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BASED ON THESE CARTOONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK “AMERICAN IMPERIALISM” MEANS?

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Presentation on theme: "BASED ON THESE CARTOONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK “AMERICAN IMPERIALISM” MEANS?"— Presentation transcript:

1 BASED ON THESE CARTOONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK “AMERICAN IMPERIALISM” MEANS?

2 Imperialism Policy in which stronger nations extend their power – political, economic and military – over weaker nations

3 Factors that Promoted Imperialism (1) Need for New Markets By the late 19 th century, American industries are producing more than they can use. American leaders felt that new foreign markets would allow us to sell our surplus goods, get raw materials for production and help alleviate the economic depression and lack of job opportunities. Today we are raising more than we can consume. Today we are making more than we can use... Therefore we must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital, new work for our labor... Ah! As our commerce spreads, the flag of liberty will circle the globe and the highway of the ocean - carrying trade to all mankind - will be guarded by the guns of the republic. And as their thunders salute the flag, benighted (ignorant) peoples will know that the voice of liberty is speaking, at last, for them... that civilization is dawning at last, for them. --Senator Alfred Beveridge, 1898

4 Factors that Promoted Imperialism (2) Belief in Cultural Superiority Some American leaders believed that America had a duty to civilize the “uncivilized nations.” Mixture of Social Darwinism and Angl0-Saxon racism Take up the white man's burden, Send forth the best ye breed- Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives need To wait, in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild- You new-caught sullen peoples, Half devil and half child. Take up the white man's burden, And reap his old reward- The blame of those ye better. The hate of those ye guard- The cry of those ye humor Ah, slowly toward the light: "Why brought ye us from bondage, Our loved Egyptian (heathen) night? --Rudyard Kipling, "The White Man's Burden"

5 Factors that Promoted Imperialism (3) Desire for Military Strength  Other nations were establishing a global presence; therefore, American leaders believed that America needed to establish themselves as well  Alfred T. Mahan: Admiral of the US Navy who urged government officials to build up American naval power in order to compete with other powerful nations. This led the US to build huge cruisers between 1883 and 1890, which made us the world’s 3 rd largest naval power.

6 Early American Imperialism - Alaska United States bought Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars in 1867. Arranged by William Seward who was Secretary of State under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson William Seward had to work hard to get this purchase approved because people thought it was foolish to buy this expanse of cold land Turned out to have a great wealth of natural resources including timber, minerals and oil

7 Early American Imperialism – Hawaii White Americans owned many sugar plantations in Hawaii. The McKinley Tariff made it so plantation owners had to pay a tax to sell their goods to America They urged the US government to annex Hawaii so they wouldn’t have to pay this tax  Annex (verb): to incorporate (include) territory into the existing country or state Queen Liliuokalani: Last Hawaiian monarch  She had a “Hawaii for Hawains” agenda.  In 1893, white business men staged a revolution, overthrew her and made Sanford B. Dole president  President Cleveland disagreed but when William McKinley became president after him in he annexed Hawaii in 1898  Hawaii became the 50 th state in 1959

8 The Jungle Read CH 24 in class and answer questions.

9 Homework Finish reading CH 25 of the Jungle and complete the questions.


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