Debates About American Imperialism (Period 7 Topic 2)

Imperialism: the expansion of one country’s political, economic, and military influence over another country

Purchase of Alaska in 1867

Russia and Great Britain laid competing claims to the territory
William Seward proposed a purchase of the territory for $7.2 million
Branded as Seward’s Folly because territory was viewed as an icebox with no value * That was until 1898 when gold was discovered
Westward expansion
Frederick Jackson Turner told everyone about the dangers of the frontier closing

Imperialists

Value of raw materials and markets for American manufactured and agricultural goods
Social Darwinism used to justify imperialism * The strong eat the weakest to survive * Was applied onto politics and economics * America would be considered a second-class nation if it did not compete expanding European nations
Racial motivations * Josiah Strong’s Our Country argued that the Anglo-Saxon race was the pinnacle of human evolution and was the fittest to survive
Religious motivations * Christian duty of the white race to expand itself abroad and bring the glories of Christianity and western civilization
Alfred Thayer Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power on History argued that any country that was on the world stage got there through a robust navy * Argued it was the only way to secure foreign markets * Congress approved the construction of a massive new steel fleet of ships * Secured Pacific and Caribbean territories to facilitate American naval dominance

Anti-Imperialists

Self-determination for nations * A nation should be able to decide for itself who ruled it and what laws were passed * Same arguments colonial Americans used to reject British rule
Isolationism from foreign affairs * George Washington warned against foreign entanglement to avoid conflict, wars, and economic disputes
Racial arguments * Do colonized people become American citizens with the same rights and privileges? * Argued the Constitution should follow the flag