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America’s acquisition of Alaska
An early supporter of US expansion was William Seward, Secretary of State under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson who arranged to buy Alaska in 1867 for 7.2 million. This purchase was from Russia to America. Alaska became a state in 1959. This was beneficial because of environmental factors, ( timber, minerals, and, as it turned out, oil) -
America’s acquisition of Hawaii
In the mid-19th century, American-owned sugar crops made up about 3/4 of Hawaii's wealth. In 1875, the US agreed to import Hawaiian sugar duty-free, and over the next 15 years, Hawaiian sugar production increased 9 times. With the help of marines, USA overthrew the Hawaiian queen and set up a government headed by Sanford B. Dole but President Cleveland said she go back to her throne. August 12, 1898, Congress said Hawaii a US territory and in 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the USA. -
Reasons for the Growth of American Imperialism
Most Americans warmed to the idea of
oversea expansion. Seeing that other
nations were establishing a global presence,
American leaders advised that the USA build up its military strength. In the late 19th century,
advances in technology allowed American farms and factories to produce more than American citizens could consume. Cultural factors also were used to justify
imperialism. States had a duty to spread Christianity to the world’s natives. -
The Spanish-American War
The United States had long held an interest in
Cuba, which lies only 90 miles south of Florida, could cause easier trade. When the Cubans rebelled against Spain between 1868 and 1878, American sympathies went out to the Cuban people. In 1896, Spain responded to the Cuban revolt by sending General Valeriano Weyler to crush the rebellion. After tensions with Spain, the USS Maine exploded leading Americans to believe it was Spain causing war to rise. The war ended after 15 weeks. -
America and Cuba
Though officially independent, Cuba was occupied by
American troops when the war ended. In 1900 the Cuban government wrote a constitution for an independent Cuba. The constitution did not specify the relationship between Cuba and the United States. The most important reason for the United States to keeping a strong political presence in Cuba was to protect American businesses that had invested in the island’s sugar, tobacco, and mining comps, and in its railroads and public utilities. -
America and China
The United States began to fear that China
would be carved into colonies and American traders would be shut out. Although China kept its freedom, Europeans
dominated most of China’s large cities. After the Boxer
Rebellion, the United States feared that European nations
would use their victory to take even greater control of
China. To prevent this, John Hay issued a second series of
Open Door notes, announcing that the United States would
“safeguard for the world". -
Woodrow Wilson and the World
Mexico had been ruled for more than three decades by a military dictator, Porfirio Díaz. Wilson adopted a plan of
“watchful waiting,” looking for an opportunity to act
against Huerta. Carranza was in charge, but like others before him, he did not have the support of all Mexicans. With the American public demanding revenge, President
Wilson ordered Brigadier General John J. Pershing and an expeditionary force of about 15,000 soldiers into Mexico to capture Villa dead or alive. -
Theodore Roosevelt and the World
In 1904, Russia and Japan, Russia’s neighbor
in East Asia, were imperialist powers, and they were competing for control of Korea. By the time Roosevelt became president, many Americans, including Roosevelt, felt that the United States needed a canal cutting across Central America. The construction of the Panama Canal ranks as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. On August 15, 1914, the canal opened for business, and 1,000 merchant ships passed through during its first year. -
America and Puerto Rico
During the Spanish-American War, United States forces, under General Nelson A. Miles, occupied the island meaning Puerto Rico would be controlled by the military until Congress decided otherwise. Although Puerto Ricans had dreams of independence or statehood, the United States had different plans for the island’s future. Puerto Rico was important to the United States, both
for maintaining a U.S. presence in the Caribbean, in 1917 Puerto Ricans right to elect both houses of their legislature. -
America and the Philippines
In the Philippines, Filipinos reacted with outrage to
the Treaty of Paris, which called for the American
annexation of the Philippines. In February 1899,
the Filipinos rose in revolt. The
The USA assumed almost the same role that
Spain had played, imposing its authority on a
colony that was fighting for freedom, After suppressing the rebellion, the United States set up a government similar to the one it had established for Puerto Rico. the
The Philippines got independence on July 4, 1946.