The Growth of America as a World Power

Imperialism  Def: When nations with strong armies & navies create empires by dominating nations without them.

Why Imperialism?  Between founding and the late 1800s, America (mostly) follows a policy of isolationism.  Why did America abandon isolationist policy?

Why Imperialism?  Economic Reasons: – Need Raw Materials for American Industry – Markets For Overproduced American Goods – American Business Invest in Other Countries U. S. Foreign Investments:

Why Imperialism?  Nationalist Reasons & Racism: – Social Darwinism Some races are inherently smarter and more advanced than others. “Higher” races have a “responsibility” to “civilize” less advanced ones. White Man’s Burden

Why Imperialism?  Military: Industrialization makes European Countries (& the US) far more powerful than those in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Steam-Powered warships require bases to refuel. Alfred Thayer Mahan “Sea Power”

Why Imperialism?  Diplomacy: The United States still enforces the Monroe Doctrine. –America is “responsible” for countries in the W. Hemisphere. The “New Diplomacy” – aka “Gunboat Diplomacy”

Why Imperialism?  Expansion: – Fulfillment of Manifest Destiny – Where to Continue Expanding? Alaska (“Seward’s Folly”) The Pacific (Japan, Phillipines, & Hawaii)

Imperialism: Effects?  Conflict: Other Imperialist Nations 1898: War With Spain 1914: World War I 1941: World War II  Conflict: Colonized Peoples 1. Latin American Interventions 2. Philippine Insurrection Hearst to a Reporter: “You supply the pictures, I’ll supply the war.”