Transcript APUSH Keys to Unit 7 Imperialism

APUSH REVIEW
Imperialism
As found in Barron’s Study Keys EZ-101
American History 1877 to the Present
Published 1992
Theme The American
Imperialism
During the 1890s, the United States began to acquire
territories beyond it’s continental borders. This era of
colonial expansion was replicated by the other leading
Western industrial nations. From these imperialistic
ventures grew premises that would shape American
foreign policy in the future. Problems also emerged out
of America’s imperial experience.
Key 28: Reasons and theories
Overview: Many reasons account for what is sometimes called the New Manifest Destiny, a time when
American foreign policy was affected by economic, social, and political conditions at home and the
increasing need, as some saw it, to participate in expansion beyond the continental United States.
Background: Several theories suggest the purposes behind U.S. imperialism.
•America’s treatment of native Americans had established a precedent for exerting colonial control over dependent
peoples.
•Popularized by historian Frederick Jackson Turner, the idea that America’s frontier had closed produced fears
regarding the nation’s future supply of natural resources. Why not acquire new sources abroad?
•The depression of 1893 persuaded some businessmen that new overseas markets should be sought for U.S.
products
•Some politicians favored an aggressive foreign policy to focus attention away from the decades current problems
and protests.
•The competitive spirit played a role since Americans did not want to be excluded from the imperialist drive among
Europeans.
•Improvements in transportation and communication also increased America’s involvement in world affairs.
•Technological improvements in industry increased output and indicated the need for additional foreign markets.
•Philosophical reasons were also offered for expansion.
Imperialist argument: A distortion of Charles Darwin’s theories formed a basis for rationalizing expansionism.
According to this argument, since nations or “races,” like biological species, struggled for existence, and only the
fittest could survive, it followed that strong nations would inevitably dominate weak ones in accordance with the law of
nature.
Josiah Strong: A congregational clergyman and advocate of overseas missionary work, Strong advanced the
imperialist argument in Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis.
•This publication proclaimed that the Anglo-Saxon “race” was “divinely commissioned” to spread its institutions
throughout the world.
•Americans, as adherents of civil liberty and Christianity, were members of a God-favored race destined to lead the
world.
Key 28: Reasons and theories
Alfred T. Mahan: A captain and later and admiral in the navy, Mahan was one of the most capable and effective
advocates of imperialism, who expressed his philosophy in The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783
(1890), The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire, 1793-1812 (1892), and The Interest of
American in Sea Power (1897).
•He argued that industrialization required markets, some overseas .
•A merchant marine and a navy, combined with coal stations and repair yards, were required to reach such markets.
These stations meant colonies.
•A colonial empire would result in the growth of national wealth and power.
•Mahan’s ideas so influenced policymakers that by 1900 the U.S. Navy was the third most powerful fleet in the world.
Key 29:
Overview:Stirrings of imperialism become manifest in America’s Attitude and approach to foreign policy at
the close of the nineteenth century.
Hemispheric hegemony: Foreign policy now emphasized U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere.
•Both James G. Blaine and Richard Olney, as secretaries of state, exhibited a new, assertive diplomacy.
•Their policies helped to pave the way for the Spanish-American War.
Pan American conference (1889): At the initiative of Benjamin Harrison’s secretary of state, James G. Blain, the
first Pan-American Congress took place in October of 1889.
•Delegates from 19 American nations were present.
•Blaine’s proposals- the creation of an inter-American customs union, and arbitration procedures to resolve disputeswere rejected, but an International Bureau of American Republics was established.
Richard Olney: As Cleveland’s secretary of state, Richard Olney had an aggressive approach to foreign policy,
which nearly led to war in 1895.