Imperialism and America Chapter 18

Definition of Imperialism

• A policy aimed at extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Factors Contributing to Imperialism

• Economic motives: exploitation of new markets and foreign trade to address overproduction.
• Military motives: expansion of military capability and modern naval construction.
• Racial beliefs: emphasis on Anglo-Saxon superiority and Social Darwinism.

Economic Roots of American Imperialism

• Establishing new markets for American goods.
• Encouraging foreign trade.
• Finding solutions for domestic overproduction crises.

Military Roots of American Imperialism

• Enhancing military power.
• Developing modern naval fleets.

Racial Roots of American Imperialism

• Consistent exclusion of native Hawaiians from the political process regarding annexation.
• Promulgation of beliefs in Anglo-Saxon superiority.

Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan

• Advocated for military expansion and a strong navy.
• Stressed the importance of defending shipping lanes for economic growth.
• Encouraged the development of naval bases, a fleet, and strategic acquisitions including Hawaii.

Events in Hawaii (1875-1898)

• 1875: U.S. granted duty-free status on Hawaiian sugar.
• 1887: Hawaii cedes rights for a U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.
• 1890: McKinley Tariff ends the duty-free status, triggering a crisis.
• 1891: Queen Liliuokalani attempts constitutional reform; overthrown by Sanford Dole.
• 1897: McKinley supports annexation, unlike Cleveland; Congress proclaims Hawaii a U.S. territory in 1898.

Key Figures in Hawaiian History

• Queen Liliuokalani: Proposed constitutional reforms to empower Hawaiians; imprisoned after the coup.
• Sanford Dole: Led the coup against Queen Liliuokalani; became Hawaii's president.

Spanish-American War and Economic Interests

• U.S. interventions in Cuba driven by American business interests, particularly sugar.

Cuban Rebellion and U.S. Military Involvement

• José Martí organized guerrilla resistance against Spanish rule, impacting American properties.
• Valeriano Weyler's brutal tactics led to negative perceptions of Spain in the U.S.

Media Influence

• Yellow journalism exaggerated events to incite public support for intervention.
• The De Lôme letter criticized McKinley, inflaming tensions.

The U.S.S. Maine Incident

• Sent to Cuba under the pretext of protecting American lives; exploded under mysterious circumstances, blamed on Spain.

Outcomes of the Spanish-American War

• Cuba gained independence.
• Puerto Rico and Guam became U.S. territories.
• Philippines ceded to the U.S. for $20 million.

Key Battles and Figures in the War

• George Dewey: Commanded U.S. forces at the Battle of Manila Bay.
• Rough Riders: Volunteer regiment led by Roosevelt, notable for their charge at San Juan Hill.

Open Door Policy

• Advocated by the U.S. for equal trade opportunities in China while neglecting to consult China, inciting the Boxer Rebellion.

Consequences of U.S. Expansion

• Roosevelt Corollary extended the Monroe Doctrine, asserting U.S. rights to intervene in Latin America.
• The Panama Canal enabled faster travel between the Atlantic and Pacific, but damaged U.S.-Latin American relations.

Dollar Diplomacy

• Promoted by Taft, emphasized using economic power to influence foreign nations by guaranteeing loans.

Anti-Imperialism Sentiment

• Critiques of imperialism as antithetical to democracy and concerns over military expenditure and domestic employment.

Significant Treaties

• Treaty of Paris: Concluded the Spanish-American War, solidifying U.S. territorial gains.
• Treaty of Portsmouth: Ended the Russo-Japanese War, granting Japan control of Korea.

Social and Cultural Concepts

• "The White Man's Burden": A mindset justifying imperialism as a duty to civilize other races.
• Gunboat diplomacy used to negotiate favorable terms through military threat.

Noteworthy Events in Expansionism

• Matthew Perry's expedition opened Japan to American trade.
• Seward's Folly: The purchase of Alaska, deemed wasteful but later proven strategically valuable.

International Relations with Nicaragua

• Dollar diplomacy emphasized U.S. financial influence to guide decisions of foreign nations.

Impact on American Democracy

• Concerns about the implications of imperialism on American values and the ability to maintain democratic principles.

Explore the key concepts of imperialism as detailed in Chapter 18. This quiz covers the definition of imperialism, its driving factors, and how the U.S. utilized it to expand economically. Test your knowledge of American history and imperialistic strategies.