Download Becoming a World Power: Imperialism

BECOMING A WORLD POWER
U.S. Imperialism in the early 20th Century
BECOMING A WORLD POWER
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Industrialization created the basis for a major shift in U.S. relations
with the rest of the world
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U.S. became a world power controlling territories in the
Caribbean and extending into the Pacific and the Philippines
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How and why did the U.S. acquire an overseas empire and
intervene in the affairs of Cuba, Mexico, and other Latin
American countries?
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
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William H. Seward served as secretary
of state under Lincoln and Johnson
(1861-1869)
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Most influential secretary of state of this
time period
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Helped prevent Great Britain and
France from entering the Civil War on
the side of the Confederates
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Led a drive to annex Midway Island in
the Pacific, gained rights to build a
canal in Nicaragua, and purchased
the vast territory of Alaska…
SEWARD’S FOLLY
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Russia and Great Britain both claimed
Alaska
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Russia had established a small sealhunting colony there but the territory
became an economic burden
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Found that Seward was very willing to
purchase Alaska
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1867: Congress purchased Alaska for $7.2
million
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Americans saw no value in Alaskareferred to it as “Seward’s Folly” or
“Seward’s Icebox”
THE FRENCH IN MEXICO
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Napoleon III took advantage of
U.S. involvement in the Civil War
by sending French troops to
occupy Mexico
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After Civil War, Seward
immediately invoked the Monroe
Doctrine and threatened military
action
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Napoleon III backed down, and
the French left Mexico
THE “NEW IMPERIALISM”
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As the U.S. industrialized, it also intensified its foreign involvement
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Two major reasons for this:
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Wanted more sources of raw materials for manufacturing
Wanted more markets for its industrial and agricultural products
Politicians hoped the acquisition of overseas territories would
provide a release valve for the unhappiness at home
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People wanted to get away from the economic panics, the violence
between laborers and employers, and the unrest of farmers
INTERNATIONAL DARWINISM
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Darwin’s concept of natural
selection was also applied to
competition among nations and
races for military power, colonies,
and spheres of influence
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In order to demonstrate our
strength as a country,
expansionists thought we should
acquire more overseas territories
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An extension of the idea of Manifest
Destiny
IMPERIALISM IN THE
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
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Imperialism- acquiring territory or gaining control over the political or
economic life of other countries
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Many Americans believed the U.S. needed to compete with other
imperialistic nations or we’d become weak
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Advocates for expansion included the following groups:
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Missionaries
Politicians
Journalists
Naval Strategists
ADVOCATES FOR EXPANSIONISM
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Missionaries
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Politicians
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People of Anglo-Saxon stock were “fittest to survive”
Protestants had a duty to colonies other lands, spread Christianity and the benefits of
their “superior” civilization to less fortunate people
Many believed in the racial superiority and natural supremacy of whites
Many Republicans closely allied with business leaders- endorsed the use of foreign affairs
to search for new trade/business markets
Popular Press
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Newspapers and magazines found they could increase circulation/sell more copies by
printing adventure stories of distant, exotic lands
ADVOCATES FOR EXPANSIONISM
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Naval Strategists
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The Influence of Sea Power Upon
History (1890) written by Capt. Alfred
Thayer Mahan
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Argued a strong navy was crucial to a
country’s military and economic
power
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Arguments persuaded Congress to
finance construction of steel ships,
acquire islands that could be used as
coaling and supply stations
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1900: U.S. has third largest navy in the
world
IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA
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Ever since Monroe Doctrine in
1820s, U.S. had taken a special
interest in problems of Western
Hemisphere
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Assumed the role of protector of Latin
America from European ambitions
Secretary of state James G.
Blaine under Benjamin Harrison
played an important role in
carrying on this policy
IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA
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1889: Blaine helped organize the
first Pan-American Conference
in Washington, D.C.
• Permanent organization for
international cooperation on
trade and other issues
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Established a foundation for
hemispheric cooperation on
both economic and political
issues
• Continues today
IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA
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1895-1896: President Cleveland and Secretary of State Richard Olney
encouraged Great Britain to settle a boundary dispute they were having
between one of their colonies in South America (Guiana) and neighboring
Venezuela
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Britain initially refused- said the issue was none of the United States’ business
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U.S. argued the Monroe Doctrine applied to the situation and threatened
military force against Great Britain
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Britain decided its alliance with the U.S. was more important than a
boundary dispute with Venezuela
IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA
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The agreement that was reached ultimately benefitted Great
Britain more than Venezuela
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Even so, Latin American nations appreciated U.S. efforts to
protect them from European domination
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This event marked a permanent turning point in U.S.-British
relations
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Worked harder on cultivating a friendship that would prove vital for both
nations in the 20th Century
OPEN-DOOR POLICY IN CHINA
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John Hay served as secretary of state
under President McKinley
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Alarmed that the Chinese empire
was falling under the control of
outside power
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1890s: Japan, Russia, France, Great
Britain, and Germany had
established spheres of influence in
China
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Could dominate trade and investment
within their particular spheres, or regions
OPEN-DOOR POLICY IN CHINA
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These countries could shut out competition within their respective “spheres”
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Hay didn’t want the U.S. to lose trading access to China
1899- Hay sent a diplomatic letter to the nations controlling spheres of influence
in China
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Asked them to accept the concept of an “Open Door”
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Under Open Door policy, all nations would have equal trading privileges in
China
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The replies were vague, but there was no outright rejection of Hay’s idea- he
claimed they all accepted the policy
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The press hailed Hay’s efforts as a diplomatic triumph for the U.S.
THE BOXER REBELLION
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Nationalism and xenophobia were on
the rise in China
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A secret society of Chinese
nationalists- the Society of Harmonious
Fists, or Boxers- attacked foreign
settlements
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Also murdered dozens of Christian
missionaries
U.S. troops participated in an
international force that marched into
Peking (Beijing) and quickly crushed
the Boxer rebellion
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These countries forced China to pay a
huge sum in indemnities
HAY’S SECOND ROUND OF NOTES
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Hay feared the expeditionary force sent to put down the Boxer
rebellion in China might try to occupy the country
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Sent a second note stating U.S. commitment to:
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Preserve China’s territorial integrity
Safeguard “equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese
empire”
Hay’s Open Door policy would strongly influence U.S. relations
with Japan and other countries in the future
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Why did Americans refer to the purchase of Alaska as “Seward’s Folly?”
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As the U.S. industrialized, what were the two major reasons it intensified its
foreign involvement?
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How did expansionists believe we should demonstrate our strength as a
country?
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What is the definition of imperialism?
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List the four major groups who advocated for expansionism, and briefly
describe their reasons why
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What was the importance of the Pan-American conference?
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What was the lasting outcome of Britain’s boundary dispute with Venezuela?
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What were spheres of influence? What was the Open Door Policy?
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What was the Boxer rebellion?
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What was the significance of Hay’s other notes to imperialistic nations
concerning China?