IMPERIALISMThe United States

Becomes an Empire

What is imperialism?

IMPERIALISM

To create an Empire. When a stronger more powerful nation take political, economic and social control over weaker

nations.

Uncle Sam GROWS Into a World Power

Imperialism

Describe the FOUR Factors that lead to the United States

becoming an EMPIRE in the late 19th century 

IMPERIALISM

● Factors favoring American expansion overseas: ○ ECONOMICS

■ Capitalism requires expansion into foreign markets● To acquire resources and raw materials for

American industries ● Markets to sell American produced goods

IMPERIALISM

● Factors favoring American expansion overseas. ○ POLITICS

■ Spread American democracy to other nations● Strength abroad will

bring strength at home■ Compete with other

imperial powers● Like who?

IMPERIALISM

● Factors favoring American expansion overseas. ○ MILITARY

■ Overseas bases for military bases and coaling states

■ Provide strategic “protective” bases = buffer zone

IMPERIALISM

● Factors favoring American expansion overseas. ○ SOCIAL

■ Spread American culture ■ Spread Christianity ■ American version of greatness

● Racial/cultural superiority ● “White Man’s Burden”

Voices of Imperialism

Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan The Influence of Seapower on History,

1660-1783

1. Key to becoming a dominant empire was control of the seas

2. United States needed to build up its naval battleship fleet

3. U.S. needed to have a two ocean naval presence

4. United States needed to acquire Hawaii and other Pacific islands

5. United States should build a canal across the isthmus of Central America

Voices of Imperialism

YELLOW PRESS

● SENSATIONALIZING the NEWS○ Jingoism ○ Journalism that downplays

legitimate news in favor for eye-catching headline that sell more newspapers = encouraged imperialism ■ William Randolph ■ Joseph Pulitzer

Voices of Imperialism

Political leaders advocated for an American empire - used political offices to promote

imperialism Senator Albert Beveridge

Senator Henry Cabot LodgePresident Teddy Roosevelt

Despite Potential Success Debate Ensued

Expansionists● Favored expansion of borders

& influence ● Believed were helping those

who came under US domination (why – think your reasons)

Isolationists● Opposed expansion● Wanted to maintain US

tradition of not getting involved in global issues

● Went against US core values ○ Liberty ○ Independence

Uncle Sam begins looking across the oceans

Uncle Sam planting the American flag on territories

abroad...the

“NEW MANIFEST DESTINY”

Consolidating American Hemisphere Power

● Early U.S. Foreign Policy ◼ American isolationism?

▫ Manifest Destiny◼ Further Expansionism?

▫ Economic and social changes drove imperialism

● Removing European Obstacles◼ Louisiana Purchase,

1803◼ Monroe Doctrine, 1823◼ Mexican American

War, 1846-48◼ Purchased Alaska, 1867

America Claims an Empire

The New “Manifest Destiny”

After the conquering and settlement of the American West,

Americans looked toward overseas territories for

expansion

What is the message of this Thomas Nest political cartoon in relation to American expansionism?

ALASKA - “Seward’s Folly”

● 1867, the United States purchases ALASKA from Russia

● Secretary of State William Seward agrees to pay $7.2 million

● Critics derided the purchase with numerous derogatory names such as “Seward’s Icebox.”

Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon

AND...

Alaskan Oil!

Midway Islands

1867, The United States formally took possession of Midway

Islands - bases and protective

Early American Interest in Hawaii

● In the late 1700s and early 1800s, American missionaries travel to Hawaii to convert Hawaiians to Christianity.

● Sanford Dole and other American businessmen bought land and established fruit and sugarcane plantations○ American businessmen forced Hawaii to grant them the right

to vote and soon the American business interests were controlling Hawaiian politics

Naval Bases at Pearl Harbor

Treaty of Reciprocity

1887

Queen Liliuokalani & Revolution in Hawaii

● In 1891, Liliuokalani succeeded her brother (King Kalakaua) as the monarch of Hawaii○ Revoked the right to vote

from American businessmen

○ Take power away from non-Hawaiians

○ “Hawaii for Hawaiians!”■ Hawaiian nationalism

● American businessmen incited rebellion and overthrew the Queen in 1893

● Liliuokalani surrendered and was imprisoned in her palace

● The Americans who lead the revolution petitioned for annexation by the United States

Hawaiian Annexation

Fight for annexing Hawaii

● “The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe and this is the golden hour for the United States to pluck it.” -US minister to Hawaii urging for annexation

● President Cleveland opposed annexation as saw overthrow of Queen illegal so Hawaiian republic declared in 1894

● President McKinley (pro-imperialist) submitted treaty to annex Hawaii in 1897○ In 1898 during the Spanish American War the US

annexed Hawaii when the value of Pearl Harbor naval base became increasingly evident

The Open Door Policy: Securing US Inclusion in World Trade

● Secretary of State John Hay's - “Open Door” in China ○ Aimed to secure international

agreement to the US policy of promoting equal opportunity for international trade and commerce in China & respect China’s administrative integrity

○ Reason because US was “left out” of trade via spheres of influence and needed to expand market

Foreign Influence in

JapanMatthew Perry “opens” Japan to international trade securing two American ports and embassy for US by flexing MUSCLES with 16

battleships “The Great White Fleet”

Spanish American War, 1898 “A splendid little war” John Hay

CUBA

● Tensions between the United States & Spain arose over Cuba ○ 90 miles off Southern coasts of Florida

● Spain intended to keep Cuba as part of its empire○ Cuba had been a part of Spain’s empire of the Americas since

1490s● The United States presidents called for Spain to grant

Cuban autonomy - America supported Cuban rebels ○ Cuban Revolution - fled to US (stories & destruction)○ American investments - sugar

● The Yellow Press inflamed public opinion against the Spaniards

President McKinley sends the Maine to Cuba - Protect US Interests (property & citizens)

EXPLOSION of the USS Maine!!!

Destruction of the Maine lead to rise of War Fever in the Country

Yellow Journalism

Joseph Pulitzer & William Randolph Hearst, New York journalists

sensationalized the news to sell newspapers. The Yellow Press

depicted the explosion of the Maine as an attack by Spain on the United

States!

“REMEMBER THE MAINE TO HELL WITH SPAIN!”

United States Declares War on Spain

Battles of the Spanish-American War

Spanish Surrender After ONLY 4 Months!

● US attacked Philippines first (Dewey attacks Manila Bay) ○ Spanish colony=surprise

attack ○ Filipino rebels support

● Cuba attacked next ○ Naval blockade followed by

land invasion ○ T. Roosevelt and the Rough

Riders help gain control ● American navy destroyed Spanish

fleet paving way for invasion of Puerto Rico

Treaty of Paris 1898: The Terms

● Huge US gains for only a 4 month war

● Territorial gains strengthen military and economic position of US

● Cuba gained independence

● US Territorial Gains: ○ Puerto Rico○ Guam ○ Philippines “bought” for $20

million ○ Guantanamo Bay (Naval

Base) ○ Cuba = Protectorate (Platt

Amendment)

The United States becomes an EMPIRE

United States New Role in the World