Ch. 4 - Becoming a World Power ( ). I.The Imperialist Vision.  A desire for world markets and belief in the superiority of white culture led the U.S. to assert itself as a world power (trade w/ Japan & Latin America, and annexation of Hawaii).  After the Civil War, Americans were focused on reconstructing the South.  Beginning in the 1880’s, Americans began to favor expanding American power.

A.Imperialism – Economic and political domination of a strong nation over other weaker nations.  European nations were expanding their colonies.  Companies had to look overseas for raw materials and a place to sell their products (market).

B.Protectorate – The imperial power allowed the local rulers to stay in control and protect them against rebellions and invasions.  Colony – Imperial power had total control over the territory.

C.Expansion in the Pacific. 1.Mathew C. Perry – 1853, led 4 U.S. warships to Edo Bay (now Tokyo) to negotiate a trade treaty.  President Millard Fillmore sent Perry with a letter to try and persuade Japanese to trade.  Japanese never saw a steamship before; Impressed by U.S. technology and firepower.  Realizing they could not compete with the U.S., Japan opened their ports of Simoda and Hakodadi in  Forcing the Japanese to trade with the U.S. led to Japan to Westernize their country in  Japan industrialized and by 1890’s, built a powerful navy and set out to build their own empire in Asia.

Commodore Matthew Perry & actor Matthew Perry Commodore Matthew PerryMatthew Perry, a.k.a. Chandler Separated at birth ???

First Landing of Americans in Japan, July 14, Commodore Perry’s ship, by a Japanese artist. “…to bring a singular and isolated people into the family of civilized nations.” - Commodore Perry, 1859.

D.Annexing Hawaii. 1.By mid-1800’s, sugarcane plantations were established.  1800’s, U.S. ships used Hawaii as stop for Asia.  1820’s, missionaries and whaling ships in Hawaii.  1887, Hawaiians forced King Kalakaua to accept constitution limiting his power and increased the planters’ power.

2.1893, Queen Liliuokalani tried to impose a new constitution. a)Failed due to Marines; forced to give up power. b)President Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii (opposed imperialism).  New Constitution would reassert her power as ruler of Hawaii.  Hawaii provisional gov’t waited until the next president (McKinley) and was then annexed in Queen Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii.

E.Relations with Latin America. 1.Pan-Americanism – The U.S. & Latin America work together to support peace & increase trade.  17 nations came together in  Agreed to form the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics, now called the Organization of American States (OAS). Map indicating OAS membership. Founding members are dark green, follow-up members are bright green, and the single suspended member (Cuba) is colored lime.

 Captain Alfred T. Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: in 1890, pointing out that prosperous nations built strong navies to trade in the world.  By the 1890’s, the U.S. was becoming one of the top naval powers in the world.

As of 1917

2007