The Pressure to Expand

Angela BrownChapter 9 Section 1

http://www.worldpress.org/images/maps/world_600w.jpg

1

Learning Targets:

1. Explain some of the reasons for the growth of imperialism around the world.

2. Summarize the American view regarding imperialism prior to 1890.

2

U.S. powerful industrial economy = overproduction of food and goods = financial panic and depression

Some people began to believe that the U.S. had a duty to carry democratic values and Christianity to others around the globe.

http://nsstc.uah.edu/~sundar/Teaching/SRS2/SRS2Index.htm

3

Growth of Imperialism

The late 1800s marked the peak of European imperialism with much of Africa and Asia under foreign domination.

Under imperialism, stronger nations attempt to create empires by dominating weaker nations – economically, politically, culturally, or militarily.

4

Why Imperialism Grew Economic Factors – nations

needed new markets and natural resources: rubber and petroleum

Nationalistic Factors – nationalism – devotion to one’s country European nations competed for large empires

5

Military Factors - European military forces were superior to African and Asians due to technology. Required fuel/supplies for bases around the world.

Humanitarian Factors – Colonial officials, doctors, and missionaries believed they had a duty to spread the blessings of Western Civilization, including law, medicine and religion

6

Europe Leads the Way

Improved transportation and communication aided European nations imperialism.

By 1890 the U.S. wanted to join in Supporters of expansion denied that

the U.S. sought to annex foreign lands.

Annex – join new territory to an existing country

7

The U.S. and Imperialism

1866, Sec. Of State, Seward sent 50,000 troops to the Mexican border after France placed an emperor on the Mexican throne.

The French abandoned their venture.

1867 Seward bought Alaska from Russia “Seward’s Folly”.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/alaska/map.GIF8

Most Americans ridiculed the purchase of “walrus covered icebergs”

Seward educated the nation about Alaska’s rich resources

The Senate ratified the purchase.

http://www.onlyalaska.com/photo/displayimage.php?album=11&pos=0 9

1853, Commodore Matthew C. Perry, sailed into Tokyo Bay and convinced Japan to open trade relations with the United States.

1860 – U.S. and Europe signed treaties with China for extended trade.

1867, Seward annexed the uninhabited Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean as refueling and repair stations for naval vessels.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia05/midway_islands_sm05.gif10

Midway island is located 1/3 of the way between Hawaii and Tokyo.

1875, treaty with Hawaii to sell sugar to U.S. duty free, as long as they did not sell or lease territory to any foreign power.

1890s opinions regarding international affairs differed among Americans.

11

Promoting Economic Growth

Many business leaders agreed the economic problems of the U.S. could only be solved by expanding its markets.

In 1880s and 1890s Standard Oil, American Telephone and Telegraph, McCormick farm machines, Singer sewing machines, Kodak cameras and Sherman-Williams paint had all become popular internationally.

12

1884, Minor C. Keith provided financial services to the Costa Rican government and won long-term leases for lands and railroad lines.

1913 Keith’s United Fruit Company exported 50 million bunches of bananas a year to U.S. and dominated governments of Costa Rica, Guatamala, and Honduras.

Nicknamed Central American nations banana republics.

http://tropicaltreefarms.com/htm/main/maps.htm

13

Protecting American Security

Naval officers joined with business to convince Congress to build modern steam-powered steel-hulled ships to protect overseas trade.

1881 Congress established a naval advisory board

1883 authorized the building of three cruisers and two battleships, including U.S.S Maine.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/maine.htm 14

1890 Naval Act called for construction of more battleships, gunboats, torpedo boats, and cruisers

1900 U.S. had one of the most powerful navies in the world.

15

Preserving American Spirit

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, historian Frederick Jackson Turner, and young politician Theodore Roosevelt argued that a quest for empire might restore the countries pioneer spirit.

Lost due to closing of frontier.

http://www.allenscreations.com/images/mgptr.jpg

16

Drew on doctrine of social Darwinism to justify takeover of new territories.

The civilizations produced by Anglo-Saxon people were superior to the societies they conquered.

Expansion not only this nation’s destiny but a noble pursuit.

17

Public Opinion Leans Toward Expansion

Gradually public opinion warmed to the idea of expansion.

http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WF1.WORLD.JPG

18