Japan and China but Japan didn’t want contact Destroy Japanese culture 1852 Pres. Fillmore force Japan to trade with US Sent “Matthew C. Perry” to Japan to negotiate a trade treaty Ships entered Japan Edo Bay July 8 1853 Impressed Japan (not resist weapons and technology)

American Expansion in the Pacific Treaty of Kanagawa (trade treaty) gave US permission to trade at 2 ports in Japan, peace between countries Japan would help shipwrecked US ships/sailors US Ships permission to buy wood, water, food and coal in Japan Important turning point in Japan’s history too b/c adopted west technology and started own industrial revolution

American Expansion in the Pacific Annexing Hawaii Trade Asia increase = need for a port for US ships to refuel and resupply crossing pacific Pago Pago in Samoan Islands was one US had base in (est. 1878) Most important place was Hawaii, mid 1800s US businessmen had many plantations on Hawaii as well as being a port Recession of 1872 worried US about Hawaiians would turn to other countries for help Offered Hawaii treaty exempting Hawaiian sugar from tariffs

American Expansion in the Pacific When treaty came up for renew, US forced Hawaii to give US exclusive rights to naval base at Pearl Harbor Treaty good for planters, increased power Forced king to write constitution that limited his power 1890 new tariff on sugar, made Hawaiian sugar more expensive than American Plantation owners then decided Hawaii should be part of US

American Expansion in the Pacific 1891 “Queen Liluokalani” took Hawaiian Throne and didn’t like the American control and influence 1893 tried to get new constitution to improve power… Amer. Businessmen not like this Tried, with help of US Marines to overthrow gov’t., forced queen to step down Set up provisional gov’t and asked for annexation to US Pres. Cleveland refused (didn’t like Imperialism) 5 years later (after Cleveland left audience) US annexed Hawaii

Diplomacy in Latin America Pacific not only region to expand, also expanded in Latin America They bought goods from Europe American wanted to increase sale of their produces and wanted to show European’s they were dominate James G. Blaine (secretary of state in 3 administrations 1880s) led efforts to expand in Latin America Proposed invite Latin American’s to conference in DC to discuss ways work together to support peace and increase trade

Diplomacy in Latin America Idea that US and Latin America should work together became known as “Pan-Americanism” October 2 1889 first conference in DC All nations attended except Dominican Republic Two goals for conference Create customs union between Latin America and US Create a system for ways for US and Latin America work out disputes peacefully Hoped customs union would have Latin America buy US products instead of European (Amer. Reduce tariffs) System for resolving disputes would stop European from getting involved in American affairs

Diplomacy in Latin America Latin American rejected Blaine’s ideas Agreed to create Commercial Bureau of the American Republics Org. that worked to promote cooperation among the nations of the Western Hemisphere. Came to be known as Pan-American Union…today called Organization of American States (OAS)