American Imperialism 1880s-1929

Areas of American Foreign Interest 1880-1929

• Latin America • (Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic)

• Pacific • (Hawaii, Philippines, Samoa)

• Asia • (China, Japan)

Moral or Economic?

Write a paragraph response to the following two quotes – include an argument in which you defend, refute or qualify the assertions made below.

“Every empire seeks as its imperialistic mission not to plunder and control, but to educate and liberate.”

“The truth is that imperialism was never idealistic. It has always been driven by economic or strategic interests.”

Comparing Primary Sources

- In pairs, read the following two primary sources.

1. “The Desirability of Imperialism” by Paul Leroy-Beaulieu

2. Mark Twain’s piece condemning imperialism

- Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper (only one set of answers per pair)

- Write a position statement regarding your thoughts on imperialism based solely on the information provided in the two primary sources. Your statement should include not only an indication of your support for, or opposition to, imperialism but also specific support from the readings.

- Tape your index card on the appropriate poster.

Factors Contributing to Imperialism

There were numerous factors that contributed to the rise of US imperialism:

- Commercial/Business Interests

* overproduction resulted in economic depression

* created the need for new markets, especially

overseas (US started to look toward Latin

America and East Asia – China)

- Military/strategic Interests

* Alfred Thayer Mahan (Influence of Sea Power upon History)

linked British growth of empire to growth of

their navy – encouraged growth of US navy

harbors, ports, ships, refueling station around

the world)

Factors Contributing to Imperialism

- Religious Interests

* Idea of the “white man’s burden” – to bring “civilization” to the

less advantaged peoples of the world

* “civilization” was defined by “white Anglo-Saxon Protestantism”

(WASP)

- Moralistic Interests

* Social Darwinism

* Closing of the American frontier (Turner’s “frontier thesis”)

* belief that WASP’s were inherently superior and were chosen by

God to lead the world

Beginnings of Expansion

The empire built by the US was

different from that of Britain.

- US more of an “informal

empire”

- territorial holdings were not as

vast as Britain (didn’t require

as large a military to maintain)

US Sec of State William Seward supported

an empire including:

Canada, the Caribbean (Cuba, Hawaii, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico)

Beginnings of Expansion

Hawaii

- US had a presence in Hawaii since missionaries in 1820s

- Congress approved a trade agreement with Hawaii and

recognized the independence of the islands in

1849 (essentially made Hawaii a US protectorate)

- In 1875, a reciprocal trade agreement between US/Hawaii

allowed sugar to enter the US duty-free in exchange for

Hawaii’s promise not to give territory to any foreign

powers

- Treaty was renewed in 1877, with US rights to naval base

(Pearl Harbor)

Hawaiian Annexation

A successful revolt led by white elites (Stanford Dole) in 1893 resulted

in the overthrow of the Hawaiian queen, Queen Liliuokalani.

- US (John Stivers – US Minister to Hawaii) recognized the

new government and Hawaii petitioned the US for annexation

- Republic of Hawaii was established in 1894

- Annexation was delayed because of President Cleveland’s

opposition (found most native Hawaiian were opposed and

didn’t want to create a situation that would lead to rebellion)

- Hawaii was annexed in 1898 (strategically used during Spanish-

American War)

Opposition to Hawaiian Annexation

Anti-imperialists in the US were sharply critical of the annexation of Hawaii and

raised three major arguments against it.

1. Imperialistic policy was designed for special interest groups (especially

sugar growers of Hawaii)

2. Imperialism represented a dangerous departure from American

tradition by forcibly incorporating foreign peoples into the US

3. Bringing non-WASPs into the US will threaten the American value

system

These arguments were largely ignored by supporters of imperialism.