Download American Influence

American Imperialism
-Manifest Destiny Overseas
Objective
Analyze the effects of imperialism on
the foreign policy of the United
States from Reconstruction to World
War I.
What is imperialism?
• A policy of extending a country's
power and economic influence
through diplomacy or military force.
American Influence
Over time, American
influence has spread
across the entire
globe.
• Sometimes this is in
big ways involving
government and
military.
• Sometimes this is
simply our culture
being adopted in
other parts of the
world.
Imperialism vs. Isolationism
• Before the late 1800s, the U.S. was
primarily an ISOLATIONIST country.
Isolationists focused on DOMESTIC issues
and avoided getting entangled in world
conflicts. The U.S. was reconstructing the
South, increasing industry, and settling the
west.
Imperialism vs. Isolationism (Cont’d)
• Near the end of the 1800s, the U.S. looks
more towards IMPERIALISM. Imperialist
nations were attempting to expand their
power overseas.
• IMPERIALISM – Economic and political
domination over other weaker nations.
Why does the U.S. Imperialize?
• To protect its own
interests:
– Natural Resources
– Economics- New
Markets
– National Security
– Competition with
Europe
– Spread Democracy
Economic Reasons
Need for New Overseas Markets
• In Europe, countries looked for overseas
markets to sell surplus goods and invest
capital because tariffs were so high.
• Many acquired colonies and PROTECTORATES
(where an imperial power lets local rulers stay
in power, but tells them what to do).
• As the west gets settled by the late 1800s,
the U.S. begins to look for overseas markets
to keep the economy strong.
• 1853 – Matthew C. Perry goes to Japan to
increase trade, interests the Japanese in
Western technology and weapons.
• With increase in Asian trade, there is more
interest in ANNEXING Hawaii. U.S. could use
it as a naval base, and it would help
Hawaii’s economy.
• In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani overthrown,
and U.S. annexes Hawaii five years later.
Social/Political Reasons
ANGLO-SAXON SUPERIORITY
• In continuation of the theory of Social Darwinism,
Americans believed that the strong would dominate
the weak.
• Many Americans felt English speaking nations were
SUPERIOR, and would dominate the world.
• The belief in American exceptionalism and the virtue
of American democracy and Christianity added to calls
for imperialism.
• For this reason, many wanted to expand overseas.
Competition with Europe
Rise of European Imperialism
• As European countries practiced imperialism
in the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. became
more involved with World affairs.
• U.S. gets involved in colony conflicts with
Germany and Great Britain in the late 1800s.
• Many Americans felt that if they did not
compete for overseas interests with European
nations, they would be left behind and not be
a world power.
National Security
The Push for a Modern Navy
• In 1890, Alfred T. Mahan wrote The
Influence of Sea Power Upon History.
This book stated that world powers from
the past had strong navies to trade and to
protect itself. Mahan said that the U.S.
needed one as well.
• He also claimed that if the U.S. had a
strong navy, it needed overseas naval
bases as well.
William McKinley
• American President Elected
in 1896
• Open Door Policy
• U.S. Foreign Policy that all
countries should be able to
trade with China rather than
Japan and European
countries monopolized
Chinese Markets.
• 1 Effect of This Imperial
Policy is “The Boxer
Rebellion.”
The Boxer Rebellion
• 1898-1901
• Chinese Nationalists
started a movement
to oppose foreign
imperialism in their
country.
• An 8 nation alliance
defeated the Boxers
and the Imperial
Army.
Arguments for and Against Imperialism
Pro-Imperialists
• Many people supported the
idea of imperialism citing
evidence that:
– We need new markets to
sell our goods
– We need a stronger navy.
– We need to civilize and
Christianize the rest of the
world.
– We need to compete with
Europe.
Anti-Imperialists
• Many people opposed
imperialism because they felt
that:
– It was inherently un-American to
dominate another people.
– We should continue the tradition of
isolationism and avoid foreign
entanglements.
– Imperialism would shift attention
away from domestic reform.
– The only people benefitting would be
big business.
Who Wins?
• In the end the Imperialist ideas will
prevail.
– When it all boils down, arguments for Guns
(protect America), Gold (markets to sell
goods) and God (spread Christianity) were
too strong for the anti-Imperialists.