Study Notes on American Imperialism, Hawaii, and Alaska

Main Ideas

  • Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century, global competition caused the United States to expand.

  • The acquisition of Hawaii and Alaska highlighted this expansion as both became states in 1959.

Why It Matters Now

  • This period marked significant territorial growth and set a precedent for future U.S. foreign policy.

Key Terms & Names

  • Queen Liliuokalani: Last monarch of Hawaii, overthrown during U.S. expansion.

  • Imperialism: Policy of stronger nations exerting control over weaker territories.

  • Alfred T. Mahan: Influential naval officer promoting American naval power.

  • William Seward: Facilitated U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia.

  • Pearl Harbor: Key naval base in Hawaii.

  • Sanford B. Dole: Key figure in Hawaii's annexation, supporting American business interests.

One American's Story

  • Queen Liliuokalani's Surrender: In 1893, her protest against U.S. actions illustrates resistance and the overwhelming pressure from the U.S. forces.

  • Quote: J.L. Stevens remarked on the impending annexation, saying the Hawaiian pear was ripe for plucking.

American Expansionism

  • Overview: Expansionism aimed to strengthen the U.S. position among imperialist powers by the 1880s.

  • Definition: Imperialism involves stronger nations asserting control over weaker ones.

Factors Fueling New American Imperialism

  1. Desire for Military Strength: U.S. leaders called for a stronger military; Mahan urged a robust Navy.

    • Resulted in the construction of nine steel-hulled cruisers between 1883 and 1890.

  2. Thirst for New Markets: Advances in production required new markets post-economic depression.

  3. Belief in Cultural Superiority: Social Darwinism justified U.S. imperialism as a civilizing mission.

The United States Acquires Alaska

  • Seward's purchase of Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million was seen as folly yet proved valuable.

The United States Takes Hawaii
Early American Involvement in Hawaii

  • Merchants used Hawaii as a stop and American influence grew through missionary work and plantation economy by mid-19th century.

The Cry for Annexation

  • Sugar plantation owners sought annexation to avoid tariffs that threatened their market position, leading to increased military interest and the establishment of a naval base at Pearl Harbor.

The End of the Monarchy

  • Liliuokalani's efforts to introduce reforms led to her overthrow by Dole and U.S. marines despite local opposition.

Geographic and Historical Context

  • Geographic Significance: Alaska and Hawaii's strategic locations provided military and economic advantages.

Section Assessment
Key Terms & Names

  1. Queen Liliuokalani

  2. Imperialism

  3. Alfred T. Mahan

  4. William Seward

  5. Pearl Harbor

  6. Sanford B. Dole

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. How did manifest destiny set the stage for U.S. imperialism?

  2. Evaluate the justification for the Dole-led revolt against the Hawaiian monarchy.

  3. Analyze Senator Albert J. Beveridge's views on U.S. acquisition strategies for global commerce.

Main Ideas

Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century, global competition caused the United States to expand.

  • The acquisition of Hawaii and Alaska highlighted this expansion as both became states in 1959, signaling a strategic increase in U.S. influence in the Pacific and Arctic regions.
Why It Matters Now

This period marked significant territorial growth and set a precedent for future U.S. foreign policy, influencing America's role in international relations and military strategy.

Key Terms & Names
  • Queen Liliuokalani: The last monarch of Hawaii, overthrown during U.S. expansion, symbolizing the loss of sovereignty experienced by indigenous peoples.
  • Imperialism: A policy of stronger nations exerting control over weaker territories, which shaped the geopolitical landscape of the late 19th century.
  • Alfred T. Mahan: An influential naval officer whose book "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" (1890) argued that naval strength was crucial to national prosperity and security, leading to increased investments in naval capabilities.
  • William Seward: As Secretary of State, he facilitated the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, viewed at the time with skepticism, but later recognized for its vast natural resources.
  • Pearl Harbor: A key naval base in Hawaii that became strategically important for U.S. military operations in the Pacific.
  • Sanford B. Dole: A key figure in Hawaii's annexation, supporting American business interests and later serving as the first President of the Republic of Hawaii.
One American's Story
  • Queen Liliuokalani's Surrender: In 1893, her protest against U.S. actions illustrates resistance and the overwhelming pressure from U.S. forces, marking a critical turning point in Hawaiian history.
  • Quote: J.L. Stevens remarked on the impending annexation, saying the Hawaiian pear was ripe for plucking, highlighting the exploitative mindset behind U.S. expansion policies.
American Expansionism
  • Overview: Expansionism aimed to strengthen the U.S. position among imperialist powers by the 1880s, reflecting a desire to compete with European colonial powers.
  • Definition: Imperialism involves stronger nations asserting control over weaker ones, often justified through notions of cultural superiority.
Factors Fueling New American Imperialism
  1. Desire for Military Strength: U.S. leaders called for a stronger military; Mahan urged a robust Navy.
    • Resulted in the construction of nine steel-hulled cruisers between 1883 and 1890, marking a shift towards modern naval warfare.
  2. Thirst for New Markets: Advances in production required new markets post-economic depression; this led to aggressive trade policies and international engagements.
  3. Belief in Cultural Superiority: Social Darwinism justified U.S. imperialism as a civilizing mission, promoting the idea that it was America's duty to spread democracy and capitalism.
The United States Acquires Alaska
  • Seward's purchase of Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million was seen as folly yet proved valuable; the discovery of gold and oil later highlighted its economic significance.
The United States Takes Hawaii
Early American Involvement in Hawaii
  • Merchants used Hawaii as a stop, and American influence grew through missionary work and the plantation economy by mid-19th century, leading to significant cultural and economic changes in the islands.
The Cry for Annexation
  • Sugar plantation owners sought annexation to avoid tariffs that threatened their market position, leading to increased military interest and the establishment of the naval base at Pearl Harbor; this played a crucial role in U.S. strategic planning.
The End of the Monarchy
  • Liliuokalani's efforts to introduce reforms led to her overthrow by Dole and U.S. marines despite local opposition, which raises questions about consent versus coercion in imperial policies.
Geographic and Historical Context
  • Geographic Significance: Alaska and Hawaii's strategic locations provided military and economic advantages, allowing the U.S. to project power into Asia and the Pacific.
Section Assessment
Key Terms & Names
  1. Queen Liliuokalani
  2. Imperialism
  3. Alfred T. Mahan
  4. William Seward
  5. Pearl Harbor
  6. Sanford B. Dole
Critical Thinking Questions
  1. How did manifest destiny set the stage for U.S. imperialism?
  2. Evaluate the justification for the Dole-led revolt against the Hawaiian monarchy, considering both economic and ethical perspectives.
  3. Analyze Senator Albert J. Beveridge's views on U.S. acquisition strategies for global commerce, including the moral implications of imperialism.

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