Imperialism/Age of ExpansionThe US Becomes a World Power

Following the Civil War, America wanted to do 3 things:

1. Reconstruct the South

2. Settle the West

3. Become Industrial

The US was not interested in expanding to other nations,

territories or having international influence.

Our Foreign Policy—(how we deal with other nations)-was called

Isolationism—the policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs

European countries did the opposite-they started to practice

expansionism and imperialism-the economic and political domination

-taking over smaller countries

Where?

Overseas—Africa and Asia.

Why?

• Why were European countries practicing Imperialism?

• Basically 4 reasons why:• 1. For Trade (New Markets) and Raw

Materials

2. Strategic ReasonsThey started to not only trade with these

countries but also invest in these countries. So then they needed to protect their investments-with a powerful navy

In order to do that they started to exert control over those territories where their investments

were and soon these areas became colonies.

The next thing we know Africa and Asia have been carved up by countries like

Britain, France and Spain.

The US starts to feel like they better get a “piece of the pie” or else…..

3. Nationalism

• We are a great nation—we should grab our own colonies before nothing is left

But also we have 4.social reasons-Attitudes towards other Peoples

• Josiah Strong, a popular minister in the late 1800’s linked Anglo-Saxonism-as a “superior race” . He said the Anglo- Saxon was “divinely commissioned to be, in a peculiar sense, his brother’s keeper”

• “The White Man’s Burden”

The White Man’s Burden

Rudyard KiplingWhite Man’s Burden Take up the White

Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child.

Expansion in the Pacific- Hawaii

Expansion in the Pacific-Hawaii

• As trade with China and Japan increased, many Americans became interested in Hawaii. Ships traveling between China and the US regularly stopped in Hawaii. Americans soon discovered that the climate and soil of the islands were suitable for growing sugarcane. Planters became very powerful and wealthy. Soon tensions between the planters and the Hawaiians mounted.

In 1891 Queen Liliuokalani ascended to the Hawaiian throne.

Faced with an economic crisis and the queen’s action, the planters backed an attempt to overthrow the queen.

Supported by the US marines, a group of planters, with the help of Samuel

Dole, forced the queen to give up power and set up a temporary

government. Five years later, the US annexed Hawaii.

Building a Modern Navy

• As Americans were becoming more willing to risk war in defense of American interest overseas, support for building a large modern navy and acquiring navy bases began to grow.

Alfred T. Mahan wrote a book called The Influence of Sea Power. In it he wrote about the importance of a nation having a great navy. It became a best seller and helped to build public support for a big navy. Along with a very powerful senator, Henry Cabot Lodge, the US was well on its way to becoming one of the top naval powers in the world.

Summary: By the 1890’s, several ideas had come together:

• Business leaders wanted new market overseas and raw materials

• Anglo Saxonism had convinced many Americans that they had a destiny to dominate the world

• Growing European imperialism threatened America’s security

• Combined with Mahan’s influence, these ideas convinced congress to authorize the construction of a modern American navy.