The Pros and Cons of Imperialism Thoughts on United States Imperialism

Reasons for the US to Expand Overseas: Continental frontier was not adequate – US needed “elbow room”

Reasons for (continued) US belief in cultural superiority – Race, values, religion, and economics – Goal was to civilize the world – Helping “lesser peoples” **Ethnocentrism**

Reasons for (continued) Industrialization – Increase in productivity=need for new markets – natural resources

Reasons for (continued) Social Darwinism – “survival of the fittest” applied to people AND nations

Anti-Imperialism Arguments Unchristian Imperialism is undemocratic Lack of resources to defend acquired territories

Anti-Imperialism (continued) Stay out of European affairs – Use the two oceans to protect us – Stay isolated Imperialism= tyranny – US was a colony of Great Britain once

Anti-Imperialism (continued) There is no need to expand overseas – Country has everything it needs

Political Cartoon Activity Look at each political cartoon – Argument being made for or against imperialism – List the details of each cartoon

Bill Walker Anti-Imperialism

Theodore Roosevelt Pro-Imperialism

Howard Zinn Anti-Imperialism

Ernest Crosby Anti-Imperialism

Rudyard Kipling Pro-Imperialism