1. Imperialism and America

2. Objectives
Explain the economic and cultural factors that fueled the growth of American imperialism
Describe how the U.S. acquired Alaska
Describe how the U.S. acquired Hawaii

3. American Expansionism
Economically
Imperialism
The policy in which stronger nations extend control
Militarily
Politically

4. American Expansionism
Global Competition
Africa
Already carved up by European powers
Scramble for Africa

5. American Expansionism
Global Competition (cont.)
China
Japan and Europeans compete for control
Desire for
Military strength
New markets
Cultural superiority

6. American Expansionism
Desire for Military Strength
To compete we must have a strong navy
9 steel hulled cruisers built between
3rd largest naval power
Build up

7. American Expansionism
Thirst for New Markets
Technology = more products
Need for more raw materials
Belief in Cultural Superiority
Americas see their culture as the best culture
Want to bring “civilization” to the “inferior people”

8. The United States Acquires Alaska
William Seward – 1867
Secretary of State
Pays Russians $7.2 million
~2₵ an acre
“Seward’s Icebox”
“Seward’s Folly”
Timber, materials, oil

9. The Unites States Acquires Hawaii
The Cry for Annexation
The End of the Monarchy
American planation owners
Have ¾ of the wealth
Bring in immigrants to work the plantations
Hawaiians are out numbered 3-1
Duty free sugar
Tariffs create competition
Hawaiian plantation owners call for statehood
King Kalakaua
Forced into making voting based off of land ownership
Queen Liliuokalani
“Hawaii for Hawaiians”
U.S. Ambassador organizes a revolution that U.S. Marines take part in

10. The Unites States Acquires Hawaii
The End of the Monarchy (cont.)
President Cleveland will not annex unless Hawaiian majority says
1898
Congress, under McKinley declares Hawaii a U.S. territory