Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Reasons for American Imperialism. America: What is different?

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "Reasons for American Imperialism. America: What is different?"— Presentation transcript:

1 Reasons for American Imperialism

2 America: What is different?

3 By George, I think something’s changed?

4 Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality Neutrality!!! Wanted the US to stay out of foreign conflicts.

5 And what did Monroe say?? Monroe Doctrine – United States would stay out of foreign affairs (in the Eastern Hemisphere) – East stay in East, West stay in West Europe should not be involved in the Western Hemisphere at all!

6 And we pushed West… Manifest Destiny – believed that they had the divine right to gain Western Lands. – Indian Wars – Homestead Act – Railroads

7 So, how did Alaska and Hawaii become part of the U.S.?

8 Imperialism!! The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories

9

10

11 Causes of Imperialism

12 Cause #1: Economics Raw materials for use in industry Access to new markets: US producing more than it can use Need new opportunities for capital investment Mercantilism: belief that nations need to export more than they import to grow and maintain wealth

13 Cause #2: Military Strength Alfred T Mahan argued for a powerful navy 1890: Wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History Powerful navies require naval bases worldwide

14 The Great White Fleet Fleet of 16 US battleships sent out on a world tour to demonstrate American naval power between 1907 and 1909 on orders of President Theodore Roosevelt Greatly enhanced American prestige

15 Cause #3: Nationalism and Social Darwinism Social Darwinism – Used ideas of racial, national, and cultural superiority to justify imperialism Manifest Destiny – “White Man’s Burden” White man is burdened with the task of “civilizing” minority races Anglo-Saxonism – Belief that English speaking nations were destined to rule due to superior character, ideas, and systems of government Europe is imperialist, why not U.S.?

16 John Fiske Argued that physical evolution of man had ended due to social developments As a result, the society which is superior will be the dominant force in social evolution

17 Josiah Strong Americans should support imperialism because it spreads Christianity The Anglo-Saxon race have a responsibility to “ civilize and Christianize ” the rest of the world

18 Cause #4: No More Frontier US had expanded as much as it could in North America Frederick Jackson Turner proposed his “ Frontier Thesis ” – Argued that American society had evolved as a result of always having a Western frontier; now that the frontier was closed, US was at risk of stagnation What is stagnation? Many interpreted this as meaning that the US needed to find new frontiers in order to maintain our position

19 Purchase of Alaska U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars At first, people thought it was a waste of money Seward’s Folly – Secretary of State Seward was ridiculed for the purchase

20 Resources in Alaska Timber Minerals Oil

21 What about Hawaii?

22 "We need Hawaii just as much and a good deal more than we did California. It is manifest destiny." -President McKinley

23 Hawaii U.S. missionaries had moved there Sugar plantations soon dominated the islands’ economy Sugar was sold to the U.S.

24 Sugar Planters Got Rich!!! By mid-1800s—sugar accounted for ¾ of islands’ wealth Imported labor from Japan, Portugal, and China Sold sugar tax free to the U.S.

25 McKinley Tariff is Passed Largest tariff passed in the U.S. at that point in history

26 How would the sugar plantation owners feel about that tariff? (Remember: What’s a protective tariff?)

27 Plantation Owners Opposed Tariff Planters called for the U.S. to annex Hawaii – ANNEX = Become part of another country (US) Wanted to avoid the tariff

28 They even built a military base Pearl Harbor

29 Hawaiians Opposed Annexation Queen Liliuokalani Attempted to: – Throw out the Bayonet Constitution Gave whites the vote and limited monarch’s power – Extend suffrage to native Hawaiians and Asians What do you think white Americans in Hawaii did?

30 Revolt and Overthrow of Queen Led by Sanford B. Dole Had the help of the U.S. Marines

31 Overthrow of the Queen Americans staged a coup, then reported to the American consulate that American lives and property were in danger due to the coup! US consulate called Marines ashore from the US naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaiians surrendered

32 Hawaii Became a U.S. Territory Hawaiians never got a chance to vote Hawaii became a state in 1959

33 Should the US Expand Its Territory? You are going to write an argument for or against the expansion of the US. This is your LEFT SIDE Argument must include: – Brief explanation of US involvement in foreign affairs – Explanation of Imperialism (causes) – Explain why the US wants to annex Alaska/Hawaii 2 reasons – Explain your view regarding annexation 2 reasons


Download ppt "Reasons for American Imperialism. America: What is different?"

Similar presentations


Ads by Google