Economic Imperialism U.S. in Latin America & Japan in the Pacific

Independent Latin America Colonial Legacy Plantation system kept a majority of the people poor Land left unused due to lack of labor Caudillos took over the government Military dictatorships led to political instability The large gap between the rich and poor led to economic instability

Economic Imperialism Markets!!!Independent nations could trade with anyone Colonial powers did not develop industry which left the new nations to rely on natural resources and foreign industry Trade imbalance developed with Latin America buying more than it sold to other countries Foreign nations began to develop the infrastructure and loaning the new nations money which put them in debt and prevented economic development

Monroe Doctrine US Control Monroe Doctrine told Europe to stay out of the Western Hemisphere Cuba declared independence from Spain, US supported the Cubans which led to the Spanish- American War US won several colonies from Spain, Puerto Rico, Guam, & the Philippines US built the Panama Canal to connect the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans to improve trade Roosevelt Corollary said the US would act as the police of the Western Hemisphere

Japan Opens to the West 1853 U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry sails a fleet of modern U.S. warships to Japan & requests open to trade 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa opens trade between U.S. & Japan & avoids war with the better armed U.S. Navy Japan was still a feudal dictatorship, the Emperor is the “leader” but the Shogun & Samurai warriors had the real power

Meiji Restoration The Japanese are upset with the Shogun giving in to Western Powers so they appeal to the young emperor 1867 the Tokugawa Shogun steps down & Emperor Mutsuhito takes control of the government, his reign is called the Meiji Era which means “enlightened rule” The emperor sends diplomats & scholars to the U.S. & Europe to learn all they can

Modernization in Japan The Japanese took the ideas of the West & adapted them to their culture Modeled their constitution after the German government Modeled their military after the German army & British navy Adopted the universal public education of the U.S. Built an infrastructure (roads & railways) to support industry

Imperial Japan By 1894 Japan had gained enough military, economic, & political power that the Western nations gave up their extraterritorial rights Japan has limited natural resources (islands) so they began taking territory to get natural resources Japan took over Korea & won wars against China & Russia by 1905