Imperialism

Imperialist Activity

• Imperialism- The extension of a nation’s power over other nations.

• America’s imperialist policies began with Hawaii.

• What led to this quest for empire?

Reasons to Grow

• Economic Interest- The Industrial Revolution brought the West great prosperity. They looked toward different countries for new consumers and new sources of raw materials for their factories.

• Military interest- Navies needed bases where ships could refuel and make repairs.

• Ideology- Nationalism creates more prestige. Cultural Superiority- Africa, Asia, and Latin America had less industry and urban development. Social Darwinism plays a factor once again. There was idea of social responsibility to civilize these countries, i.e. Protestant Christian Missionaries.

The Scramble for Territory

• Late 1800s- European imperial powers had taken control of vast territories in Africa and Asia and dominated the economy of Latin America. The British ruled one quarter of the world’s land population. Japan also controlled huge areas overseas.

• This all began to make America want a piece of this imperial pie to spread the Christian faith and democratic values.

Hawaii

• Hawaii was an ideal spot for coaling stations and naval bases for ships to and from Asia.

• The British first showed interest in Hawaii with Captain James Cook visiting in 1778. Cook brought world attention to Hawaii.

Hawaii’s Chief Kamehameha

• He united the eight major islands under him.

• Established a monarch and began trade.

• 1820- Americas show in great numbers to bring Christianity, but they also bring disease.

• Population of 300,000 in 1770 to 40,000 in 1893.

Sugar Interest

• America brought in workers from China, Japan, and the Philippines to help run the Sugar operations.

• Kalakaua became the new king

• An 1875 treaty allowed the US to get sugar tax free.

Plot against the King

• The Hawaiian League- Wanted to overthrow the monarchy and establish a democracy which Americans controlled.

• They forced Kalakaua to sign a constitution at gun point in 1887.

• The king called it the Bayonet Constitution.

What the constitution did…

• Restricted the King’s power and deprived most Hawaiian’s of the vote.

• Peal Harbor was given to the U.S.

• American sugar plants had political control of Hawaii.

End of the Monarchy

• Liliukalani began queen.• She wanted to destroy the Bayonet Constitution and

restore power to the Monarch.• The business community wanted to overthrow her

because they wanted the island to become a U.S. territory.

• John L. Stevens, the American Minister to Hawaii, helped her opposition.

• 4 unauthorized boatloads of U.S. Marines surrounded the royal palace and positioned cannons and machine guns. The rebels declared an end to the monarch and Liliulkalani surrounded in 1893.

Influence in China

• They remained isolated until 1842 when the British forced China to Open five ports for British trade… and the U.S. did the same in 1844.

• China fought against foreign interests from overrunning the country.

• Spheres of Influence- Russia, France, Germany, and GB made this a geographical area where an outside nation exerts special economic or political control.

The U.S. in China

• America entered their imperial policies of China too late, but...

• John Hay proposed the Open Door Policy- Give all nations equal trading rights in China.

• GB, Germany, Russia, Japan, France, and Italy didn’t accept nor reject.

Boxer Rebellion

• Antiforeigner sentiments grew

• The Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fist formed and attack foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians in June of 1900.

• This increased support for Hay’s Open Door Policy as competition among themselves would hurt their ability to exploit the China trade.

Influence in Japan

• Japan seized Taiwan from China in 1895.

• Millard Fillmore sent four ships into Tokyo to scare the Japanese.

• In 1854, it signed a treaty to open Japan to the U.S. for trade.

• Japan wanted Korea and Manchuria, but so did Russia.

Russo-Japanese War

• Began in 1904.

• Both sides saw no end in sight and Theodore Roosevelt negotiated a peace treaty… He receive a Nobel Prize for Peace.

• Japan emerged as a major power.

• Great White Fleet