Roots of imperialism, alaska, and hawaii
Key People, Events, and Objectives
People
When: July 1853
Where: Tokyo Bay, Japan
When: 1867
Where: The purchase of Alaska took place somewhere in America.
When: 1889
Where: Washington D.C.
When: 1898
Where: Hawaii
Objective
a. Key factors that encouraged America to expand were the economic benefits, military strength, feelings of national superiority. The US saw raw materials and natural resources from other countries and wanted it for themselves. America sought for items such as tea, rubber, iron, petroleum, and other materials for their own different industries. This was how America saw European countries and Japan, which would be considered extractive economies, where the US would take the country's raw material and bring it back to their home. Also, during the late 1800's, the US economy was producing more goods than could be used, so industrialists urged expansion of trade into other countries overseas so the goods could be sold. The US also built up its military forces in order to maintain global interest throughout the world. An example would be Alfred T. Mahan, who encouraged the US Navy to expand its world influence. And lastly, the US took steps to increase their global power by believing in national superiority. Imperialists would justify imperialism with racial, national, and cultural superiority over other countries. They believed in Social Darwinism, in other words, "survival of the fittest". Americans thought that if they remained isolated from other countries, eventually they would die out, so they began expanding overseas.
Legislation
The impact that imperialism had on America back then was that it expanded American territories out in the Pacific and showed weaker countries that America was superior due to their military forces. Imperialism has impacted America today by making America a world power and that the US has many connections to other countries which helps with the economy.
People
- Alfred T. Mahan was a military historian and officer in the US Navy who transformed America into a naval power. Mahan encouraged the US Navy to expand its world influence by claiming that the US needed to acquire foreign land in order for ships to stop by to refuel and restock their supplies. Mahan's ideas were eventually followed through as American leaders modernized the navy's ships and built naval bases in Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines.
- Frederick J. Turner was a historian who had the idea that the frontier had always been a place for Americans to make their own fortunes and get a fresh start, calling it a "safety valve", because it lessened any potential discontentment. This idea pushed Americans into expanding overseas because they already ruled the continent and would also avoid any internal conflict.
- Matthew Perry was a US Commodore who negotiated a peace treaty for Japan to have an open trade with America. This action set a precedent for further expansion across the Pacific Ocean in places such as the Midway Islands, which was obtained in 1867, and the Hawaiian Islands, which gave the US rights to build a naval base at pearl harbor with the help of treaties in 1875 and 1887.
- Queen Liliuokalani took over as the ruler of Hawaii after her brother, Kalakaua, died in 1891. Queen Liliuokalani resented white planters because of their increasing power and ownership of much of the Hawaiian lands. She abolished the constitution that gave white minorities political power in which they responded by overthrowing her and having the US Marines help the rebels seize power. The newly instated government that was led by Sanford B. Dole asked President Harrison to annex Hawaii into the US afterwards.
- US Power Grows in the Pacific
When: July 1853
Where: Tokyo Bay, Japan
- Purchasing Alaska
When: 1867
Where: The purchase of Alaska took place somewhere in America.
- US Influence Increases in Latin America
When: 1889
Where: Washington D.C.
- The Annexation of Hawaii
When: 1898
Where: Hawaii
Objective
a. Key factors that encouraged America to expand were the economic benefits, military strength, feelings of national superiority. The US saw raw materials and natural resources from other countries and wanted it for themselves. America sought for items such as tea, rubber, iron, petroleum, and other materials for their own different industries. This was how America saw European countries and Japan, which would be considered extractive economies, where the US would take the country's raw material and bring it back to their home. Also, during the late 1800's, the US economy was producing more goods than could be used, so industrialists urged expansion of trade into other countries overseas so the goods could be sold. The US also built up its military forces in order to maintain global interest throughout the world. An example would be Alfred T. Mahan, who encouraged the US Navy to expand its world influence. And lastly, the US took steps to increase their global power by believing in national superiority. Imperialists would justify imperialism with racial, national, and cultural superiority over other countries. They believed in Social Darwinism, in other words, "survival of the fittest". Americans thought that if they remained isolated from other countries, eventually they would die out, so they began expanding overseas.
Legislation
- Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) - This treaty permitted open trade between the US and Japan.
- Treaty of Annexation of Hawaii (1898) - This treaty was not proclaimed official until President William McKinley signed after a war outbreak with Spain so they could use Hawaii as a naval base. The President before McKinley, Cleveland, refused to sign the treaty because he felt that Americans had treated the Hawaiians badly and was also an anti-imperialist.
The impact that imperialism had on America back then was that it expanded American territories out in the Pacific and showed weaker countries that America was superior due to their military forces. Imperialism has impacted America today by making America a world power and that the US has many connections to other countries which helps with the economy.