Migration and Imperialism Unit 12 Migration and Imperialism.
Imperialism: America Looks Abroad
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Imperialism: America Looks Abroad Ch. 12 Section 1
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Imperialism: America Looks Abroad. Ch. 12 Section 1. US in the late 1800s. Late 1800s- US emerging from focus on Reconstruction era Begin to renew quest for Manifest Destiny & expand beyond continental borders Americans begin to support expansion: 1. desire to be a world power - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Imperialism: America Looks Abroad
Imperialism: America Looks Abroad
Ch. 12 Section 1
US in the late 1800s Late 1800s- US emerging from focus
on Reconstruction era Begin to renew quest for Manifest
Destiny & expand beyond continental borders
Americans begin to support expansion: 1. desire to be a world power 2. Feelings of cultural superiority
Acquisition of Alaska Sec. of State William Seward
arranges to buy Alaska in 1867. Russia willing to sell it for less
than 2 cents an acre. US pays $7.2 million Congress took 4 months to
approve the transaction. Labeled “Seward's Folly”
Imperialism vs. Isolationism Imperialism: the economic and
political domination of a strong nation over other weaker nations
Isolationism: Separation of the political affairs of other countries
Need for New Markets 1800s- industrialized countries had
placed high tariffs against each other Result: nations begin searching for
overseas markets to sell products European nations begin to exert control
over their new markets Protectorate: imperial power gives
advice and protection in exchange for stable market
I’m American… and better than you
Americans buy into idea of Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism: nations compete against each other (politics, military, economy)
- only the strong survive Used to justify American expansion
Anglo Saxonism Anglo Saxonism: English-speaking
nations have superior character, ideas, and governments = destine to dominate planet
Idea is supported by American historian John Fiske and minister Josiah Strong
Strong links religious missionary work to the idea
Expansion into the Pacific Americans had been making treks to
East Asian markets since early 1800s US wants to create trade with China
& Japan Problem: Japanese rulers believe
excessive contact with West = destruction of their culture
Perry opens Japan 1852: President Franklin Pierce
orders Commodore Matthew Perry to take a naval ships to negotiate a treaty with Japan
July 8, 1853: Perry arrives in Tokyo Bay with four American war ships
Japanese: impressed by technology & firepower decide to sign trade agreement
Signal to Japan to modernize
Hawaii Hawaii becomes point of interest-
good stopping place on Pacific journey
American settlers begin growing sugarcane
US creates treaty and mounts pressure on Hawaiians for greater control
Queen Liliuokalani fights American influence but is overthrown
Result: US annexes Hawaii in 1898.
Latin America Expansion Pan-Americanism: idea that US and
Latin American nations should work together
Latin American nations had bought most of their goods from Europe
US hopes to have an advantage in Latin American due to the Monroe Doctrine
Monroe Doctrine had stated that Americas are closed to future European Colonization.
A Stronger Navy International incidents= need to
strengthen navy 1890-Capt. Alfred Mahan wrote
about the power of expanding navies and the need for new naval bases
US had only 3 modern ships. Congress passes a law for 4 new
ships in 1890 and 15 more by 1895.
Original King of Imperialism In 1909 the British Empire
encompassed 20% of the land area of the Earth
Led to the phrase “The sun never sets on the British empire”
Can the United States be considered an imperial empire?
The sun never sets on McDonald’s
Over 34,000 restaurants worldwide
More than 119 countries on six continents
McDonald’s in Kuwait
