American Imperialism Overview

American Imperialism

• The United States initially followed an isolationist policy under George Washington, believing that foreign involvement would lead to greater economic and political problems.
• Historically, powerful countries achieved imperialism through economic, political, and military control over weaker nations.

Reasons for American Imperialism

• After the Civil War (1861-1865), the US needed to rebuild and expand its global position.
• The US economy grew significantly during the Gilded Age (1877-1900), leading to a search for new markets to sell products.
• Motivations for imperialism included:
  • Social Darwinism: a philosophy that advocated for the survival and dominance of certain individuals or nations.
  • Manifest Destiny: the belief that the US had the right to possess lands between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
  • The Cold War: a period of competition between the US and the Soviet Union for political and economic control of the world.

Methods of Imperialism

• Economic influence
• Military intervention and intimidation
• Cultural and religious influence

Imperialism in US History

• The US broke away from Great Britain in 1776 and became an independent nation.
• The US initially did not support imperialism, but eventually spread across the continent and expanded into other countries.
• The first imperialistic practices experienced by the US were against Native Americans.
• The Treaty of Paris 1783 ended the British and Native American alliance, leaving native populations struggling to combat the growing US population.

Indigenous Wars

• The Treaty of Greeneville in 1795 attempted to maintain peace between natives of the Northwest territory but eventually failed.
• The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced natives in the south to relocate to reservations in Oklahoma.
• Native American resistance ended by the 1900s, and they became compliant with the US government living on reservations.

Alaska and Hawaii

• The US acquired Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, with the goal of expanding to Canada.
• The discovery of gold in Alaska in 1898 made the purchase profitable.
• The US acquired Hawaii in 1898 after American sugarcane growers staged a coup and overthrew the Queen of Hawaii.
• Hawaii became a strategic location for the US to expand into Asian markets.

American "Diplomacy"

• The US practiced imperialism from 1900 to 1914 under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.
• Each president approached imperialism differently:
  • Roosevelt: Big Stick Diplomacy (military might and intimidation)
  • Taft: Dollar Diplomacy (US business investments in foreign countries)
  • Wilson: Moral Diplomacy (diplomatic means to promote democracy and capitalism)

Korean War and Vietnam

• The Korean War (1950-1953) was a proxy conflict between the US and the Soviet Union, with the US supporting democratic South Korea and the Soviet Union supporting communist North Korea.
• The Vietnam War (1954-1973) was another proxy conflict, with the US attempting to influence the Vietnamese and ultimately failing.

American Imperialism Today

• The success of American Imperialism is highly debated among historians.
• The US is still a highly influential country, with involvement in the Middle East being seen as a modern example of American Imperialism.### Alaska Purchase
• United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million
• Purchase was nicknamed "Seward's Folly" due to initial disapproval from Congress
• Gold discovery in Alaska in 1898 led to significant profit for the United States
• Alaska's natural resources continue to contribute to the country's financial growth

Hawaii Annexation

• American sugarcane growers staged a coup and overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in 1893
• Growers sought to overthrow the queen due to the 1890 McKinley Tariff, which increased tariffs on imported goods
• President Grover Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii, but President McKinley negotiated annexation in 1897
• Hawaii became a territory in 1900 and a state in 1959

American Imperialism (1900-1914)

• Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson led the United States in international diplomacy
• Roosevelt employed Big Stick Diplomacy, using military might and intimidation
• Taft employed Dollar Diplomacy, focusing on U.S. business investments abroad
• Wilson employed Moral Diplomacy, promoting democracy and capitalism through diplomatic means

Korean War

• North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, leading to a civil war
• United States supported South Korea, while the Soviet Union supported North Korea
• The Korean War ended in 1953, with the country remaining divided at the 38th parallel

Vietnam War

• Vietnam was split into communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam in 1954
• United States supported South Vietnam, but failed to influence the country, leading to North Vietnam's control in 1975

American Imperialism Today

• Debate surrounds the success of American Imperialism
• Critics argue that acquisitions like Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico came at a high cost
• Modern examples of American Imperialism include involvement in the Middle East, with investments in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan