THE AGE OF AMERICAN

IMPERIALISM

INTRODUCTION TO UNIT 3 Four weeks (through 11/21)

TopicsMotives for imperialismThe Spanish-American War

Colonizing the PhilippinesThe Roosevelt Corollary

AssessmentsDBQSpanish-American War essay

Philippines debateImperialism research + presentations

Big question: How and why did the United States become a global power after the Civil War?

WHAT’S IMPERIALISM?

DEFINING IMPERIALISM

Imperialism = a stronger country taking over a weaker country/territory and dominating its economic, social, and political lifeCreating colonies or protectorates, or simply adding territory

Verb form: colonize or annexSome examples?

BEFORE IMPERIALISM Three competing trends in American foreign policy

THE TRADITION OF ISOLATIONISM Isolationism = a foreign policy of limiting involvement with the rest of the world

George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796):

[I]t is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.

Informed US foreign policy through the Civil War

THE MONROE DOCTRINE

Established 1823 by James Monroe

Three premises:South America would be a U.S. “sphere of influence”

Europe should not establish colonies in the Americas

U.S. would not get involved in Europe’s affairs

MANIFEST DESTINY

Coined 1845 Belief that the United States has a mission to:Expand westwardBring democracy to othersSpread American values

American Progress (John Gast, 1872)

WHY IMPERIALISM?

WHAT CHANGED IN THE US AFTER 1865?Answer this question in your notebook – think back to Unit 2

The Gilded Age – a review:Rapid industrialization + economic growthImmigration – more people, more countriesUrbanization – cities becoming larger and more crowdedClosing of the frontier (1890)Progressive ideals – “we can make everything better”Overall sense of rapid change and a loss of tradition

THE GILDED AGE AND FOREIGN POLICYIncreased economic productivity need for markets for exports

Closing of the frontier

Growing population

Increasing immigration

Rapid modernization + Progressive ideals desire to spread American ways of life

Demand for new territory

THE RESULT: EXPANSIONISM

Expansionism:Desire to expand American influence and power to more territory

Focus on Asian markets for exports

Wanted land in Caribbean, Central America, and Pacific

Increasingly popular belief in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

MOTIVES FOR IMPERIALISM

ECONOMIC COMPETITION Industrialization means:More raw materials being usedMore manufactured goods being producedConsumers expect a bigger variety of goods

Expanding territory means:Access to more and different raw materials

New markets for exportsSafer trade routes

MILITARY STRENGTH

Expansionists wanted to build up U.S. military strength

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890)Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914)Argued that naval power made the British Empire powerful

Recommended a strong navy to expand American trade

SOCIAL DARWINISM

“Survival of the fittest”

Scientific racism

Belief in European and American superiority

Duty to “civilize”