Part 3

The Rise of The Rise of American PowerAmerican Power

I. Theories of Expansionisma. William Seward – envisioned an American empire to include Canada, Cuba, Central America, Hawaii, Iceland, Greenland.b. Josiah Strong, Congregational minister, called for overseas missionary work to “civilize the world under the Anglo-Saxon races.” c. Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, applied to human and social development and calling for the triumph of the fit, elimination of the weak

II. Tariffs – Free Trade vs. Protectionism

a. Protectionism: a high tariff was necessary to allow continued economic growth at home

b. Free-trade: favored lowering tariff rates, felt tariffs were favoring certain groups and driving up costs at home

c. Trade deficit: when a country ships more out than they buy from other countries

III. America expands into the Pacific

a. Japan•Millard Fillmore sends Com. Matt. Perry to Japan (1852) to demand they open their ports to trade•1857 – Townshend Harris – American minister to Japan negotiates to expand diplomatic and commercial relations with Japan•1868 – Meiji Restoration – revolution in Japan, transformed into a modern nation•Nativist Opposition – led to the Gentleman’s Agreement – curtailed the flow of Japanese laborers to the United States

b. China•1880s, Chinese immigrants came to the US, settled on the west coast•Nativists aroused widespread anti-Chinese feelings•The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882); prohibited Chinese immigration for ten years

c. Open Door Policy•McKinley’s Sec. of State John Hall; “we do not seek advantages in the Orient which are not common to all. Asking the open door for ourselves, we are ready to accord the open door to all others”•Sought to respect the preservation of China’s independence, but did not slow the pace of imperialism in China

d. America gets Hawaii•1842, US State dept. announces Hawaiian Islands not open to colonization by any other nation•1887, US gets a lease for a Pearl Harbor naval base•Queen Liliuokalani attempts to nationalize the sugar plantations (main base of US economic interests)•Planters overthrow the queen, set up a provisional government est. the Republic of Hawaii•McKinley, after the Spanish American War, obtains a joint resolution annexing Hawaii

e. The Panama Canal• Nicaragua is an early contender for a canal, but volcanoes raise a concern• The Panama area is controlled by Colombia•The US (President Teddy Roosevelt) helps Colombia achieve “independence” from Colombia•In return, the US allowed to build a canal, with an unending control of the area•Jimmy Carter, president from 1976 to 1980, negotiates the return of the Canal zone to Panama by 1999

f. Taft and Dollar Diplomacy• US Bankers and businessmen encouraged to invest

in areas of importance to the US, guaranteed full military/diplomatic support

• United Fruit Company invests in Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic

• US justifies military intervention, sending Marines to all three countries to protect US interests

g. FDR & the Good Neighbor Policy• US under FDR changes its policy in Latin America• Abandoning the (Teddy) Roosevelt Corollary to the

Monroe Doctrine • (The US will protect its economic interests in Latin

America)

The End of Part 3The End of Part 3