1. Eyes on the Pacific
The US was ready to take on new challenges and expand into new trade partners by the mid 1800s
US merchants for a long time wanted to engage in trade with Japan
Japan blocked outside trade for about 250 years

2. Opening Japan to Trade
In 1853, Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay with heavily armed warships
When Perry returned, he had a treaty that opened up trade with Japan
Japan recognized their weakness:
US had technology & power
Japan decided they needed to transform their feudal society into an industrial nation

3. The US Expands Alaska was a Russian colony
They told the US Secretary of State William Seward that they wanted to sell the territory
Seward favored US expansion and saw Alaska as a stepping stone

4. Purchasing Alaska
Alaska is twice the size of Texas so for $7.2 million the US expanded by 1/5
Many Americans opposed
They saw it as a frozen wasteland - "Seward's Folly" and "Seward's Icebox"
Soon they changed their tune
Found valuable discoveries of gold

5. Expansionist Mood: Imperialism vs. Isolationism
Until late 1800s, America practiced isolationism
Avoiding involvement in other countries' affairs (Remember George Washington's advice)
Europe was building empires imposing political and economic control - this is called imperialism.

6. A new spirit of expansionism
Americans debated over a new Manifest Destiny that extended over seas
Expansion supporters offered reasons for increased involvement
economic growth
spreading American values

7. Turner's Thesis
Although not widely accepted today, Frederick Turner concluded the western frontier had defined American history
They now believed that European expansion was the new frontier that would renew our nation's strength

8. Promoting Economic Growth
Powerful industrial economy
America produced more than America could buy
America's fear: we could be shut out of global markets if we did not act and just watched European powers
Some thought the key to strong trade was a strong navy

9. Spreading American Values
Americans felt that they had a divine duty to spread Christian values and westerns civilization around the world

10. The Pacific Samoa A chain of islands in the South Pacific
US steamboat companies and missionaries expressed interest
US navy wanted to set up coaling stations where ships could stop and stock up on coal

11. The Pacific Hawaii A group of islands in the North Pacific
natural beauty, sunshine, beaches
Beauty was secondary - Hawaii was perfectly positioned in between Asia and the US for a military post

12. The Pacific Hawaii 1820 - first American missionaries arrive
They hoped to convert Hawaiians to Christians
Americans set up sugar plantations
As the sugar industry grew, power for American planters grew
When Liliuokalani became queen, she wanted to restore the Hawaiian monarchy and reduce foreign influence

13. Annexing Hawaii
1893: American planters organize an uprising without consulting the government
50 US Marines overthrow the queen
President Grover Cleveland did not recognize this as a proposal to annex Hawaii.
William McKinley followed as President and did support annexation, but through a treaty.
July 7, 1898, Congress voted to make Hawaii a territory of the US

14. Linking the Oceans
During the Spanish-American War, it took the US navy 2 months to go from San Francisco to Cuba
There had to be a better way!
A canal across Central America would fix this problem

15. Choosing a Site
The Isthmus (narrow strip of land joining 2 larger areas of land) of Panama was the ideal location
50 miles wide
Roosevelt offered $10 million in cash and $250,000 yearly in rent

16. Choosing A Site
Some Columbians did not agree. They felt they were worth more than offered and did not like that the US would have control over a 6 mile stretch of Columbian territory
Roosevelt was clever:
He knew that Panamanians disliked Columbians so the US would help them claim their independance

17. Getting the Site A revolt takes place and we support the Panamanians
We recognize them as a nation
With Panamanian support, we sign a treaty granting the US permanent use and control of the 10 mile wide zone. We agreed on our original offer
$10 million cash and $250,000 a year rent

18. Building The Panama Canal
President Roosevelt encouraged the engineers to "make the dirt fly!“
The biggest obstacle when building this canal was yellow fever and malaria
Although many Americans thought it was caused by damp nights, a Cuban doctor discovered it was transmitted by a certain type of mosquito

19. "Big Ditch" Construction involves 3 major tasks:
Cut through a mountain
dam a river
build the canal's giant locks
Digging the Gaillard Cut (9 mile ditch through the mountain) proved to be the most challenging part
Although most supervisors were Americans, the laborers were West Indie from African descent

20. The Panama Canal
despite unexpected delays, the Canal was finished 6 months ahead of schedule
The Panama Canal opened on August 15, 1914

21. Latin America Roosevelt was not shy about his intensions.
He wanted everyone to know that if diplomacy failed, he was not afraid to use military force to protect the interests of the US.

22. Latin America
Roosevelt also wanted to let European nations know that they were not going to become too powerful.
To prevent these nations from using military force to collect debt, Roosevelt extended the Monroe Doctrine.
This became known as the Roosevelt Corollary (logical extension)

23. Dollar Diplomacy
As in everything else, When Taft took the presidency he had a different approach
Taft favored dollar diplomacy
policy based on economic ties
This policy led to just as many military interventions as Roosevelt's plan

24. Latin American Interference
When revolution broke out in Nicaragua, the US sent in Marines
We also at a time occupied Haiti and Honduras
Many Latin Americans resented the interference with their affairs

25. Mexico Relations
As Woodrow Wilson took office, he had a different idea than both Roosevelt and Taft.
He believed that democracy should be spread all over the world
Dealing with Mexico, at first Wilson practiced "Watchful Waiting" but he was tested when a group of American sailors were arrested

26. Mexican Relations
Wilson sent in the navy to occupy the port of Veracruz which upset many Mexicans
Wilson was drawn back into Mexican affairs in 1916 by actions of Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa)
Pancho Villa and his men raided the town of Columbus in New Mexico, killing 18 Americans
After 11 months, Wilson ordered withdrawal without the capture of Villa