Download Age of Imperialism

Age of Imperialism
1872-1912
Why does this matter?
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During this era, economic and
military competition from world
powers convinced the United States
that it must become a world power.
The United States became an empire
when it acquired the Philippines and
territory in the Caribbean. American
influence in Central and South
America grew as the US took a more
active role in Latin American affairs.
Section 1: The Imperialist Vision
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In the years following the Civil War, most
Americans were not interested in
expanding territory past the ocean, but in
the late 1800’s, opinions began to shift.
Most people wanted the US to become a
world power. Economic and military
competition, as well as a feeling of cultural
superiority led to this shift.
Vocabulary
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Imperialism: is the economic and
political domination of a strong
nation over a weaker nation.
Protectorate: the imperial power
allowed local rulers to stay in control
and under protection as long as they
took the advice of the imperial
power.
In Europe:
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By the late 1800’s, most European
countries had industrialized and were
placing high tariffs against each
other.
There was also a sudden shortage of
natural resources since most of
Europe had been industrialized.
Countries began looking overseas to
invest including Africa and Asia.
Colonial
Africa
In the United States…
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As the US industrialized, many
Americans took a new interest in
imperialism. Until the late 1800’s,
American expansion had been west
to the Pacific, but with the west
filling up, many decided that the
nation had to develop overseas
markets to remain strong.
Social Darwinism
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Many Social Darwinists believed that
nations competed with each other
politically, economically, and militarily and
that only the strongest will survive.
Historians like John Fiske took this one
step farther and argued that English
speaking nations had superior character,
ideas, and systems of government and
were destined to rule the planet. This idea
was called Anglo-Saxonism and was
popular because it went along with the
idea of Manifest Destiny.
Expansion in the Pacific
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Even before the era of imperialism,
Americans had already begun expand
across the Pacific.
Many American business leaders thought
of Japan and their rulers, China, would be
good for trade, but China and Japan were
very worried about the western influence
on their culture and only allowed other
Chinese or Dutch to trade with them.
Expansion in the Pacific con’t
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After receiving several petitions from
Congress, President Pierce decided to
force Japan to trade with the US. He
ordered Commodore Matthew C. Perry to
take a naval expedition to Japan to
negotiate a trade treaty.
On July 8, 1853, 4 American warships
entered what is now called Tokyo Bay.
Perry’s arrival impressed the Japanese and
forced the Japanese to realize that they
could not compete and they agreed to
sign the treaty.
Matthew C.Perry
China and Japan
Hawaii
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As trade with China grew, people began
looking at Hawaii…why?
Americans began settling in Hawaii and
found the soil to be very fertile for
growing sugarcane and established many
sugar plantations
In 1872, a severe recession hit, and in
order to protect their economic status, the
settlers asked for tariffs to be reduced.
Congress agreed.
Hawaii
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The treaty also allowed the US to set
up a base on the island (_________)
Tensions began to increase between
settlers and the monarchy in Hawaii.
McKinley Tariff- subsidies for sugar
planters and no tariffs, but still
Hawaii’s economy suffers.
Then, in 1891 Queen Liliuokalani
came to the throne
Queen Liliuokalani
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The Queen tried to pass a law giving
control of the government back to her.
Supported by Marines, a group of planters
forced the Queen to give up power and set
up a provisional government until they
could be annexed to the US
Pres. Cleveland opposed imperialism and
disagreed with the planters.
They decided to wait until Cleveland was
out of office, and eventually were annexed
in 1897.
Trade and Diplomacy in Latin
America
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Although the US bought most of its
raw materials from Latin America,
Latin America bought most of its
goods from Europe.
Americans wanted 2 things
• Increase business dealings with Latin
America
• Show Europe that the US was the
dominant power in the region.
Pan-Americanism
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James G. Blaine was the Secretary of
State who came up with the idea of
Pan-Americanism.
It was the idea that the US and Latin
America should work together.
Eventually created the Pan American
Union and the Organization of
American States.
Steps to being assertive in foreign
affairs
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Step 1
• Decide you want to be assertive
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Step 2
• Have a Captain (Alfred Mahan) write a book
proving the strength of a modern navy
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Step 3
• Have a senator (Henry Cabot Lodge) and
future president (Teddy Roosevelt) agree
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Step 4
• Have Congress agree and give funding for the
beginning of a modern navy
Spanish American War
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In February 1898, The USS Maine exploded off
the coast of Havana. The Spanish were blamed.
Before this there was an uprising in Cuba, where
the Americans supported the Cuban rebels
against the Spanish because of the stories of
Spanish atrocities (bad things they did) from
major newspapers. This kind of sensationalist
reporting became known as yellow journalism.
Cont’d
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Because of all the attention, the US
decided to send the USS Maine into
Havana in case Americans there
needed to be evacuated. Soon after
it exploded.
A Commission decided Spain was to
blame and America went to war.
USS Maine
The War on Two Fronts
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The US took the Philippines at Manila Bay,
led by George Dewey. On the way to the
Philippines, the Americans also took Guam
another Spanish territory in the Pacific.
In Cuba, American troops arrived including
a group of people known as the Rough
Riders, a mix of cowboys, miners, and law
officers. Commander of the Rough Riders
was Leonard Wood. 2nd in command was
Theodore Roosevelt.. This group ended
up assisting in the capture of San Juan.
Treaty of Paris
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December 10, 1898: the Treaty of
Paris ends the war. Cuba became an
independent country. US acquired
Puerto Rico and Guam and paid
$20million for the Philippines.
The US is now officially a world
power.