Download America Comes of Age (1890-1920)

America Comes of Age (1890-1920)
Lesson 5 American Influence Grows
America Comes of Age (1890-1920)
Lesson 5 American Influence Grows
Learning Objectives
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Identify the key factors that caused Americans to want to take a greater role
overseas.
Explain how the United States took its first steps toward the position of a world
power.
Evaluate the acquisition of Hawaii by the United States.
America Comes of Age (1890-1920)
Lesson 5 American Influence Grows
Key Terms
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imperialism
extractive economies
Alfred T. Mahan
Social Darwinism,
Frederick Jackson Turner
Matthew Perry
Queen Liluokalani
Sanford B. Dole
America on the World Stage
For most of its early history, America played a small role in world affairs, mostly by choice.
But in the late 1800s, this began to change. With leading spokesmen calling for the United
States to join the ranks of the world’s major powers, the United States began to acquire
influence and territories outside its continental borders. The United States was
abandoning isolationism and emerging as a new power on the global stage.
America on the World Stage
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Economic Causes of Imperialism
Alfred T. Mahan Stresses U.S. Military Strength
Social Darwinism, Missionaries, and National Superiority
America on the World Stage
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Imperialism – the policy by which strong nations extend their
political, military, and economic control over weaker territories
Europe doing it – if we want to keep up, we have to also
◦ Doesn’t fit with American Ideals – Independence
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Need raw materials to be powerful – manufacturing
Extractive economies – imperial country removed raw materials
from colonies and shipped them home
US has plenty of raw materials – need a place to sell our goods
Alfred T. Mahan – wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History.
Great nations had great navies, if we want to be great we need a
great navy.
◦ Need foreign bases for navy – Imperialism
◦ 1900, 3rd largest Navy in world
◦ Henry Cabot Lodge – supporter of Navy
Social Darwinism, Missionaries, and
National Superiority
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Used racial, national, and cultural superiority
to justify taking colonies.
Social Darwinism – life consists of the
strongest surviving
◦ Powerful nations destined to rule over inferior
people
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Need to spread Christianity to lesser races
Frederick Jackson Turner – frontier closed
so Americans need to look abroad – siphons
off potential discontent.
America on the World Stage
Analyze Information How did the process of U.S. expansion change over time?
America on the World Stage
Analyze Maps What can you conclude from the map about the differences between the goals of
European imperialism and U.S. expansionism?
America on the World Stage
The USS Brooklyn played a substantial role in American naval operations in the Caribbean Sea and in
Asia. U.S. leaders believed in the value of a strong military during the late 1800s.
America Begins to Expand
Beginning in the mid-1800s, with little fanfare, America focused more and more on
expanding its trade and acquiring new territories. One of America’s first moves toward
world power came before the Civil War.
America Begins to Expand
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American Expansionism in the Pacific Begins
The Klondike Gold Rush
American Expansionism in Latin America
American Begin to Expand
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1853, Commodore Matthew Perry opens up
Japan to US trade
◦ Japan wanted to modernize
US took Midway Island and got a base in Hawaii –
called Pearl Harbor.
 Seward’s Folly – Sec of State William Seward
bought Alaska – made fun of – icebox
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◦ Alaska full of timber, oil, and other natural resources
◦ Klondike Gold Rush – discovered gold in Alaska
Built Highway to South America
 Got the British to back down over Venezuela
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America Begins to Expand
A Japanese print shows Commodore Matthew Perry meeting Japanese officials. By opening access to
Japanese markets, Perry helped expand U.S. power abroad.
America Begins to Expand
Analyze Maps For what purposes did the United States probably seek to secure influence in the Pacific?
The Acquisition of Hawaii
By the 1890s, the Hawaiian Islands had been economically linked to the United States for
almost a century. Since the 1790s, American merchant ships had stopped at Hawaii on
their way to East Asia. Missionaries had established Christian churches and schools on the
islands. Americans had also established sugar cane plantations there. In 1887, American
planters convinced King Kalakaua (kah LAH kah oo ah) to amend Hawaii's constitution so
that voting rights were limited to only wealthy landowners, who were, of course, the
white planters.
The Acquisition of Hawaii
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Influence of Dole and Other Americans in Hawaii
The United States Annexes Hawaii
The Acquisition of Hawaii
US had been influencing Hawaii since 1790.
1891, Queen Liluokalani wanted Hawaii to
become more independent
 1893, wealthy planters overthrew the Queen with
US marine help (no permission)
 Sanford B. Dole became Hawaii’s leader – son of
missionaries
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◦ Dole fruit company
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Princess Kaʻiulani – left school in Europe and met
with President Cleveland – he supported her.
◦ With her death in 1899 President McKinley officially
annexed Hawaii.
◦ President Clinton formally apologized
The Acquisition of Hawaii
In Hawaii, American owners of sugar plantations, such as this one, exerted broad and increasing
influence over local affairs.
Quiz: America on the World Stage
Why was the United States less concerned with developing extractive economies than
European empires were?
A. The United States could import raw materials to stimulate the domestic economy.
B. The United States government discouraged the development of extractive economies.
C. The United States already had a significant supply of raw materials for manufacturing.
D. The United States faced a shortage of manufactured goods because of trade deficits.
Quiz: America Begins to Expand
What impact did Matthew Perry have on American foreign relations?
A. He expanded the U.S. presence in the Pacific by purchasing Alaska.
B. He won the favor of Hawaiian leaders by presenting them with gifts.
C. He paved the way for the construction of the Pan-American Highway.
D. He negotiated a treaty that allowed the United States to trade with Japan.
Quiz:The Acquisition of Hawaii
Why did President Cleveland refuse to sign a treaty to annex Hawaii?
A. He failed to get approval from the U.S. Senate for the treaty.
B. He learned that most Hawaiians did not approve of the treaty.
C. He concluded that the annexation would harm the U.S. economy.
D. He feared that annexation would cause conflict with Hawaiians.