1. Section 1 – pg 548 Eyes on the Pacific
Chapter 16
Section 1 – pg 548
Eyes on the Pacific

2. The United States Looks Overseas
Pg 548
The United States Looks Overseas
In the mid-1800s, US was ready to make new trade partners and find more land

3. Opening Japan to Trade Pg 548 US merchants wanted to trade w/ Japan
For 250 years, Japan had isolated itself from the world
Foreigners were not allowed to enter or leave the country
Even shipwrecked sailors were not allowed to leave
Blocked outside trade

4. 1854: Perry returned and Japan signed a treaty opening trade
1853: Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed to Tokyo Bay with armed US warships
Presented a letter from the President asking them to open trade
Said he would return in a year for their answer
1854: Perry returned and Japan signed a treaty opening trade
Included a provision protecting US whaling fleets who were shipwrecked
Pg 548

5. Perry’s visit showed the Japanese that they were behind technologically and that they would have to transform their feudal society into an industrial nation
Pg 548

6. Purchasing Alaska Pg 549 1867: Alaska is a Russian colony
Russia told US Secretary of State, William Seward, that they wanted to sell it
Seward was for the expansion of the US and saw it as a stepping stone for trade w/ Asia and the Pacific
Purchased Alaska for $7.2 million, 2 cents an acre
Alaska is twice the size of Texas
Purchase increased the US size by one fifth

7. Many Americans opposed the purchase b/c they saw Alaska as a frozen wasteland
“Seward’s Folly”
“Seward’s Icebox”
Then gold was discovered leading to the Klondike & Alaska gold rush in
Pg 549

8. The Expansionist Mood Pg 549
Until the late 1800s, followed George Washington’s advice to stay out of foreign affairs
Pursue a policy of isolation
Meanwhile, nations of Europe took up a policy of imperialism
Building empires by imposing
political and economic control
over peoples around the world

9. As the 19th century approached, a spirit of expansion gripped the nation
Supporters argued that it promoted economic growth, expanded overseas trade, and the spread of American values
Pg 550

10. Promoting Economic Growth
Pg 550
Promoting Economic Growth
The US had a powerful industrial economy
European powers were seizing land in Africa and Asia
Worried they would be
shut out of global markets
and denied raw materials

11. Expanding Overseas Trade
Pg 550
Expanding Overseas Trade
Alfred T. Mahan, top supporter of expansion and naval captain and author
Said that future US prosperity depended on building up trade
Meaning a need for a powerful navy that would control the world’s sea lanes and ensure access to foreign markets

12. Spreading American Values
Pg 550
Spreading American Values
In the late 1800s, many Americans wanted to spread the American culture
Said Americans of the “Anglo-Saxon race” were superior and had a divine duty to introduce Christian values and western civilization to ppl around the world

13. Gaining Footholds in the Pacific
Pg 551
Gaining Footholds in the Pacific
Expansionists were interested in various Pacific islands
Seen as essential to expanding US influence and trade

14. Pg 551
Rivalry for Samoa
US steamship companies and missionaries became interested in Samoa, a chain of islands in the South Pacific
Wanted to set up coaling stations, where ships could restock
Britain and Germany also wanted Samoa
1889: US sent warships to Samoa
Typhoon struck, disabling or destroying 6 of the 7 ships
200 sailors died
1899: US and Germany divide up the islands

15. Interest in Hawaii Pg 551 Expansionists were also interested in Hawaii
Could serve as a military and commercial outpost
First ppl on Hawaii were Polynesians, who arrived by canoe in the 600s
Lived undisturbed until 1776, when Captain James Cook arrived

16. 1820: first missionaries came to convert the natives to Christianity
Other Americans acquired land and set up sugar plantations
1887: planters required the Hawaiian king, Kalakaua, to accept a new constitution that gave them a lot of influence
1891: Queen Liliuokalani, succeeded him
Strong advocate of Hawaiian independence and revoked the 1887 constitution
Pg 551

17. Hawaii Becomes a US Territory
Pg 551
Hawaii Becomes a US Territory
1893: American planters and entrepreneurs organized an uprising
W/o consulting the gov’t, persuaded a US official to land 50 Marines to help overthrow the queen and set up a pro-American gov’t
President Grover Cleveland did not support them, so they did not succeed

18. Hawaii was not annexed until Cleveland left office
Pg 552
Hawaii was not annexed until Cleveland left office
William McKinley favored annexation and supported a treaty to achieve it
July 7, 1898, Congress voted to make Hawaii a territory

19. Carving Up China Late 1800s, China had lost a war and was weak Pg 552
European powers and Japan force China to grant them territory and trading rights
Divided China into spheres of influence: areas of economic and political control

20. Pg 552
Open Door Policy
As other countries were dividing up China, US leaders feared we would be excluded from China trade
1899: US Secretary of State John Hay asked the other countries to keep an “open door” in China
Wanted a guarantee that the right to trade with China on a equal basis
Not all countries agreed, but Hays responded as if they did
Publicly declared they had
accepted the Open Door Policy

21. Pg 552
Boxer Rebellion
Many Chinese resented foreign influence in their country
Organized a secret society to combat foreigners
The Righteous and Harmonious Fists
Europeans called them Boxers b/c they performed ceremonial exercises that looked like shadow boxing

22. Spring 1900: Boxers began a rebellion to expel foreigners
Were supported by China’s gov’t
Attacked and killed westerners and Chinese Christians
Burned churches and home of foreigners
Hundreds of foreigners and 2,000 Chinese sought safety in the walled section of Beijing, the Chinese Capital
Pg 553

23. Outside powers (including the US) sent in 18,000 troops
Pg 553
Outside powers (including the US) sent in 18,000 troops
Freed the trapped foreigners, crushed the rebellion, looted the capital, and killed thousands of Chinese

24. Pg 553
The Open Door Again
Hays was scared that the Boxer Rebellion would end the Open Door Policy so he issued the request again