1. American Imperialism
Goal 6 and 8

2. Essential Idea
The rise of imperialism contributed to the United States’ entry into the Spanish-American War.

3. Rise of Imperialism
America’s Foreign Policy under George Washington: Neutrality, meaning the United States stayed OUT of foreign conflicts
Next, the Monroe Doctrine said that “no European country is allowed to interfere with the Western Hemisphere”
Next, Manifest Destiny said that the United States should expand across the continent and “civilize” other cultures

4. Imperialism
According to imperialism, the United States must become a world power to survive (Social Darwinism)
Imperialism – strong countries dominating weaker countries

5. Why Imperialism
American imperialism had _____ main causes:

6. Reason #1- Trade Reason #1: Overseas Markets
American businesses: businesses wanted to expand by selling to other countries
American investment in Cuba: $50 million invested in Cuban sugar plantations, mines, and railroads

7. When did American exports begin to increase dramatically?
Is this a trade surplus or a trade deficit?
How would this graph look today?

8. Reason #2- Anglo-Saxonism
What it means: English-speaking countries have superior character, ideas, and government
Josiah Strong said that it was the “white man’s burden” to bring liberty and Christianity to the “darker races”

9. Reason #3- Expanding the Military
Reason #3: military expansion
What it means: expand the military and build bases to protect American interests
Alfred T. Mahan wrote “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History”, which called for expanding the U.S. Navy

11. Hawaii One reason for imperialism: overseas markets
One major overseas market was East Asia (China, Japan, etc.)
Hawaii was a good resupply/refuel point for trade ships going to Asia

12. Queen Liliuokalani
Queen Liliuokalani was the leader of Hawaii, who was trying to increase her authority
Why more authority? More and more American settlers were building plantations in Hawaii
Why a problem? Settlers and native Hawaiians were fighting

13. Annexing Hawaii
Eventually, the U.S. Marines supported a rebellion of Hawaii’s government and overthrew the queen
The result: an American government was put in place, and Hawaii was annexed into the United States five years later
Annexing Hawaii
What other event in U.S. History does the annexation of Hawaii parallel?

14. Cuban-American Trade Relations
In 1898, Cuba declared independence from Spain
This was related to America in two ways:
1. American were economically invested in Cuba ($50 million)
2. Many Americans compared this event to the American Revolution

15. Yellow Journalism The Event: Spanish American War
Cause #1: Yellow Journalism
What is it? Sensationalist, biased, or false reporting used to attract more readers
Example 1: The Spanish are feeding Cubans to sharks and dogs!”

16. The New York Journal
Example 2: “Blood on the roadsides, blood in the field…blood, blood, blood!”
Effect on Americans: many sided with Cuba, and some even smuggled weapons to Cuba

17. Caught Writing Notes Yellow Journalism
In February 1898, a newspaper intercepts and prints a letter from Spanish ambassador de Lome, which insults the president

18. Insulting the President
American reaction: MAD!

19. The U.S.S. Maine Cause #2: U.S.S. Maine
What happened: the American warship, the U.S.S. Maine, explodes in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing 260
The U.S.S. Maine

20. Reaction to the Maine
The LIKELY cause (thanks to modern-day investigation): the boiler on the ship exploded
What the newspapers did: BLAMED SPAIN, accusing them of setting off a mine or sabotaging the ship

21. Jingoism Jingoism- aggressive nationalism
Result of Jingoism: Americans, especially Republicans, call for war
April 1898: the Spanish-American War begins!