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Reasons for Imperialism
How was the United States able to expand and gain power? during the 19th century the United States when into this period called imperialism.
-Imperialism was the policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories.
Also during this time the U.S had the idea of expansion overseas. This action allowed them to:
-Desire for military strength
-Thirst for new markets
-Belief in cultural superiority
The most desire was military strength. -
Acquisition of Alaska
William Seward, secretary of State under president Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson suggested they purchases of Alaska.
- Alaska was being sold by the Russians for $7.2 million.
-William Seward really wanted to buy Alaska and had to persuade the House of Representatives.
- People tought this was a bad purchase and called it Seward's Icebox or Seward's folly.
Alaska was purchase on 1867 by 1959 Alaska became a state.
Alaska was packed with natural resources, oils, and minerals. -
America and Puerto Rico
After the Spanish-American War the U.S was able to take Puerto Rico. This meant Puerto Rico was a Unites State territory. Munoz Rivera which ruled Puerto Rico at the time did not like the idea of it being a territory and wanted independed however not all Puerto Ricans wanted independence and liked the idea of statehood. Munoz was invited to congress to speak before the U.S House of Representatives.
-This did not give them independence.
-It did give Puerto Ricans citizenship of the U.S however. -
America and Cuba
Cuba had gotten its independence for Spain shortly after the war begin with U.S and Spain. After the war U.S wanted to stay in good terms with Cuba. Platt Amendment was passed stating that
-Cuba could not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territory
-U.S.A reserved the right to intervene Cuba
-Cuba was not to go into debt that i could not pay
-U.S.A could buy or lease land on the island for naval station and refueling stations. -
Period: to
Spanish-American War
During the early 1900 a lot of Spain territory and colonist start to Rebel Against Spain. This caused Spain to be at war with its territory. Also during this time their was conflict with Spain and U.S.A.
-On February 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine Explodes.
-The U.S. was quick to blame Spain.
-U.S. declares War because of this on April 25, 1898
The U.S was able to take some territory but 8 months later the War ended and the peace treaty was sign in Paris on December 10, 1898. -
Acquisition of Hawaii
Shortly after the Alaska Purchase the United States had eyes on Islands especially Hawaii. Hawaii was different since it was important to the U.S since the early 1790s.
-During the mid-19th century, U.S. owned sugar plantation in Hawaii.
-By 1887 U.S military established naval base at Pearl Harbor.
-In 1897, William McKinley, who favored annexation, succeeded Cleveland as president. On August 12, 1898, congress proclaimed Hawaii an American territory.
-By 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. -
America and Philippines
After the Spanish-America war America annex the Philippines. Filipinos reacted with outrage and wanted independence, on February 1899 Filipinos Rebel against the U.S. The rebellion was lead by Emilio Aguinaldo.
-War broke out with U.S and Philippines.
-The war cost a lot but shorty after it ended the Philippines was in disaster.
-U.S help rebuild the Philippines and also established their government just like they did with Puerto Rico.
-On July 4, 1946 Philippines gained their independence. -
America and China
The United states began to fear that china would be carved into colonies and America traders would be shut out. to protect American interest the U.S secretary of state John Hay issued, in 1899, a series of policy statements called the open Door notes. the notes were letters addressed to the leaders of imperialist nations proposing that the nations share their trading rights with the United States, thus creating an open door. This meant that no single nation would have monopoly on trade. -
Theodore Roosevelt and the World
The assassination of William McKinley in 1901 thrust Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt into the role of a world leader. Roosevelt was unwilling to allow the imperial powers of Europe to control the world's political and economic destiny. In 1905, building on the open Door notes to increase American influence in East Asia, Roosevelt mediated a settlement in a war between Russia and Japan. -
Wilson and Foreign Policy
The Monroe Doctrine, issued by President James Monroe in 1823, had warned other nations against expanding their influence in Latin America. The Roosevelt Corollary asserted, in 1904, that the United States had a right to exercise international police power in the Western Hemisphere. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson gave the Monroe Doctrine a moral tone. According to Wilson’s “missionary diplomacy,” the United States had a moral
responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin American government