1. Warm-up
List & describe the 4 factors of US imperialism

2. United States “Empire”
Alaska & Hawaii

3. U.S. Expansion
Alfred T. Mahan (rose to Admiral in US Navy) claimed that throughout history, great nations owed their greatness to a powerful navy
Called upon America to build a new, modern fleet
Also argued that America needed to acquire foreign bases to refuel ships and gather fresh supplies
Theodore Roosevelt ordered every ship in American Navy to have a copy of this book
By 1900, U.S. had third largest navy in the world

4. U.S. Expansion
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed American war-ships into Tokyo Bay, Japan
Japan had closed itself off to trade with the rest of the world
Perry managed to negotiate a treaty for trade with the Japanese Emperor by winning him over with gifts
Perry’s trip set a precedent for further expansion in the Pacific for the US
After the US was settled from coast to coast, the “frontier” was considered “closed”; imperialism offered Americans a “new frontier”

6. Seward’s Folly
1867 Secretary of State, William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.
Journalists joked “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox”
Vast tundra of snow and ice
Turned out to rich in natural resources: timber, oil, gold, etc.
Today scholars see the purchase as a key milestone on America’s road to power

9. The Pacific Hawaii: Important to U.S. business interests
Leased Pearl Harbor to U.S. as repair and fuel facility
American businessmen overthrew Hawaiian Queen to run the Hawaiian government
Annexed in 1897—became official US territory (not a state until the 1950s)
Samoa:
Island and port (Pago Pago) important to U.S.
Acquired Pago Pago after annexation of Hawaii

11. China Huge population and large markets important to U.S. trade
Other nations (Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan) had spheres of influence to trade in China
U. S. proposed an “Open Door Policy”… equal opportunity to trade there

13. Activity:
Textbook page 142…
Read and answer questions 1 & 2.