The Imperialist Vision

Terms You Need to Know!!! Neutrality: Isolationism: Interventionism: a policy of staying out of conflicts between other nations Isolationism: a policy of avoiding alliances and other political and economic agreements with other nations; “keeping to yourself” Interventionism: the policy or practice of becoming involved in the affairs of others, especially when nations become involved in the affairs of other nations; “getting in someone else’s business.” Nationalism: a sense of identity and pride in one’s country; patriotism. Expansionism: a policy of acquiring more territory

More Terms… Anglo-Saxonism- the belief in the superiority of Anglo-Saxon (English Speaking) characteristics or of the Anglo-Saxon (English Speaking) people Social Darwinism- Theory to explain the success of certain social groups. “survival of the fittest”, Survival of the Richest

Manifest Destiny The belief that it was the “obvious fate” of the United States to eventually expand all the way across the North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, and that this expansion was not only inevitable, it was also right and proper.

Imperialism The policy or practice of extending the power and influence of a nation through direct territorial acquisitions. Under imperialism, stronger nations attempt to create Empires by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally, and militarily.

By 1890, the U.S., not yet a world power, was eager to join the competition for new territories. Manifest destiny had been applied between the 1830s and 1850s to acquire such lands as Texas, California, and New Mexico. These were the early steps toward claiming an American empire.

European Imperialism The late 1800s marked the peak of European imperialism. At this time, much of Asia and Africa were under foreign domination. Great Britain, France, and Russia were the leading imperialist powers.

Arguments for American Imperialism: Colonies would serve as a source for raw materials Colonies would provide new markets for American goods Imperialism would help to preserve the American spirit and allow the U.S. to take a place among the world’s powers Anglo-Saxonism Social Darwinism-mercantilism

Anti-imperialists argued: that to build an empire at the expense of others would betray the American ideal of “liberty for all” against the danger of the political and military entanglements that would certainly follow the claiming of an empire; many felt that the U.S. should just mind its own business.

Feeling of Superiority Social Darwinism Anglo-Saxonism John Fiske English speaking nations had superior character, ideas, and systems of government Manifest Destiny Josiah Strong Linking missionary work with Anglo-Saxonism

Captain Alfred T. Mahan The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660 – 1783 Protect/Defend Trade ----------------------------------------------------------- Want of new markets + Anglo Saxonism + European Imperialism + Mahan’s theories = Congress authorized the construction of a modern navy

Building a Modern Navy Risked/Threatened war 3 times – Became Assertive in Foreign Affairs 1888: Prevent Germany from taking control of Samoa (South Pacific) 1891: Chile forced to pay reparations for attacking American sailors 1895: Backed Venezuela against Great Britain in a border dispute (British Guiana)

Commodore Matthew C. Perry Sent to Japan to open trade (Japan believed excess contact with the West would destroy their culture) July 8, 1853 – Landed at Edo Bay “WOW”ed by technology (had never seen a steamship)

Treaty of Kanagawa US could trade at 2 Japanese ports, buy supplies at all ports Help promised to US ships in trouble (shipwrecked) Peace Japanese launched an Industrial Revolution, built a powerful navy and begun building an empire in Asia

Alaska/Midway 1867---Sec. Of state William Seward arranged for the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million “Seward’s folly” or “Seward’s icebox” Seward also encouraged the annexation of the Midway Islands in the Pacific as a refueling and repair station for the navy

Annexing Hawaii US was looking for ports to refuel and resupply while crossing the Pacific 1872 – severe recession struck Hawaii 1875 – US exempted Hawaiian sugar from tariffs for exclusive rights to a naval base (Pearl Harbor) Treaty led to a boom in Hawaiian sugar industry…

1887 – Prominent planters (Sanford B 1887 – Prominent planters (Sanford B. Dole) pressured Hawaiian king into accepting a constitution that limited his authority 1892 – Queen Liliuokalani 1893 – Queen L tried to impose a new constitution to reassert power Planters, backed by US Marines (USS Boston) forced the Queen to step down 1898 – US Annexed Hawaii

Diplomacy in Latin America US leaders wanted to increase the sale of American goods James G. Blaine (Secretary of State) Pan-Americanism October 2, 1889 – 1st Pan-American Conference held in Washington, DC Rejected Commercial Bureau of the American Republics….now known as Organization of American States (OAS)

Why did the US seek to become an imperialist power? National Pride Manifest Destiny New Markets Yellow Journalism

3 Main Causes of American Imperialism The belief in the superiority of American culture (democracy and moral ideologies) The belief that the country needed a large navy for security with bases overseas The belief that the economy needed overseas markets