Imperialism

Causes of Imperialism

•  Industrialization •  Need for world wide markets for industry and agriculture •  Need for new sources of raw materials

Causes: Cont •  International Darwinism

–  Social Darwinism applied to nations –  U.S. had to show strength by acquiring other nations –  “Global” manifest destiny

•  Rudyard Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden”

–  R

Imperialism Definition •  Acquiring territory or gaining control of the political and/or economic life of

another country

U.S. Advocates of Expansion •  Missionaries

–  Rev. Josiah Strong – Anglo Saxons the “fittest” group –  Christian duty to bring “superior” civilization and Christianity to others

God told me to save those heathens from themselves!

Supporters Cont. •  Politicians

–  Henry Cabot Lodge – Congressional Leader from MA

–  New York Gov. Theodore Roosevelt

Supporters Cont. •  Naval Power

–  Navy Captain Alfred T. Mahan who wrote “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History”

–  Strong Navy was a must to Imperialize –  Congress responded, by 1900 the U.S. had the 3rd largest navy in the

world

Supporters cont. •  Press

–  Newspaper and Magazine editors influenced the public –  Printed stories of distant and exotic places –  Used “Yellow Journalism” to exaggerate atrocities of foreign countries

“Remember the Maine!” –  Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst

Latin America •  Monroe Doctrine – Stated that the U.S. would not stand for any further

involvement/colonization in Latin America by European Countries –  Venezuela border dispute with British Guiana was arbitrated by the U.S.

Imperialism in Practice •  William H. Seward Sec. of State 1861-69

–  Annexed Midway Island –  Tried to secure canal rights in Nicaragua –  Purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for 7.2 Million, nicknamed

“Seward’s Folly”

Imperialism in Practice cont. •  Annexation of Hawaii in 1898

•  1893 U.S. settlers overthrew Queen Lil •  Pearl Harbor the perfect natural harbor •  Not annexed until 1898 during the SPAM war

Imperialism in Practice Cont. •  Open Door Policy with China

–  China was divided up into “Spheres of Influence” by Europe for trade –  Sec. of State John Hay negotiated an “Open Door” trade policy with

China –  Allowed the U.S. to trade anywhere in China, and all European

countries as well