2. Imperialism
Day 7

3. American Expansion
Imperialism – policy where stronger nations expend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories.

4. American Expansionism
Have always pushed to expand our country westward.
By late 1880s, many leaders thought we should join European leaders gaining territories across the seas.

6. American Expansionism
Africa and Asia were already being colonized by European and Japanese governments.
Global Competition
Desire for Military Strength
Need for New Markets
Belief in Cultural Superiority

7. Desire for Military Strength
Alfred T. Mahan
Admiral in the US Navy
Urged building naval power to compete with other nations
US constructed 9 modern steel battleships
The Maine
The Oregon
Became world’s third largest naval power.

9. Desire for New Markets
New technology allowing farms and factories to produce more than Americans consumed.
Saw foreign trade as solution
Overproduction
Unemployment
Economic Depression

10. Cultural Superiority
Social Darwinism would prove Anglo-Saxons were the superior race.
United States had a responsibility to spread Christianity and “civilization” to the world’s “inferior people.”

11. US Acquires Alaska William Seward Secretary of State
1867 arranged to buy Alaska from Russians for $7.2 million.
Opponents called it “Seward’s folly”

12. Hawaii Hawaiian Islands were economically important to the US.
Merchants stopped on their way to Asia
Missionaries founded Christian schools and churches
Missionaries became sugar planters

13. Pg 344

14. Hawaii
Plantation owners imported laborers from Japan, Portugal, and China.
McKinley Tariff of 1890 started charging tariff on Hawaiian sugar.
White planters wanted US to annex Hawaii so they wouldn’t have to pay.

15. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1887 US built naval base
Base was a re-fueling station for American ships.

16. End of Hawaiian Monarchy
Business leaders organized a revolution to overthrow the Queen.
Sanford B. Dole was appointed leader, but was not recognized by the US.
1898, Congress proclaimed Hawaii an American territory.

17. Imperialism and America
Queen Liliuokalani
Queen of Hawaii
Reluctantly surrendered her monarchy.

18. Pg 345

19. Annexing Hawaii

21. Warm Up
What were the 3 reasons the United States wanted to expand and become an imperial power. Briefly explain each.
(Reasons for Imperialism)

22. The Spanish-American War
Chapter 10
Section 2

23. Spanish-American War

24. Cubans Rebel Against Spain
US held long interest in Cuba
Spain refused to sell Cuba to the US
America invested millions in sugar cane plantations.

25. War for Cuban Independence
1895 Revolution of Cuban rebels against Spanish rule
American interest split
Investors wanted to support Spain to protect investments
Others supported the rebel cause
“Cuba Libre!”

26. War Fever Escalates
Spanish General Valeriano Weyler put over 300,000 Cubans in concentration camps.
Yellow Journalism – sensational writing which exaggerates news to lure and enrage readers.

27. Yellow Journalism William Randolph Hearst Joseph Pulitzer
New York Journal
Joseph Pulitzer
New York World
Stories of poisoned wells and children being thrown to sharks

28. U.S.S. Maine Explodes
U.S.S. Maine sent to Cuba to bring American Citizens home
Feb – ship blew up, 260 killed
Reported as a conspiracy by Spain.

29. U.S.S. Maine Explodes

30. War with Spain April 1898 Congress declared war.
1st Battle was in the Philippines.
“Remember the Maine!”

31. War in the Philippines
Commodore George Dewey opened fire on Spanish fleet at Manila
Destroyed entire fleet
Had support of Filipinos who wanted freedom from Spain.

32. Pg 349

33. War in the Caribbean US blockade of Cuba sealed Spanish fleet in Cuba
US superior in naval power
Lacked strong army

34. Rough Riders Volunteer cavalry under command of Theodore Roosevelt.
2 African American regiments and the Rough Riders cleared way for infantry attack San Juan Hill.
Roosevelt declared a hero in papers.

35. Treaty of Paris
After destroying Spanish naval fleet in Cuba, cease-fire agreement
April 12 – Treaty of Paris signed
Spain freed Cuba
Guam and Puerto Rico turned over to US
Sold US Philippines for $20 million

36. Senate Approval February 6, 1899 Senate approved Treaty of Paris
US Empire
Guam
Puerto Rico
Philippines