America Claims an Empire Chapter 10 Imperialism and America 10.1 Notes

What is Imperialism? Policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories America looking to expand Pacific Ocean area – Hawaii Join Europe and establish colonies

Global Competition Africa = prime target of European expansionism Ethiopia and Liberia – only independent countries Asia Competition for China w/ Japan and Europe Manifest Destiny led U.S. to conquer all of America

Factors Fueling Imperialism Desire for military strength Other countries establishing military presence Admiral Alfred T. Mahan – U.S. Navy Urged expansion of U.S. naval power 9 steel-hulled cruisers built by 1890 Modern battleships Maine and Oregon Become 3rd largest naval power

Thirst for new market needed too Foreign trade = solution to Advances in technology Farms and factory production extremely high Americans couldn’t consume everything Need to sell abroad More raw materials needed too Foreign trade = solution to overproduction, unemployment, boosting economy

Belief in cultural superiority Philosophy of Social Darwinism Free market competition would lead to the survival of the fittest Belief in racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons U.S. responsibility to spread Christianity and “civilization” to “inferior people” of the world

U.S. Acquires Alaska William Seward – expansionist Secretary of State under Lincoln and Johnson Arranged to buy Alaska from Russia, 1867 $7.2 million House of Reps skeptical “Seward’s Icebox” or “Seward’s Folly” 1959 – Statehood Rich in timber, minerals, oil for 2 cents / acre

U.S. Takes Hawaii Took over vacant Midway Islands (1,300 miles N. of HI) – 1867 HI economically important to U.S. Stopping point for American merchants Missionaries set up there Children and grandchildren – sugar planters Crops mostly sold to U.S.

¾ of HI wealth = American-owned sugar plantations Laborers imported from Japan, Portugal, China HI natives outnumbered by 1900 U.S. agree to import sugar duty-free (no tax) Production increased 9X’s McKinley Tariff revoked duty-free sugar HI planters forced to compete in markets

Militarists, economists knew value of HI Pressured HI to allow U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor becomes best port Refueling station for U.S. ships too