Age of ImperialismAge of Imperialism1872-19121872-1912

Why does this matter?Why does this matter?

During this era, economic and During this era, economic and military competition from world military competition from world powers convinced the United States powers convinced the United States that it must become a world power. that it must become a world power. The United States became an empire The United States became an empire when it acquired the Philippines and when it acquired the Philippines and territory in the Caribbean. American territory in the Caribbean. American influence in Central and South influence in Central and South America grew as the US took a more America grew as the US took a more active role in Latin American affairs.active role in Latin American affairs.

Section 1: The Imperialist VisionSection 1: The Imperialist Vision

In the years following the Civil War, most In the years following the Civil War, most Americans were not interested in Americans were not interested in expanding territory past the ocean, but in expanding territory past the ocean, but in the late 1800’s, opinions began to shift. the late 1800’s, opinions began to shift. Most people wanted the US to become a Most people wanted the US to become a world power. Economic and military world power. Economic and military competition, as well as a feeling of cultural competition, as well as a feeling of cultural superiority led to this shift.superiority led to this shift.

VocabularyVocabulary

Imperialism: is the economic and Imperialism: is the economic and political domination of a strong political domination of a strong nation over a weaker nation.nation over a weaker nation.

Protectorate: the imperial power Protectorate: the imperial power allowed local rulers to stay in control allowed local rulers to stay in control and under protection as long as they and under protection as long as they took the advice of the imperial took the advice of the imperial power.power.

In Europe:In Europe:

By the late 1800’s, most European By the late 1800’s, most European countries had industrialized and were countries had industrialized and were placing high tariffs against each placing high tariffs against each other. other.

There was also a sudden shortage of There was also a sudden shortage of natural resources since most of natural resources since most of Europe had been industrialized.Europe had been industrialized.

Countries began looking overseas to Countries began looking overseas to invest including Africa and Asia.invest including Africa and Asia.

Colonial Colonial AfricaAfrica

In the United States…In the United States…

As the US industrialized, many As the US industrialized, many Americans took a new interest in Americans took a new interest in imperialism. Until the late 1800’s, imperialism. Until the late 1800’s, American expansion had been west American expansion had been west to the Pacific, but with the west filling to the Pacific, but with the west filling up, many decided that the nation up, many decided that the nation had to develop overseas markets to had to develop overseas markets to remain strong.remain strong.

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism Many Social Darwinists believed that Many Social Darwinists believed that

nations competed with each other nations competed with each other politically, economically, and militarily and politically, economically, and militarily and that only the strongest will survive. that only the strongest will survive.

Historians like John Fiske took this one Historians like John Fiske took this one step farther and argued that English step farther and argued that English speaking nations had superior character, speaking nations had superior character, ideas, and systems of government and ideas, and systems of government and were destined to rule the planet. This idea were destined to rule the planet. This idea was called was called Anglo-Saxonism Anglo-Saxonism and was and was popular because it went along with the popular because it went along with the idea of Manifest Destiny.idea of Manifest Destiny.

Expansion in the PacificExpansion in the Pacific

Even before the era of imperialism, Even before the era of imperialism, Americans had already begun expand Americans had already begun expand across the Pacific.across the Pacific.

Many American business leaders thought Many American business leaders thought of Japan and their rulers, China, would be of Japan and their rulers, China, would be good for trade, but China and Japan were good for trade, but China and Japan were very worried about the western influence very worried about the western influence on their culture and only allowed other on their culture and only allowed other Chinese or Dutch to trade with them.Chinese or Dutch to trade with them.

Expansion in the Pacific con’tExpansion in the Pacific con’t After receiving several petitions from After receiving several petitions from

Congress, President Pierce decided to Congress, President Pierce decided to force Japan to trade with the US. He force Japan to trade with the US. He ordered Commodore Matthew C. Perry to ordered Commodore Matthew C. Perry to take a naval expedition to Japan to take a naval expedition to Japan to negotiate a trade treaty.negotiate a trade treaty.

On July 8, 1853, 4 American warships On July 8, 1853, 4 American warships entered what is now called Tokyo Bay. entered what is now called Tokyo Bay.

Perry’s arrival impressed the Japanese and Perry’s arrival impressed the Japanese and forced the Japanese to realize that they forced the Japanese to realize that they could not compete and they agreed to sign could not compete and they agreed to sign the treaty.the treaty.

Matthew C.PerryMatthew C.Perry

China and JapanChina and Japan

HawaiiHawaii

As trade with China grew, people began As trade with China grew, people began looking at Hawaii…why?looking at Hawaii…why?

Americans began settling in Hawaii and Americans began settling in Hawaii and found the soil to be very fertile for growing found the soil to be very fertile for growing sugarcane and established many sugar sugarcane and established many sugar plantationsplantations

In 1872, a severe recession hit, and in In 1872, a severe recession hit, and in order to protect their economic status, the order to protect their economic status, the settlers asked for tariffs to be reduced. settlers asked for tariffs to be reduced. Congress agreed.Congress agreed.

HawaiiHawaii

The treaty also allowed the US to set The treaty also allowed the US to set up a base on the island (_________)up a base on the island (_________)

Tensions began to increase between Tensions began to increase between settlers and the monarchy in Hawaii.settlers and the monarchy in Hawaii.

McKinley Tariff- subsidies for sugar McKinley Tariff- subsidies for sugar planters and no tariffs, but still planters and no tariffs, but still Hawaii’s economy suffers.Hawaii’s economy suffers.

Then, in 1891 Queen Liliuokalani Then, in 1891 Queen Liliuokalani came to the thronecame to the throne

Queen LiliuokalaniQueen Liliuokalani

The Queen tried to pass a law giving The Queen tried to pass a law giving control of the government back to her. control of the government back to her.

Supported by Marines, a group of planters Supported by Marines, a group of planters forced the Queen to give up power and set forced the Queen to give up power and set up a provisional government until they up a provisional government until they could be annexed to the UScould be annexed to the US

Pres. Cleveland opposed imperialism and Pres. Cleveland opposed imperialism and disagreed with the planters. disagreed with the planters.

They decided to wait until Cleveland was They decided to wait until Cleveland was out of office, and eventually were annexed out of office, and eventually were annexed in 1897.in 1897.

Trade and Diplomacy in Latin Trade and Diplomacy in Latin AmericaAmerica

Although the US bought most of its Although the US bought most of its raw materials from Latin America, raw materials from Latin America, Latin America bought most of its Latin America bought most of its goods from Europe.goods from Europe.

Americans wanted 2 thingsAmericans wanted 2 things• Increase business dealings with Latin Increase business dealings with Latin

AmericaAmerica• Show Europe that the US was the Show Europe that the US was the

dominant power in the region.dominant power in the region.

Pan-AmericanismPan-Americanism

James G. Blaine was the Secretary of James G. Blaine was the Secretary of State who came up with the idea of State who came up with the idea of Pan-Americanism.Pan-Americanism.

It was the idea that the US and Latin It was the idea that the US and Latin America should work together.America should work together.

Eventually created the Pan American Eventually created the Pan American Union and the Organization of Union and the Organization of American States.American States.

Steps to being assertive in foreign Steps to being assertive in foreign affairsaffairs

Step 1Step 1• Decide you want to be assertiveDecide you want to be assertive

Step 2Step 2• Have a Captain (Alfred Mahan) write a book Have a Captain (Alfred Mahan) write a book

proving the strength of a modern navyproving the strength of a modern navy Step 3Step 3

• Have a senator (Henry Cabot Lodge) and future Have a senator (Henry Cabot Lodge) and future president (Teddy Roosevelt) agreepresident (Teddy Roosevelt) agree

Step 4Step 4• Have Congress agree and give funding for the Have Congress agree and give funding for the

beginning of a modern navybeginning of a modern navy

Spanish American WarSpanish American War

In February 1898, The In February 1898, The USS Maine USS Maine exploded off the exploded off the coast of Havana. The Spanish were blamed.coast of Havana. The Spanish were blamed.

Before this there was an uprising in Cuba, where Before this there was an uprising in Cuba, where the Americans supported the Cuban rebels the Americans supported the Cuban rebels against the Spanish because of the stories of against the Spanish because of the stories of Spanish atrocities (bad things they did) from Spanish atrocities (bad things they did) from major newspapers. This kind of sensationalist major newspapers. This kind of sensationalist reporting became known as yellow journalism.reporting became known as yellow journalism.

Cont’dCont’d

Because of all the attention, the US Because of all the attention, the US decided to send the USS Maine into decided to send the USS Maine into Havana in case Americans there Havana in case Americans there needed to be evacuated. Soon after needed to be evacuated. Soon after it exploded.it exploded.

A Commission decided Spain was to A Commission decided Spain was to blame and America went to war.blame and America went to war.

USS MaineUSS Maine

The War on Two FrontsThe War on Two Fronts

The US took the Philippines at Manila Bay, The US took the Philippines at Manila Bay, led by George Dewey. On the way to the led by George Dewey. On the way to the Philippines, the Americans also took Guam Philippines, the Americans also took Guam another Spanish territory in the Pacific.another Spanish territory in the Pacific.

In Cuba, American troops arrived including In Cuba, American troops arrived including a group of people known as the Rough a group of people known as the Rough Riders, a mix of cowboys, miners, and law Riders, a mix of cowboys, miners, and law officers. Commander of the Rough Riders officers. Commander of the Rough Riders was Leonard Wood. 2nd in command was was Leonard Wood. 2nd in command was Theodore Roosevelt.. This group ended up Theodore Roosevelt.. This group ended up assisting in the capture of San Juan.assisting in the capture of San Juan.

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris

December 10, 1898: the Treaty of December 10, 1898: the Treaty of Paris ends the war. Cuba became an Paris ends the war. Cuba became an independent country. US acquired independent country. US acquired Puerto Rico and Guam and paid Puerto Rico and Guam and paid $20million for the Philippines.$20million for the Philippines.

The US is now officially a world The US is now officially a world power.power.