Chapter 12 Becoming a World Power

Imperialism What is it?  The economic and political domination of a strong nation over a weaker one Examples: England owning the US as colonies Spain owning Cuba and Mexico

Why do we want colonies? Compete with other world powers (Spain, England) Opens up more markets to sell goods Coaling stations to refuel naval ships

Why is it ok for the U.S. to dominate another country? Social Darwinism--nations competed with each other politically, economically, and militarily and only the strongest would survive. Anglo-Saxonism--belief that the Caucasian race was superior and it was, therefore, our Christian duty to help those “less civilized” countries.

Table Talk Take 1 song to discuss with your partner how Social Darwinism and Anglo- Saxonism were actually examples of racism.

Perry Opens Japan American business leaders thought that the US could benefit from trade w/ Japan Japanese leaders thought that too much contact with the West would destroy their culture Matthew Perry--realizing they could not compete against modern Western technology and weapons, the Japanese signed a treaty opening their ports to trade

Imperialism--Annexing Hawaii Ships traveling between China and the US often stopped in Hawaii--Americans began to move there as missionaries Tensions between Hawaiians and US planters grew. In 1891, planters forced Queen Liluokalani to give up power and set up a provisional government

Table Talk With your partner, take 1 song to discuss whether the changes American forced on Japan and Hawaii were good for those countries or bad.

War in Cuba Cubans decided to rebel against Spain to gain their independence Jose Marti was the exiled Cuban leader

Why did Americans side with the Cubans? We felt sympathy with another country trying to gain their independence We had commercial interests in Cuba (sugar plantations) and didn’t want to lose money Yellow Journalism--to sell newspapers, articles greatly exaggerated terrible conditions in Cuba

US Declares War on Spain Worried that American citizens in Cuba would be attacked, Pres. McKinley sent the USS Maine to Havana Harbor February Maine explodes and sinks in Havana Harbor

War Escalates To add to Spain’s troubles, the US seized Spain’s other colony, the Philippine Islands US sends troops to Cuba to fight (more soldiers died of disease in training camps than did on the battle field) Rough Riders--famous group of cowboys, miners, and law officers (including Teddy Roosevelt) that fought in Cuba

War Ends July Spain surrenders US decides to keep Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines as a protectorate Now the US takes its place as an Imperialist power.

Table Talk With your partner, take one song to discuss the most important outcome of the Spanish American War.

Roosevelt becomes President Took over as president when McKinley was killed by an anarchist Became a strong proponent of imperialism

Panama Canal The US wanted a faster way to move from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean Hay-Pauncefote Treaty--gave the US exclusive rights to build and control a canal in Panama

Table Talk With your partner, take 1 song to discuss why the Panama Canal was so important for the United States.