American Foreign Policy: The influence of the U.S. began to extend to other world regions.  George Washington warned Americans to “steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world”.  Americans practiced a foreign policy of isolationism. Isolationism is a national policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs.  Then Americans moved towards expansionism in which we expanded the American “frontier”. Expansionism is a policy that calls for expanding a nation’s boundaries.

· Fearing the influence of outsiders, Japan chose to completely isolate itself from other nations in the 1600’s. Unlocking Japan “The continuation of…the intention of introducing the Christian religion having come to our knowledge, it is impossible to look on with indifference. If in future foreign vessels should come near any port whatsoever, the local inhabitants shall…drive them away; but should they go away peaceably it is not necessary to pursue them. Should any foreigners land anywhere, they must be arrested or killed, and if the ship approaches the shore it must be destroyed.” – Japanese policy, 1825 Source: “When Japan was a secret.” The Economist December 22 nd 2007 – January 4 th 2008: 63.

3. FUEL – to purchase fuel (coal) from the Japanese for U.S. whaling and fishing ships Why did the U.S. want to establish a relationship with Japan? 1. TRADE – to sell U.S. goods to Japanese consumers 2. SAILORS – to ensure proper treatment of shipwrecked U.S. sailors

- President Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan in 1853.President Fillmore Commodore Matthew Perry Commodore Matthew Perry Japanese portrayal of Commodore Matthew Perry

- Perry arrived with four steam-powered warships and ported in Tokyo Bay in The Japanese likely felt intimidated by the warships and might have felt they had to accept the trade relationship. (bullied, intimidated, scared, impressed, forced)

The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed in March of 1854, in which the U.S. received all of their demands from the Japanese.Treaty of Kanagawa Perry returned to Japan in 1854 with twice as many ships. Commodore Perry Meeting the Imperial Commissioners at Yokohama

· Japan realized that they needed to become more modern and industrialized in order to compete with Europe and America. Effects of Imperialism on Japan In 1860, Japan sent their first steam powered warship, the Kanrin Maru to the United States in order to show the world that Japan had mastered Western navigation techniques and ship technologies. (Picture is a replica.)

William H. Seward  Secretary of State that was appointed by Lincoln and Johnson.  Seward wanted America to have an empire dominating the Caribbean, Central America, and the Pacific.  In order to create this empire he wanted to build a canal, create a transcontinental railroad, and the telegraph.

Alaska · Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $ 7.2 million in Owning Alaska eliminated the Russian presence from North America and also allowed the U.S. to have an outpost from which to “monitor” Russia. William Seward Secretary of State William Seward

1867 map from U. S. Coast Survey Office · Many Americans referred to the purchase as “ Seward’s Folly ” or “Seward’s Icebox”. The American public doubted that anyone would want to settle in such a cold climate that was so far from the continental U.S., and not much was known about its natural resources. Seward’s Folly

On March 30, 1867, the United States agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars. A check for $7,200, was issued on August 1, 1868.check

Thomas Nast ridicules the purchase of Alaska from Russia by depicting Secretary of State William H. Seward as an elderly mother caring for her child, a small version of Pres. Andrew Johnson dressed as Uncle Sam. On the wall poster in the cartoon’s background, Uncle Sam is shown trudging in snowshoes across the icy tundra, planting American flags on Alaskan mountaintops, as polar bears and walruses watch. A picture of an Eskimo family is sarcastically labeled “One of the Advantages.”

* Alaska, however, turned out to be rich in fish, gold, copper, timber, oil and coal. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline transports oil, Alaska's most important export. It runs 800 miles, from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Alaska at Valdez.Trans-Alaska Pipeline

Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

What is Imperialism?  The purchase of Alaska and the trade agreement with Japan begins America’s Imperialism. Imperialism is the actions used by a nation to exercise political or economic control over smaller or weaker nations. Imperialism in the U.S. was driven by the need for markets (places to sell our goods) and materials (things to make our goods).

Pan-American Union  On October 2, 1889, the first Pan-American Conference began in Washington, D.C. The conference was a meeting between the United States and various countries in Latin America. Its goal was to improve economic and political relations between participants.  A weak system was established that allowed nations to refuse any arbitration that they felt threatened independence. The conference did set up the International Bureau of American Republics, also known as the Pan-American Union, to hold additional meetings in the future.