The Rise of American Imperialism

Imperialism – Defined The period at the end of the 19 th century when the United States extended its economic, political, and social influence over Caribbean, Asian, and Pacific islands.

4 Broad Causes of Imperialism Political Causes Economic Causes Social Causes Technological Causes The Western nations were like P.E.S.T.s to the rest of the world!

Political Causes of Imperialism Diversion of class tensions and social change by focusing on conquering foreign lands. Desire for coaling stations and naval bases Belief that control of the seas was the foundation upon which great nations were build Alfred Thayer Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power Upon History

An American Imperialist Alfred Thayer Mahan

Economic Causes Desire to find new Markets – for industrial and agricultural surplus Desire to acquire new sources of Raw Materials

Social Causes Belief in Social Darwinism Christian Missionaries Desire to uplift those in darkness to the light of civilization Expansionism?

An American Supporter of Imperialism Josiah Strong Wrote Our Country: It Possible Future and Its Present Crisis, 1885 Advocate for Anglo- Saxon superiority and action to aid the less civilized

Rudyard Kipling – Cheers America On! Welcoming America to the world of adult responsibility among the nations, Kipling writes of : ‘...the White Man’s work, the business of introducing a sane and orderly administration to the dark places of the earth that lie to your hand.’

Kipling’s White Man’s Burden (1899) TAKE up the White Man's burden - Send forth the best ye breed Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness On fluttered folk and wild - Your new-caught sullen peoples, Half devil and half child. Take up the White Man's burden - In patience to abide To veil the threat of terror And check the show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred times made plain, To seek another's profit, And work another's gain.

Technological Causes Industrialization created surplus and demand Steamships, refrigeration, communications technology Guns

United States Imperial Holdings

America’s Coming Out Party The Spanish American War, Day war against Spain “Splendid Little War” Began in Cuba Resulted in USA gaining Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines Cuba independent, but under American supervision

Spanish American War - Causes Cuban Revolt and American public sympathy for Cuban rebels De Lome Letter Explosion of the USS Maine Yellow Journalism

Negative term used to describe the sensationalistic, exaggerated, scandal mongering papers Hearst New York Journal Pulitzer New York World

US – Cuban Relations Teller Amendment 1898 – USA will not annex Cuba war – leaves Cuba in 1902 Platt Amendment – US right to intervene in Cuban affairs and impinges Cuban sovereignty

Open Door Notes To Imperial Powers in China Agreed to by all as each wanted to increase their sphere of influence Used a pretext to expansion in China

A New View of the World From Republic to Empire Many Object Anti Imperialists Mark Twain, Samuel Gompers, Andrew Carnegie, William Jennings Bryan