1. The Age of Imperialism (1800–1914)
Lesson 8 The Americas in the Age of Imperialism

2. The Age of Imperialism (1800–1914)
Lesson 8 The Americas in the Age of Imperialism
Learning Objectives
Identify the political problems faced by new Latin American nations.
Describe Mexico’s struggle to achieve stability.
Explain why Latin America entered a cycle of economic dependence.
Analyze the influence of the United States on Latin America, including the opening of the Panama Canal.
Analyze how Canada achieved self-rule.

3. The Age of Imperialism (1800–1914)
Lesson 8 The Americas in the Age of Imperialism
Key Terms
regionalism,
caudillos
Benito Juárez
La Reforma.
peonage
Monroe Doctrine
Panama Canal
confederation,
dominion
métis,

4. Political Problems Linger
Despite bright hopes, democracy failed to take root in most of the newly independent nations of Latin America in the 1800s. Instead, wealth and power remained in the hands of the few. At the same time, new technology such as refrigerated ships helped to intertwine the economies of nations that were thousands of miles apart. Latin American economies became increasingly dependent upon those of more developed countries. Britain, and later the United States, invested heavily in Latin America.

5. Political Problems Linger
The Legacy of Colonialism
Simon Bolivar- tried to unite colonies of South and Central America
Became 20 separate nations
Little experience of self rule
Social hierarchy remained
Creoles, Mestizos, Mulattoes, blacks, and Indians
Lots of social problems
Dictators, Conservatives, and Liberals
Regionalism- loyalty to local area
Caudillos- local strongmen with own armies
Many countries taken over my dictators
Conservatives- defended traditional social order
Liberals- wanted liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty

6. Political Problems Linger
Infer The 1880s Dunedin was one of the world’s first refrigerated ships. It could transport frozen meat between countries. How do you think this technology affected imperialism?

7. Mexico’s Search for Stability
During the 1800s, each Latin American nation followed its own course. Mexico provides an example of the challenges facing many Latin American nations. Large landowners, army leaders, and the Catholic Church dominated Mexican politics. However, bitter battles between conservatives and liberals led to revolts and the rise of dictators. Deep social divisions separated wealthy creoles from mestizos and Indians who lived in poverty.

8. Mexico’s Search for Stability
Santa Anna and War With the United States
Santa Anna took power several times between
Texas broke away after a war in 1836
Went to war with US in 1848 and lost half of Mexico to US with treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
La Reforma Brings Changes to Mexico
Benito Juarez- brings reforms
Ended special privileges
Gave land to peasants
Led to civil war
Napoleon III and Maximilian-
Juarez died 1872
A Dictator’s Order, Progress, and Oppression
General Porfirio Diaz took control
Improved infrastructure
Wealthy prospered
Peonage-

9. Mexico’s Search for Stability
During the Texas Revolution, defenders of this San Antonio fort were outnumbered by Santa Anna and his Mexican forces. How does this image portray the defenders of the Alamo?

10. The Economics of Latin America’s Dependence
Under colonial rule, mercantilist policies made Latin America economically dependent on Spain and Portugal. Colonies sent raw materials such as cash crops or precious metals to the parent country and had to buy manufactured goods from them. Strict laws kept colonists from trading with other countries and possibly obtaining goods at a lower price. In addition, laws prohibited the building of local industries that would have competed with the parent country. In short, the policies prevented the colonies from developing their own economies.

11. The Economics of Latin America’s Dependence
The Cycle of Economic Dependence
Foreign Investment and Influence
Some Economic Growth
Many Latin American countries became economically dependent on American and European Investors
Eventually most profits went to investors leaving countries poor

12. The Economics of Latin America’s Dependence
Analyze Maps The map shows European and U.S. possessions in Latin America in the early 1900s. Imperialists often acted to protect business interests. What explains the strong U.S. interest in Latin America?

13. The Economics of Latin America’s Dependence
Analyze Charts This diagram shows the cycle of economic dependence in Latin America. What did developed nations provide to Latin America?

14. The United States Wields Power and Influence
As nations like Mexico tried to build stable governments, a neighboring republic, the United States, expanded across North America. Latin American nations began to feel threatened by the “Colossus of the North,” the giant power that cast its shadow over the entire hemisphere.

15. The United States Wields Power and Influence
The Monroe Doctrine of 1823
US wanted Europeans to stay out of the Americas
Why?
Monroe Doctrine
The United States Expands Into Latin America and Enters a War
Colonized itself first
Spanish American War- 1898
Took Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam
Maintained influence in Cuba
Platt Amendment-
The Roosevelt Corollary Allows U.S. Interference
1904- claimed international police power in Western hemisphere
The Panama Canal
Back revolution in Panama
Construction began in 1904, completed 1914
Kept control until 2000

16. The United States Wields Power and Influence
Analyze Political Cartoons This cartoon portrays the early 1900s entry of the United States into competition with European powers for territory in the Eastern Hemisphere. Why are the Europeans shouting at Uncle Sam?

17. Canada Achieves Self-Rule
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand won independence faster and more easily than other British colonies in Africa or Asia. The language and cultural roots they shared with Britain helped. Racial attitudes also played a part. Imperialists in nations like Britain felt that whites, unlike nonwhites, were capable of governing themselves.

18. Canada Achieves Self-Rule
Unrest in the Two Canadas
Conflict between English and French Speaking Canadians
1791 Canada separated into 2
French Speaking lower Canada, English Speaking upper Canada
Hated this- led to revolt
1840- Act of Union- joined two Canadas and gave them elected legislature
GB kept control of foreign policy and trade
The Dominion of Canada
Joined into Confederation
Dominion of Canada 1867
By 1900, basically independent
Canada Expands
Expanded all the way to Pacific Ocean
Had their own TCR- 1885
Metis-
Still tension between English and French speaking Canadians today

19. Canada Achieves Self-Rule
By the late 1700s, there were still parts of Canada that had not yet been reached by European settlers. By the mid-1800s, the country had begun to grow, and settlements spread to new areas.

20. Canada Achieves Self-Rule
Analyze Maps Canada grew throughout the late 1800s. This map shows Canadian provinces from 1867 to 1914 and their natural resources. List the natural resources of Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

21. Quiz: Political Problems Linger
Why was regionalism a political problem for Latin America?
A. It made it difficult to establish unity and a central government.
B. It caused groups to split into conservative and liberal factions.
C. It helped the Church maintain control of land.
D. It limited voting rights for many people.

22. Quiz: Mexico’s Search for Stability
How did Santa Anna’s War with the U.S. contribute to Mexico’s instability?
A. It showed that Santa Anna was really a liberal reformer.
B. It made Santa Anna lose his power as a governing caudillo.
C. It gave Mexico a vast new territory of Texas to try to settle and govern.
D. It caused Mexico to lose territory but gain new violence between conservatives and liberals.

23. Quiz: The Economics of Latin America’s Dependence
While there was some economic growth in 1800s Latin America, what was a sign of continued weakness in their economies?
A. Modernized ports still included too many small fishing boats.
B. Railroads connected coastal cities but did not go into interior areas.
C. A few elite people benefited from growth but not the majority of people.
D. Too many European immigrants were coming to live in Latin America.

24. Quiz: The United States Wields Power and Influence
Which fact most supports the view of some Latin Americans that the Panama Canal was an example of “Yankee imperialism”?
A. The canal cut the traveling distance between the American cities of New York and San Francisco.
B. Construction began as early as 1904, and the canal opened in 1914.
C. Panama did not completely control the canal until the year 2000.
D. Panama had to fight Columbia to achieve independence.

25. Quiz: Canada Achieves Self-Rule
Which event contributed most to helping Canada move toward self-rule?
A. Thousands of French-speaking settlers remained in Canada after 1763.
B. The Constitutional Act of 1791 created two provinces in Canada.
C. The Act of Union created one province with a legislature in Canada.
D. Canada expanded westward with a new railway linking the east and west coasts.