An Emerging World Power Unit 1- Chapter 9

Guiding Question How did the United States become a global power?

Imperialism Definition: policy by which strong nations extend their political, military, and economic control over weaker territories. In other words: strong nations become more powerful by colonizing Not a new phenomenon: European nations colonized Asia and Africa during the Age of Exploration England colonized America

Imperialism Causes: Economic Benefits Military Strength National Superiority

Imperialism Economic Benefits: Seek out new sources of raw materials and natural resources Ex: England profited from tobacco, wood, sugar, lumber, rice, and indigo that were all produced in the American colonies Japan, along with European nations sought tea, rubber, iron, and petroleum for industry Extractive economies: extracting raw materials from a colony and shipping them to the home country

Imperialism Economic Benefits: United States had different problem than the other world powers There was no shortage of raw materials- there was actually a surplus! Industrialists encouraged expanding into new markets where American commodities could be sold Would prevent the closure of American factories and prevent a rise in unemployment

Imperialism Military Strength: Once economic interests were established, they needed protection by the home nation Alfred T. Mahan believed that America needed to become a naval power to protect its interests US should acquire foreign bases for American fleets to resupply and refuel US built new steel-plated, steam-powered battleships By 1900, the US had the 3rd largest navy in the world

Imperialism National Superiority: Social Darwinism: life consists of competitive struggles in which only the fittest survive Example: Manifest Destiny to expand to Pacific Imperialists used race, nationalism, and cultural superiority to justify colonization Worry was that if America remained isolated, it wouldn’t survive Belief existed that expansion prevented internal issues within the United States

Becoming a World Power Monroe Doctrine Remember this thing?? US warned that the Western Hemisphere was essentially off-limits to re-colonization In 1823, the US wasn’t prepared to back it up, but now…

Becoming a World Power The Pacific Commodore Matthew Perry took a fleet of warships to Japan in 1853 Japan had denied access to its ports up to that point Perry’s fleet was impressive and made Japan realize how far behind they were in military technology Within a year, Japan opened up trade with the United States To help trade prosper, the United States took possession of the Midway Islands

Becoming a World Power Alaska Russia had controlled Alaska for many years In 1867, Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska for $7.2 million Called “Seward’s Folly” and “Seward’s Icebox” Doubled the country’s size Rich in timber, oil, and other natural resources Expanded America’s reach into the Pacific Ocean

Becoming a World Power Hawaii Had been a stopping point for US merchant ships since the 1790s American famers migrated to Hawaii to grow sugarcane, eventually gaining political power on the Islands A sugar tariff that made Hawaiian sugar more expensive than mainland sugar, as well as a change in leadership led to crisis

Becoming a World Power Hawaii King Kalakua (friend to the American planters) died in 1891, giving control of Hawaii to his sister, Queen Liliuokalani Liliuokalani resented the white planters and sought to return Hawaii back to its native peoples Seeing this as a threat, American planters (along with US Marines) overthrew the Queen and moved for Hawaiian annexation

Becoming a World Power Hawaii President Benjamin Harrison signed a treaty to annex the islands, but could not get Senate approval before Grover Cleveland became President After a presidential investigation by Cleveland’s office, it was determined (rightfully) that a majority of Hawaiians did not approve of annexation and the matter was dropped Mainland Americans still supported annexation and in 1898, President William McKinley helped convince Congress to make Hawaii an official US territory