Burbank and Cooper, pp. 251-286

Week Nine: March 11th and 13th

Chapter 9: Empires Across Continents – The United States and Russia

This chapter examines the imperial expansion of the United States and Russia, comparing their strategies of territorial control, governance, and incorporation of diverse peoples.

1. The Expansion of the United States as an Empire

• The U.S. expanded westward through a combination of war, treaties, and settlement policies.

• Key strategies of expansion:

  • Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled U.S. territory.

  • Manifest Destiny (1840s–1850s) justified expansion across North America.

  • Indian Removal Act (1830) forcibly displaced Native American tribes.

• Annexation of Territories:

  • Texas (1845) and California (1848) were taken through war with Mexico.

  • Hawaii (1898) was annexed after U.S. business interests overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy.

  • The Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam (1898) were acquired after the Spanish-American War.

• Governance and Control:

  • Native Americans were subjected to reservations and forced assimilation.

  • The Monroe Doctrine (1823) asserted U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

2. The Russian Empire’s Expansion

• Russia expanded eastward into Siberia and Central Asia over centuries.

• Key phases of expansion:

  • Conquest of Siberia (16th–17th centuries) provided access to fur trade and resources.

  • Wars with the Ottoman Empire secured access to the Black Sea.

  • Central Asian campaigns (19th century) brought Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan under Russian rule.

• Governance Strategies:

  • Used local elites and indirect rule in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

  • Promoted Russification, forcing non-Russian subjects to adopt Russian culture and language.

  • Allowed religious autonomy but favored Orthodox Christianity over Islam and Buddhism.

3. Comparing U.S. and Russian Imperialism

4. Conflicts and Resistance

• U.S. conflicts with Indigenous peoples:

  • Trail of Tears (1830s) resulted in mass displacement.

  • The Indian Wars (1860s–1890s) saw Native resistance to U.S. expansion.

• Russia faced revolts in Central Asia and the Caucasus:

  • Chechen and Dagestani uprisings challenged Russian rule.

  • The Crimean War (1853–1856) exposed Russian military weaknesses.

• Both empires relied on military force and legal frameworks to suppress resistance.

5. The Role of Slavery and Labor Systems

• United States:

  • Slavery was central to the Southern economy until the Civil War (1861–1865).

  • The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and 13th Amendment (1865) abolished slavery.

  • Post-Reconstruction racial segregation continued oppression of Black Americans.

• Russia:

  • Serfdom functioned similarly to slavery.

  • The Emancipation of Serfs (1861) under Alexander II freed millions but left them impoverished.

  • Industrialization efforts depended on forced labor and peasant migration.

6. The Transition from Empire to Global Power

• The U.S. became a global imperial power by the early 20th century:

  • Expanded economic influence in Latin America (Panama Canal, 1904).

  • Intervened in Cuba, the Philippines, and Central America.

• Russia modernized under the Romanovs but struggled with internal dissent:

  • Revolutionary movements (1905, 1917) led to the fall of the Tsarist empire.

  • The Soviet Union (USSR) emerged, continuing Russia’s imperial ambitions under a different ideology.

Conclusion

• The U.S. and Russia used different imperial strategies, but both expanded vast territorial empires.

• Both faced resistance from indigenous and colonized populations.

• Their imperial legacies shaped their roles as global powers in the 20th century.