American Imperialism Overview

Questions and Answers

Define Imperialism.

The economic and political domination of a strong nation over weaker ones.

Why do nations act in imperialism?

To gain control of the land or resources of another nation.

What is expansionism? Provide two definitions.

The act or process of increasing or enlarging the extent, number, volume, or scope. 2. The policy of taking control of land in other nations aside from one's own.

What is Manifest Destiny?

The belief that it was a nation's God-given right to expand according to its needs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a colony? Provide two definitions.

<ol> <li>A body of people living in a new territory but retaining ties with the parent state. 2. Political and economic control is in the hands of the imperial power.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is a protectorate?

A country that is independent but is actually under the control of another country. Signup and view all the answers

Who rules in a protectorate, and what is a result of this?

<ol> <li>The imperial power allows the local ruler to stay in control of their own country and protects them against rebellions and invasions. 2. In exchange, local rulers usually accept advice from the imperial power on how to govern their country.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main causes of American Imperialism?

Political, Military, and Economic. Signup and view all the answers

What are political reasons for American Imperialism? Provide four reasons.

<ol> <li>Belief in cultural superiority. 2. Belief in racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons. 3. Belief in western laws and government. 4. Belief in Christianity.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are Anglo-Saxons?

White English speaking people. Signup and view all the answers

What were two methods to maintain political superiority?

<ol> <li>Manipulation or encouraging leadership in the U.S. government. 2. Spreading Anglo-Saxon political and cultural influence and identity.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are military reasons for American Imperialism? Provide two reasons.

<ol> <li>Desire for military strength. 2. Modern naval fleet to protect American business and shipping interests around the world.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What were methods of maintaining military control? Provide two methods.

<ol> <li>Use of military force to either support or overthrow regimes. 2. Establish and maintain overseas bases.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are economic reasons for American Imperialism? Provide three reasons.

<ol> <li>Desire for new markets. 2. New technology created more goods than Americans could consume. 3. Foreign trade would solve unemployment and economic depression.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What were methods of maintaining economic control? Provide two methods.

<ol> <li>Exploiting a colony for its raw materials and natural resources. 2. Making a colony dependent on the colonizer's agriculture and manufactured goods.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why was Hawaii desired by the U.S.?

<ol> <li>Could be used as a naval base. 2. The sugar plantations could help the economy.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why did Queen Liliuokalani surrender her throne?

She wanted to avoid bloodshed of the Hawaiian people. Signup and view all the answers

Who became president of Hawaii?

Sanford B. Dole. Signup and view all the answers

When was Hawaii annexed by the U.S.?

<ol start="1898"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What two countries did Spain control?

Philippines and Cuba. Signup and view all the answers

What did Cuba produce for the world?

1/3 of the world's sugar supply. Signup and view all the answers

When did the USS Maine sink and why was it sent there?

It sunk on February 15, 1898, and it was sent there to get Americans who lived in Cuba to be evacuated. Signup and view all the answers

What was a rallying cry for those demanding a declaration of war against Spain?

"Remember the Maine". Signup and view all the answers

When did the U.S. declare war on Spain?

April 19, 1898. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Rough Riders?

A group of volunteers led by Theodore Roosevelt to a charge up San Juan Hill. Signup and view all the answers

When did the Spanish-American War end?

August 1898. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Treaty of Paris do? Provide two things.

<ol> <li>Spain recognized Cuba's independence. 2. For $20 million, Spain gave up the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the U.S.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What were reasons President McKinley believed that the U.S. had to control the Philippines? Provide two reasons.

<ol> <li>Filipino rebels were unfit to govern, and civil war would erupt. 2. Americans needed to civilize the Philippines.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Imperialism Overview

Imperialism is the economic and political domination of stronger nations over weaker ones.
Nations pursue imperialism to gain control of land and resources from other countries.

Expansionism

Defined as increasing the extent, number, volume, or scope of a nation's influence or territory.
Involves taking control of foreign lands beyond one’s own.

Manifest Destiny

A belief that it's a nation's divine right to expand based on its needs.

Colonies

A colony consists of people living in new territories while maintaining ties to their parent state.
Political and economic control rests with the imperial power.

Protectorate

A protectorate is a country that, while independent, is actually controlled by another nation.
Local rulers retain their authority but must accept guidance from the imperial power.

Causes of American Imperialism

Three primary causes: Political, Military, and Economic.

Political Motivations

Beliefs in cultural and racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons drive imperialist agendas.
Aims to spread Western laws, governance, and Christianity.

Anglo-Saxons

Refers to white, English-speaking populations.

Maintaining Political Superiority

Involves manipulating leadership within the U.S. government.
Promotes Anglo-Saxon cultural and political influence via missionaries and educators.

Military Motivations

Desire for military strength to protect interests overseas.
Establishing a modern naval fleet for global shipping protection.

Maintaining Military Control

Employing military force to support or overthrow foreign regimes.
Maintaining overseas military bases to secure territories.

Economic Motivations

Seeking new markets for goods and resources.
Overproduction due to new technology necessitates foreign trade to reduce unemployment.

Maintaining Economic Control

Exploiting colonies for natural resources and raw materials.
Creating dependency on the colonizer's products and agriculture.

Hawaii and U.S. Interests

Hawaii was sought for its strategic value as a naval base and its productive sugar plantations.
Queen Liliuokalani surrendered her throne to prevent bloodshed.

Annexation of Hawaii

Sanford B. Dole became the president of Hawaii after its annexation in 1898.

Spanish Control and U.S. Interests

Spain controlled the Philippines and Cuba.
Cuba was a significant producer, accounting for one-third of the world's sugar supply.

USS Maine Incident

The USS Maine sank on February 15, 1898, while evacuating Americans from Cuba.
The slogan "Remember the Maine" became a rallying cry for war against Spain.

Spanish-American War

The U.S. declared war on Spain on April 19, 1898.
The Rough Riders, led by Theodore Roosevelt, famously charged San Juan Hill.

End of the Spanish-American War

The war concluded in August 1898.
The Treaty of Paris resulted in Spain recognizing Cuba’s independence and ceding the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the U.S. for $20 million.

President McKinley's Justification for Control of the Philippines

McKinley believed Filipino rebels were unsuitable for self-governance, risking civil war.
He argued for the necessity of American efforts to civilize and govern the Philippines.

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Explore the key concepts and motivations behind American imperialism, including expansionism, manifest destiny, and the structure of colonies and protectorates. This quiz will help you understand how nations exert control over others and the factors driving these imperialist actions.