1. America Claims an Empire
Essential Question: What are the causes and effects
of American imperialism in Hawaii?
America
Claims an Empire

2. American Foreign Trade: 1870-1914
Economic Interests
Wanted to open up new markets that would import U.S. goods
Wanted to gain access to new raw materials to feed growing U.S. industries
American Foreign Trade:

3. Military/Strategic Interests
U.S. Navy Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History to advocate expansion of the Navy
In addition, the U.S. needed refueling stations and bases throughout the world

4. Social Darwinist Thinking
Belief that there are superior and inferior races in the world
As the greatest race, it is the white man’s burden to educate, civilize, and uplift the “lesser” races of the world
The White Man’s Burden
The Hierarchy of Race

5. Religious/Missionary Interests American Missionaries in China, 1905
Believed it was their Christian duty to spread the faith to “heathen” lands around the world
American Missionaries in China, 1905

6. Closing the American Frontier
All land on the North American continent is claimed
America would have to look elsewhere to find new markets and sources of raw materials

7. The Purchase of Alaska
In 1867 William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million
Critics dubbed this “Seward’s folly”

8. U. S. Missionaries in Hawaii
Missionaries were the first Americans to establish a presence in Hawaii
Goal: Bring Christianity to the “savage” island people
Imiola Church – first built in the late 1820s

9. Sugarcane in Hawaii
Other Americans arrive in Hawaii to become sugar plantation owners
Sugarcane plantation owners flourish with 1875 treaty that allows sale of Hawaiian sugar in U.S. without a tariff
White planters force Bayonet Constitution on Hawaiians
Only wealthy white planters can vote

10. Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani
Liliuokalani came to power and stated she will get rid of the Bayonet Constitution
Hawaii for Hawaiians!!!

11. U.S. Annexes Hawaii McKinley Tariff hurts sugarcane planters
Desire to become U.S. territory to avoid tariffs
1893 – American businessmen led an uprising against Queen Liliuokalani, and she is overthrown
Sanford Ballard Dole becomes the President of the Republic of Hawaii
Annexation debate
Hawaii is annexed 1898

12. Bill Clinton signs a formal apology to
the Hawaiians on November 23, 1993