1. Chapter 10 Section 1 Notes
America
Becomes
a Colonial
Power

2. Imperialism - When stronger nations extend their control over weaker nations by establishing colonies
Why did U.S. get interested in doing this around the world by the late 1800s?
4 FACTORS (book says 3)
1. Other powerful countries were doing it.
especially in Asia and Africa (next 2 slides)
Africa = only 2 Independent Countries left!
Asia = CHINA is a big market many countries want access to
More info in Section 3
U.S. was pretty much done acquiring land from Native Americans by then

6. 2. Trade Colonies: improvements in technology Faster shipping
By 1890, American farmers and factories were producing more products than Americans could consume due to
improvements in technology
Faster shipping
Colonies:
A. became guaranteed markets for US businesses to sell products & increase profits
B. allowed businesses to acquire cheap raw materials for production
Oil, Rubber, Certain Minerals, etc…

7. U. S. Foreign Investments: 1869-1908
These graphs show how
more U.S. $$$ began to be invested
overseas (above) and how total
U.S. exports clearly began to
outpace U.S. imports by the 1890s
How do you think the graph to
the left would look if you analyzed
data from the last 50 years?

8. 3. Increase Military Strength
Establish bases around the world to protect the U.S.
Beliefs promoted by Alfred T. Mahan
Admiral in U.S. Navy
Wrote an influential book that said the U.S. should do
4 goals -
A. Build up and modernize the Navy
B. Establish a presence in the Caribbean
C. Build a canal in Latin America
D. Add territories in the Pacific
Mahan (right) commanded
The USS Chicago warship
(left)

9. The US followed along with all his suggestions
Mahan’s book The Influence of Sea Power on History:
became required reading for naval leaders around the world

10. 4. Religious interests
many believed it was their responsibility to spread Christianity and “civilize” the world
Social Darwinism
– Belief that White Christians with European ancestry are superior
Dressed like native Chinese (1891)
Single female (top middle) in Puerto Rico
(1895)

11. How did U.S. get territory for the last 2 states?

12. Alaska state in 1959 49th state
William Seward – member of Andrew Johnson’s cabinet
Bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 Million
2 cents an acre!
Many people in Congress thought it was a bad idea at the time
$$$ could be better spent on rebuilding the South after the Civil War
Its purchase got the nickname “Seward’s Folly”
Ended up being an absolute bargain
(timber, oil, minerals, etc…)
The check
used to buy
Alaska!

15. Hawaii state in 1959 50th state
Before annexation (adding) = Independent Kingdom
Why did U.S. want Hawaii?
A. As a port for ships on their way to Asia
B. For trade with the islands (manufactured products for sugar)
C: To Convert the islanders to Christianity
King Kamehameha with Konohiki warriors unifying the islands 1810
Sugar cane plantation

16. Expansion of U.S. business interests in Hawaii (1875)
Mainly sugar plantations (no slaves)
Imported sugar to U.S. tax – free (competitive advantage!)
Built Navy Base at Pearl Harbor
with Hawaii’s permission (1887)
Becomes important much later on!
McKinley Tariff (1890)
Takes tax – free status away from sugar
More expensive to bring to U.S. now, Business owners mad!
U.S. Business owners want Hawaii to be annexed

17. Queen Liliuokalani takes over (1891)
Attempts to take away influence of U.S. businesses from Hawaiian gov.
Business owners not happy (she is overthrown)
Sanford Dole heads new govt
Ran a big business too!!!

18. Hooks up his cousin with
some land. Eventually starts
A pretty profitable company

19. U.S. wants Hawaiians to vote for annexation (never happens)
McKinley annexes the islands without a vote in 1898
WHY? _____________________________________________
Believes in “civilizing” and Christianizing the natives
Clip on
website

20. Common U. S. View of Hawaiians in the 1890s