APUSH 7.2 Imperialism Debates

William H. Seward

purchased Alaska from Russia

How did most Americans feel about the purchasing of Alaska

they saw Alaska as a useless icebox and deemed it “Sewards Folly”

What happened in 1893 in Hawaii

American settlers overthrew the Hawaiian monarch, Queen Liliuokalani and petitioned for annexation by the United States

What happened when Americans asked for Hawaii to be annexed to the United States

President Grover Cleveland opposed imperialism and rejected annexation

Why were some Americans interested in expansion economically

1. The country’s growing industries were strong supporters of expanding the US’s economic interests.

2. Foreign countries held more raw materials for production.

3. Farmers were eager to sell overseas

4. Republicans were closely allied with business leaders and supported imperialist policy.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, claiming that a strong navy was necessary for a country to secure foreign markets and become a world power

What did The Influence of Sea Power Upon History compel congress to do

Congress financed the production of modern steel ships and encouraged acquisition of overseas islands

How did social fears contribute to imperialism

Due to the closing of the frontier, social turmoil became a worry. Overseas territories offered a safety valve for upset farmers and workers

Reverend Josiah Strong

Wrote Our Country: Its possible future and present crisis, he wrote that people of Anglo Saxon stock were the fittest to survive and that they had a religious duty to colonize other lands and spread their superior civilization

what were some beliefs of anti-imperialists

1. self determination of other territories

2. opposed racial theories of whites being superior

3. supported isolationism

James G Blaine

held first Pan-American Conference with the US and territories of Latin America in order to establish good relations and trade

Venezuela boundary dispute

dispute between Venezuela and its neighbor, the British colony of Guiana

NOTE: US gets involved due to monroe doctrine