The Pressures to Expand

Imperialism Policy by a stronger nation to attempt to

create an empire by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally, or militarily

Why Expand?• Need for new markets & Natural

Resources

• The need to “out-do” other rival nations

• Increase in nations’ military power

Nationalism

A nation’s belief in themselves, their ideals, and their goals to be superior to those of other

nations.

Four Reasons Imperialism Grew Economic Factors

Nationalism

Military Factors

Humanitarian Factors

Imperialism = Good Economics Problem:

Overproduction in the U.S. tended to lead to economic depressions

Problem: Developing nations (U.S., Britain, Germany) needed increasing amounts of natural resources

Solution: Potential consumers of American goods lived in smaller foreign nations

Solution: Colonize smaller nations that possess natural resources (rubber, petroleum, etc.)

Monroe Doctrine U.S. would be neutral

in European affairs

Warned other nations not to interfere in the West

Manifest Destiny The U.S. was destined to expand across

the United States

Used as reason to expand west during the 1830’s-1850’s

Manifest Destiny

Time to Annex Annex: Join a new territory to an existing

country Why annex:

To expand country Availability to new resources

Example: Hawaii in 1898

Public Response Most people began to support the of

U.S. expansion

The want for markets and trade relations was important for growth

What could this expansion lead to…

Your Opinion Answer the Sound Off question in the

middle of your worksheet

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