University of Phoenix Material

American Imperialism

Part 1

Complete the chart by identifying the following:

• Identify the countries or areas where the United States engaged in imperialistic actions during the period from about 1870 to 1914.
• Discuss why each area was important to American empire building (political, economic, and social).
• Explain America’s expansionist ideals. What were some of the factors that justified American imperialist actions?
• Identify the current political status of these places in relation to the United States.

Age of Imperialism: 1870 to 1914

Place Why was there interest? U.S. actions Status today

Hawaii
America regarded the Hawaiian Island as an extension of the Pacific Coast. The white sugar planters sought annexation, so that the Queer's polices and the tariff from the U.S. Would be changed. The actions taken were by a small minority of white sugar planters revolted in 1893 with American troops assistants.
The first attempt for annexation was passed, Cleveland took office and then refused to sign the bill. Hawaii is the 50th state of the U.S. Documents were signed 1960, and a flag ordered. There is some questions regarding the truth behind Hawaii becoming a nation under the United States of America. Sugar is still the largest products the trade.

Alaska The main interested of America “Manifest Destiny” they were expanding it's control across the continent. Alaska was a good souse of natural resources. America first there was a treaty for the territory with Russia. Later America bought Alaska due to Russia did not wish to lose the land in war, America wanted the land north of Canada to ensure no of country join Canada against the U.S. The issues today is the state of Alaska would like the federal government to allow the state control over the oil and mineral prospects.

Philippines The islands were important to Americas empire because of it’s location in the Pacific. We also feared that if they did not take over the country, someone else, such as Germany or Japan would.

William Taft, future president, launched what would be called the “policy of attraction.” It was designed to win over key people and other Filipinos who did not like the rule they were under. It permitted a significant degree of self-government, introduced social reforms, and implemented plans for economic development. The Philippines gained independence on July 4th, 1946, although their experience with democracy has been a rather tumultuous one.

Cuba The United States accounted for 83% of Cuba’s total exports. We were also very interested in it’s sugar plantations. We also did not want an unstable nation so close to our borders.

America wanted Spain to win the war against Cuba, but had not done so in 3 years. President McKinley was afraid of a biracial republic so close to Florida and U.S. borders. The United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, and has maintained an embargo against them. This embargo makes it illegal to U.S. corporations to do business with Cuba. The embargo will remain in effect as long as the Cuban government continues to refuse to move toward democratization and greater respect for human rights.

Guam
Trade Rights into Asia U.S. was giving Guam along with other Territories from Spain for $20 Million as part of peace treaty Guam is a non-self governing territory of the United States.

Samoa
Naval Base and Trade Rights Annexed in 1867, granted a naval base in 1872 and given protectorate rights in 1899, The Somoa Islands are separated into two groups. The Western Somoa is a independent nation while the eastern island is a territory of the United States called American Somoa.

Part 2

Answer each of the following prompts with a response of at least 200 to 300 words:

• Trace the path of American imperialism during the period from about 1870 to 1914 through political, military, and economic events. Why was the United States interested in expansion in these areas? Why was America building a global empire?

In the United States, imperialism set in at the end of the 1890’s due to the fact that the frontier was pretty much settled so new territories had to be found, and it could not be in the continental United States, since there was no land left. Of course, Alaska was still to be settled, as well, and, it had been discovered, but, there was much to explore in the area of Alaska. In 1898, after provocations in Cuba, such as the sinking of the USS Maine, supposedly by Spanish saboteurs, the United States population was incited by the yellow press of Hearst and Pulitzer by the papers telling the citizens that the Spanish were committing atrocities against the Cuban population and of course, this finally brought the country into war. Theodore Roosevelt formed a group called the ‘Rough Riders’ who were made up of men who were the sons of rich citizens who provided their own equipment, as well as their own horses. America had to expand into overseas areas in order to compete with European nations which had already taken a large portion of the world as its own oyster. Germany was our number one enemy that we had to face up to as they were strong and wanted to take even more territory for themselves. America had to build a large navy in order to compete with the rest of the world, and they managed to build a navy that was large enough to combat any enemy. America and Germany nearly went to war over Samoa, in Pago Pago. In the end, Germany conceded Samoa to the United States, thus turning it into American Samoa, and giving the United States 76 miles to operate in. In Hawai’i, the United States wanted to annex the islands in order to obtain the resources thereon and this included the greater plantations of pineapple and coconuts and other agricultural resources. The islands would also provide a coaling and fueling station for the Pacific fleet which would be closer to Asia and China, thereby allowing the fleet to operate in closer proximity, keeping the reaction time to a minimum for any crisis that might come up in the region. Annexation papers were rushed to Washington, but, President Cleveland refused to sign the paperwork. Cleveland was criticized for trying to stem Manifest Destiny. Cleveland attempted to restore Queen Liliuokalani, but, was unable to do so. In the war of 1898, the Spanish fleet was destroyed at Manila Harbor by Dewey’s fleet of six ships. Democrats felt that foreign workers would cut into the jobs of Americans, and this is part of the problem today, with the illegal immigrants, as well as the jobs that are being shipped out of the country. This was true then and it is now.

• What were the benefits of America’s imperialistic actions for the people in these countries or areas? What were the disadvantages? How would you describe their experiences in terms of being conquered, assimilated, or marginalized?

There were few benefits for the people of these countries. Economic expansion was probably the most important. They would be able to export their goods to more places, and they would be able to get jobs at American factories A larger military presence was also a benefit. By having American troops here in these places may have made citizens feel safer from attacks by other nations. These bases would also be beneficial in future conflicts, such as World War I.
The disadvantages seemed to outweigh the advantages however. A lot of these places did not want help from America, and anti-Americanism seems to grow. We went into some of these places, such as Cuba, and made a bad situation worse. We now have a trade embargo there, and they have had a lot of political turmoil since the Spanish-American war. American soldiers were usually very violent and relied on threats to keep the peace and control. More than 200,000 people in Cuba alone died from combat or disease during these conflicts.
The citizens of these places could not have been very happy with American actions either. We made a lot of these people American citizens, and some did not want to be. They had been living in these places for many years without American involvement, and didn’t think we were needed. That would explain all the revolts and violence. It also explains all the hatred for Americans, even today. I’m sure that these conflicts were very violent and scary for the people who lived here, and a lot of them died unnecessarily.

• What were the moral implications of American imperialism? How did Imperialists justify their actions? How did the Anti-Imperialists justify their position? Consider the role of race, economics, science, and religion.

Many Americans agreed with the continued expansion of the United States. Especially once all the land to the west was won, they almost needed to continue their need for more. They justified expanding into new land almost the same way the Spanish conquistadors did, by claiming the territory and creating Spanish missions, they American felt it was their duty to civilianize undeveloped nations. This also show a kind of racial superiority. However, American imperialism was mostly driven by opportunities for trade and economic growth. The islands gained in the Pacific gave the United States the presence and foothold needed for ensuring economic relations in Asia. Incorporating the territories in the Pacific also allowed the United States to operated supply ports in order to build the United States Navy. The American public and many politicians did not want the United States to conquer nations and were against the United States controlling Cuba and the Philippines (Schultz, 2012). This showed that Americans wanted to have economic and political influences around the world but did not want to become an Empire like Great Britain. Anti-Imperialist believed that the United States responsibility was to help liberate those territories that belong to Spain rather than Annex them (Schultz, 2012).

• What significance did the Spanish-American War have in the development of the United States as an empire and world power?

Right before the Spanish-American War the United States believed that it was important to build a strong Navy that included Naval support bases. This was on the idea that in modern times, national greatness was dependent on naval superiority (Schultz, 2012). The Spanish-American War provided the opportunity for the United States to flex its naval strength. This was accomplished when the United States Pacific fleet under the control of Commodore George Dewey secretly built up its forces to invade the Spanish controlled Philippines (Schultz, 2012). After the surrender of Spain with the peace treaty signed in Paris, the United States gained a chain of territorial islands in return for 20 million dollars (Schultz, 2012). The Spanish-American War informed the world that the United States had a strong naval presence and with the addition of many new territorial islands in the Pacific, giving the United States a dominate presence in the Pacific and a advantage in Asia economical trade. While the United States debated the outcome of the Spanish-American War, many believed that annexing the Philippines was in violation of the anti-imperialism laws and that the United States acceptance of the islands were justified in the Paris Treaty, it should have only been the first step in the liberation of those sovereignties (Schultz, 2012).

• Do you think the United States is currently an imperialist country? Why or why not?

Imperialism is defined as the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies. I think in some ways the United States is an imperialist country. The US has always had a desire to extend their control and to enlarge their holdings. Today, many feel that the drive the US has to have countries operate the same is due to a desire to free the people of that country or to remove tyrant leaders to increase economic and social freedoms. Others feel this is another attempt of the US to gain land and exert control over others. I think the US is imperialist in that they want other countries to operate their economic, military and cultural activities the same as the US. But I also hope that, underneath the appearance of wanting to take over other countries, the US is doing this for the good of the other country, to give the people there freedom and opportunities, that we are protecting the causes of freedom, democracy and justice worldwide.
In summary, I feel the US has an imperialistic tendency in that they want to control their world and they want others to behave in the same way, as if our ways are superior to theirs. But on the other hand, I think most Americans do this because they want others to have the same opportunities and freedoms that we do.

References

Schultz, K. M. (2012). HIST2, Volume 2. Independence: Cengage Learning.

http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/War

http://www.education.com/study-help/article/rise-american-imperialism-18901913/

http://www.curiehs.org/ourpages/Web_based_instruction/us_history/topicnotes/9-1.htm.

Joan M. Antonson and William S. Hanable, Alaska's Heritage (2d edition, 1992). http://www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org/index.cfm/discover-alaska/FAQs/15 http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=428