Section 1 THE ROOTS OF IMPERIALISM

During the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, powerful countries competed to spread their influence throughout the world in a process known as imperialism. Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Nations in Europe began to add colonies to their nations from areas of Africa and Asia. Later, the U.S. would practice imperialism as well. CAUSES OF IMPERIALISM

Of the many benefits to having colonies there were:  Natural Resources  Raw materials were valuable to Europe and Japan.  These materials could range from tea, rubber, iron, petroleum, and many others.  They became extractive economies.  Having these resources provided an advantage for global competition.  America’s Benefit  By practicing imperialism, America could use the resources they previously had too much of. BENEFITS OF IMPERIALISM

 Many imperialist nations expressed the need for military strength to keep their colonies and interests in order. IMPERIALIST MILITARY

 He was both a military historian and an officer in the U.S. Navy.  He played a huge part in making America a naval power  He helped America to have the third largest navy on the planet ALFRED T. MAHAN

 There were many justifications for imperialism  Racial, cultural and national superiority, and also Social Darwinism.  Darwinists  Thought that only certain races and nations were superior to all others, and were destined to rule over the inferiors  They are firm believers in Manifest Destiny NATIONAL SUPERIORITY

 He was an American historian in the early 1900s  He believed that now that America had covered the continent, we needed to expand overseas to avoid internal conflict within the country. FREDERICK JACKSON TURNER

In the mid-1800s, America set its sights on expanding trade and getting new territories. AMERICA’S FIRST STEPS TOWARD WORLD POWER

 Sailed a fleet of warships to Japan  The Japanese were in awe because they had never seen steamships before.  Japan had shut themselves off from the rest of the world, and had fallen behind with military technology.  Perry won the Emperor's favor through gifts  Within a year, a treaty was negotiated that allowed Japan to trade with America.  Perry set the example for further treaties and expansion of the U.S.  The U.S. obtained the Midway Islands in 1867, increased trade with Hawaii, and obtained the rights to build a naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1875 and COMMODORE MATTHEW PERRY

MATTHEW PERRY

 Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million  Journalists mocked Seward and referred to Alaska as “Seward’s Folly” and “Seward's Icebox”  They didn’t know why the U.S. needed vast tundra so far north  The purchase nearly doubled America’s size  It was abundant in oil and timber  The purchase also expanded the country’s reach across the Pacific ALASKA PURCHASE

 Businessmen viewed Latin America as a place to expand trade and investments.  In 1889 Secretary of State James Blaine helped by sponsoring the First International Pan-American Conference  Blaine addressed the economic benefits to the Latin American delegates  Also led to the construction of the Pan-American highway system  In 1895, tensions rose between America and Great Britain  These tensions were over a border dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela.  President Cleveland threatened U.S. intervention.  Britain eventually accepted U.S. sphere of influence. LATIN AMERICAN INFLUENCE

Although the U.S. had an influence on Hawaii from as far back as the 1790s, Hawaii didn’t become a territory until later in the late 1800s. THE UNITED STATES ACQUIRES HAWAII

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, America had a fairly prominent influence in the Hawaiian Islands. Missionaries set up churches and schools, there were established sugar plantations. “In 1887, American planters convinced King Kalakaua to amend Hawaii’s constitution so that coting rights were limited to only wealthy landowners.” (Pg. 591) AMERICAN INFLUENCE

 New U.S. tariff law  Put duties on previously duty-free Hawaiian grown sugar  Made Hawaiian sugar more expensive  Farmers feared for their sales and profits  Queen Liliuokalani  Kalakaua’s sister and successor.  Very nationalistic  She didn’t like the increasing power of white planters  Abolished the constitution that gave power to the white minority WEALTHY PLANTATION OWNERS RUN INTO PROBLEMS

The planters responded soon after. They overthrew the Queen and took power with the help of the United States Marines, sent by John Stevens. A new government in Hawaii was led by Sanford B. Dole, a wealthy plantation owner. He asked President Benjamin Harrison to annex Hawaii into the U.S. afterwards. THE PLANTERS OVERTHROW

 Harrison signed the treaty of Annexation  Couldn’t get the required senate approval before Cleveland took office.  Cleveland set a full investigation  It revealed that most Hawaiian people didn’t like or approve of the treaty.  As a result, Cleveland apologized and refused to sign the treaty.  Americans still wanted the annexation.  Finally, in 1898, Congress and President McKinley stated Hawaii as an official U.S. territory. THE UNITED STATES ANNEXES HAWAII

Emma J. Lapsansky-werner et al. Richard Snow. United States History. Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Print. October 16, Alfred T. Mahan’s Portrait Frederick Jackson Turner’s Portrait Commodore Matthew Perry’s Portrait Annexation Document CITATIONS