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America becomes a world power:
imperialism
America becomes a world power
Chapter 10 section 1
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. What factors led to the growth of imperialism around
the world?
2. In what ways did the United States begin to expand
its interests abroad in the late 1800s?
3. What arguments were made in favor of United States
expansion in the 1890s?
THE BIG IDEA
In the late 1800s, as European nations took over vast
areas in Africa and Asia, American leaders looked to
extend American influence abroad.
America becomes a world power
Chapter 10 section 1
KEY TERMS:
KEY PEOPLE:
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8.
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Imperialism
Nationalism
Annex
Monroe Doctrine (1820s)
Manifest Destiny
Monroe Doctrine (1870)
Banana Republics
The Naval Act of 1890
Sec. of State William H. Seward
Commodore Matthew C. Perry
Minor C. Keith
Captain Alfred T. Mahan
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge &
Frederick Jackson Turner
6. Congregationalist minister
Josiah Strong & Senator Albert
J. Beveridge
Economic Factor
Manufacturing nations need more
natural resources & markets.
Military Factor
Growing navies need new naval
bases worldwide.
Why Imperialism
Developed
Nationalist Factor
Nationalism drives countries to
compete for new colonies.
Humanitarian Factor
Westerners believe in spreading
Western ideas and Christianity.
 European nations such as England, Spain, France, Russia,
Portugal, Germany, and Belgium had already carved up
Africa and large parts of Asia into colonies and "spheres of
influence" by the late 1800s. To remain competitive, the
United States reacted to European imperialism by looking
for a way to secure its own economic future through a policy
 of expansionism.
PACIFIC ISLANDS “UP FOR GRABS”
IMPERIALISM IN THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH
CENTURIES
Which countries were the most powerful
based on this map alone?
•Traditional foreign policy
•Definition of imperialism
•Reasons and rationalizations
for imperialism
TRADITIONAL UNITED STATES FOREIGN
POLICY WAS ISOLATIONIST
FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS: GEORGE WASHINGTON IN 1796
CAUTIONED THE NATION TO STAY OUT OF WORLD (EUROPEAN)
AFFAIRS AND NOT GET INVOLVED IN THEIR WARS.
“It is our true policy to
steer clear of permanent
alliances with any
portion of the foreign
world”
PRESIDENT GEORGE
WASHINGTON, 1796
 The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 defined United States foreign policy in the
Americas for the rest of the nineteenth century and beyond. It declared
that the United States had an interest in the Western Hemisphere and
that European powers must not meddle in the affairs of any developing
nations there. The United States was a young nation in 1823 and did not
really have the power to back up the Monroe Doctrine. However, the
policy was used to justify the sending of U.S. troops into Mexico in 1866
(to intimidate the French) and the purchase of Alaska in 1867.
 The idea of manifest destiny gained popularity in the 1830s and 1840s.
(The term was coined in 1845 by newspaper columnist John L.
O'Sullivan.) As people began settling the western territories, wresting
control of the land from the original Native American inhabitants, many
Americans came to believe that it was their nation's "manifest destiny" to
possess all of the North American continent. Later in the century, this idea
easily gave way to larger dreams of expanding America's influence around
the world.
Most of the 19th century was spent exploring and settling the
western frontier of the united states, this changed the
perception of American boundaries
“Manifest destiny” extended beyond the
borders of the united states
U.S. overseas possessions
DEFINITION OF IMPERIALISM
The policy of extending a
nation's authority by
territorial acquisition or by
the establishment of
economic and political
hegemony over other nations.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
The Imperialists
Imperialism’s Appeal
Arguments
1. Promoting
Economic Growth
Explain The Imperialists Arguments
- The overproduction of food & goods led to financial
panics and frequent economic depressions.
- Workers & farmers helped to convince business &
political leaders that the U.S. must secure new
markets abroad.
- Naval officers joined with business interests to
2. Protecting
American Security convince Congress to build modern steam-powered,
steel-hulled ships to protect overseas trade.
- Alfred T. Mahan argued the U.S. needed a powerful
navy to protect markets from foreign rivals.
The united states became an
imperialist power to gain more
wealth
THE UNITED STATES
NEEDED NEW MARKETS
TO EXPORT THE
SURPLUS PRODUCTS OF
ITS FARMS AND
FACTORIES
Year
Imports
Exports
1870
$300 Million
$350 Million
1875
$900 Million
$800 Million
1880
$1.22 Billion
$1.0 Billion
1889
$900 Million
$800 Million
1892
$1.2 Billion
$1.42 Billion
1899
1.3 Billion
1.35 Billion
1903
1.7 Billion
1.8 Billion
1914
1.6 Billion
2.8 Billion
COAL BURNING BATTLESHIP
ALFRED THAYER MAHAN
COALING STATION
Alfred T. Mahan, wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History 16601783, stated that great nations were always seafaring nations with
powerful navies. From this he reasoned the US needed to acquire
colonies around the world to service and protect their Merchant
Marine and Navy. Coaling stations were needed to refuel coal
burning warships protecting merchant shipping.
The Imperialists
Imperialism’s Appeal
Arguments
3. Preserving
American Spirit
4. Racial
Superiority
Explain The Imperialists Arguments
- People feared that the U.S. was losing its vitality.
- Worried that the closing of the frontier would sap the
nation’s energy, they argued that a quest for an
empire might restore the country’s pioneer spirit. /
- This was an age when many intellectuals believed
that certain racial & national groups were superior to
others.
- Social Darwinists believed that expansionism was not
only this nation’s destiny but also a noble pursuit, for
it introduced Christianity & modern civilization.
/
The Anti-Imperialists
Arguments
Explain the Anti-Imperialist Arguments
1. Moral and
Political
- Expansionist behavior was a rejection of the nation’s
foundation of “liberty for all.”
- “The Constitution must follow the flag,” flag & laws together.
-The large standing armies that were employed to bring other
nations under American control could be used just as easily
to crush dissent at home.
2. Racial
- Many recognized the racism that underlay imperialism.
- Americans feared that imperialist policies would encourage
people of different racial backgrounds to move to the U.S.
The Anti-Imperialists
Arguments
3. Economic
Explain the Anti-Imperialist Arguments
- Expansion involved too many costs. Maintaining the
necessary armed forces required more taxation, debt, and
possibly even compulsory military service.
- Laborers from U.S. annexed territories would compete
with American workers for jobs and drive wages down.
- Industrialists were concerned that goods produced cheaply
in annexed countries could be imported to the U.S. without
customs duties. This would hurt many American industries.
Debating America’s New Role
1.
What was significant about the tour of the Great White Fleet?
It reinforced imperialism’s appeal to Americans as it demonstrated
the nation’s impressive naval power to the world.
Great White Fleet Around The World
Against
For
Americans need a new frontier
People in territories under
American control will be denied
their liberties.
Economy would benefit from
more markets.
Racist beliefs are used to
justify controlling other nations.
Military would gain power by
having bases around the world.
American ideals of liberty and
democracy would be spread.
Imperialism
Overseas involvement is
expensive, leading to higher
taxes and debts.
U.S. has enough problems at
home, should not take on more
responsibilities.