7.2 IMPERIALISM DEBATES

What did the **Monroe Doctrine** stipulate?

The Monroe Doctrine stipulated that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US.

Describe the purchase of Alaska

For decades, Russia and GB claimed control over Alaska. Russia established a small colony for seal hunting, but the threat of war between Russia and GB made it a burden. Russia sought out buyers and William H. Seward seemed like a good choice. Due to Russia’s support in the civil war and Seward’s lobbying, the US bought Alaska for $7.2 million in 1867. Most Americans didn’t see the value in Alaska though, so they called it “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” and ignored Alaska’s development.

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Describe the annexation of Hawaii

Since the mid 1800s, missionaries and entrepreneurs from America settled in Hawaii. In 1870. Ulysses S. Grant sought control of Pearl Harbor and trade treaties with the native kingdom, and in 1875 the native kingdom agreed to give the US rights to Hawaiian sugar. In 1893, American settlers helped overthrow the Monarch of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, and petitioned for the annexation of Hawaii. Grover Cleveland opposed imperialism and rejected the Republican efforts to annex Hawaii

How did **ECONOMIC INTERESTS** motivate imperialism?

Foreign countries had valuable raw materials(minerals, oil, rubber, etc.) and offered new markets for products, which attracted farmers and business leaders, and the Republicans as a result.

What did **Alfred Thayer Mahan** argue? 

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Alfred Thayer Mahan argued in “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History(1890)”, that a strong navy was necessary for a country to secure foreign markets and to become a world power.

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How did Mahan’s ideas influence US foreign policy? 

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Using Mahan’s book, The Naval strategists convinced congress to encourage the acquisition of overseas islands and to build modern steel ships. The pacific islands(ex: Samoa) provided coaling and supply stations, so that the new ships could project global power. Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge were some of the leading political proponents of naval power.

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How did SOCIAL FEARS motivate imperialism? 

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Overseas territories offered a “safety valve” for urban workers and farmers that were unhappy. Some of these social fears were the idea that America no longer had a frontier(1890s), Panic of 1893, and violence in labor disputes.

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What are expansionists and how was Darwinism applied to Imperialism?

Many people applied Darwin's theory not only to business, but also to competition among countries. They believed that, in order to demonstrate strength, the US must take control of overseas territories. These people were called expansionists.

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What did **Josiah Strong** argue

Josiah Strong argued that the Anglo-Saxans were the fittest to survive, and that protestants had the religious duty to spread Christianity to other nations and to spread the benefits of their superior civilization to less developed civilizations such as medicine, science, and technology.

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How did the popular press contribute to imperialism? 

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The popular press contributed to imperialism by printing about adventures in exotic foreign places, which increased their circulation, but it also increased demand for a larger role in foreign affairs.

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Describe the reasons why many people in the US strongly opposed imperialism:

* **Self-Determination** 

**One of the founding principles of the US is that people should govern themselves, and imperialism contradicts this idea because that principle should apply to all people.**

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Describe the reasons why many people in the US strongly opposed imperialism: rejection of racial theories

**They didn’t believe that White people were inherently superior, and thus could not just rule other people. Some also did not want more non-white people in the country.**

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Describe the reasons why many people in the US strongly opposed imperialism: isolationism

**George Washington advised that we avoid getting involved in foreign affairs, and many still believed in this.**

Describe the reasons why many people in the US strongly opposed imperialism: expenses

**Controlling foreign nations and building a large navy would bring more cost than what it was worth.**

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Describe the growing conflict over imperialism.

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Some people were strong believers in self-governance and anti-colonialism, but the other side was very pro-economic power and pro-global power. The conflict between these groups only intensified with debates regarding the Mexican American war, and the colonization of the Philippines.

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