Roots of Imperialism
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Transcript Roots of Imperialism
U.S. History Chapter 9
Essential Question
How and why did the United States take a more active
role in world affairs during the Age of Imperialism?
Imperialism
By the late 1800s the U.S. began to abandon
isolationism and become a global power.
With the Western Frontier now closed, Americans
began to acquire influence and territory outside its
continental borders.
Causes of Imperialism
Mid 1800s – Early 1900s powerful nations raced to
extend their influence and territory across the globe.
Europeans added to colonies acquired during the Age
of Exploration, claiming new lands in Africa and Asia.
Japan and U.S. saw the success of Europe and began to
explore the benefits of imperialism for themselves.
Economic Causes
Desire for raw materials and natural resources
Tea, rubber, iron, petroleum
Extractive Economies
Imperial country extracted raw materials and shipped
them to the home country
U.S.
Resource rich & surplus of goods
American Industrialists wanted to expand trade into
foreign markets
Military Causes
Imperialist Nations began to stress military strength as
a means to protect their interests around the globe.
Alfred T. Mahan
U.S. Navy Officer and
Military Historian
Called for strong U.S.
Navy to protect overseas
interests
Called for foreign bases
for U.S. ships to resupply
and refuel
U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy began to
modernize its fleet
Built new steel-plated,
steam powered
battleships like the U.S.S.
Maine
By 1900 the U.S. had the
3rd largest navy in the
world
Cause: National Superiority
Imperialists justified their actions by claiming their
racial, national, and cultural superiority.
Social Darwinism “survival of the fittest”
Social Darwinists believed they were destined to ruled
over inferior nations/peoples.
American Causes
Americans believed they would not survive if
European nations took over the rest of the world.
“Manifest Destiny”
God-given right and responsiblity
Spread Christianity and Western Values
Western Frontier was closed
Americans needed a new place to seek fortune and have
a fresh start
U.S. Power Grows in the Pacific
1853 Commodore
Matthew Perry sailed a
fleet of American
warships into Japan
He impressed the
emperor and established
trade between the U.S.
and Japan
U.S. Power Grows in the Pacific
1867 U.S. took Midway
Islands
Treaties in 1875 & 1887
increased U.S. trade with
Hawaii and gave U.S.
right to build a naval
base at Pearl Harbor
Seward Purchases Alaska
1867 Sec. of State, William
Seward, bought Alaska for
$7.2 million from Russia
Journalists referred to
purchase as “Seward’s
Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox”,
1,000 miles north of border
Doubled country’s size,
resource rich, & expanded
reach across the Pacific
U.S. influence in Latin America
1889, Sec. of State James
Blaine held the first Pan
American Conference
U.S. and 17 Latin
American Countries
Economic Cooperation
Pan American Highway
system to connect U.S.,
central, and south
America
Hawaii
Economic ties to U.S.
since 1790s
Constitution put in place
by King Kalakaua limited
voting rights to wealthy
land owners (mostly
whites!)
Many white sugar
plantation owners in
Hawaii
U.S. Acquires Hawaii
Hawaiian Nationalist,
Queen Liliuokalani takes
thrown and does away
with constitution
White planters revolt
with the help of the U.S.
New government led by
white planter Sanford B.
Dole asked to be
annexed by U.S.
U.S. Annexes Hawaii…FINALLY!
President Harrison couldn’t get senate approval before
leaving office
President Cleveland refused to sign because majority
of Hawaiians didn’t want to be annexed
President McKinley’s administration finally passed in
1898