HS/JHS American/World History

1. America & The Age of
Imperialism

2. Why Did the United
States adopt a policy of
Imperialism ?
Is America a Republic
or an Empire?

3. “ An empire of Liberty...”
The Founding Fathers mostly saw America as an “anti-Empire”
- an enormous continent of free citizens governing themselves
in an expanding, democratic, Republic . A model and
inspiration for democratic revolutions elsewhere.

4. 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago
quot;The Significance of the Frontier in American
Historyquot;
“Up to our own day
American history has been
in a large degree the
history of the colonization
of the Great West. The
existence of an area of free
land, its continuous
recession, and the
advance of American
settlement westward,
explain American
Frederick Jackson Turner
development.”

5. A NETWORK FOR MAHAN
EMPIRE
TURNER
ROOSEVELT
Henry & Brooks ADAMS
LODGE

6. MANIFEST DESTINY
James K. Polk

7. National Greatness
Colonies for naval bases
Colonies to increase trade
Bridge to China - “Open Door”

9. 1. MORALITY
The “ White Man’s Burden” (Anglo-American) or “Civilization
Burden
Mission” (Franco-Belgian) to spread modern ideas, medicine, good
Mission
government and education. Ending slavery and other evils was another major
goal.
RUDYARD KIPLING

10. 2. RELIGIOUS-MYSTICAL
Reverend Josiah Strong and missionary societies wanted colonization to spread
the Gospel of Christ and put “Anglo-Saxons” in charge of running the world.
Christian Missionaries in Qing China

11. 3. ECONOMIC
The industrial revolution required raw materials, resources and
markets

12. 4. POLITICAL
An empire is a sign that a nation is truly great

13. 5. STRATEGIC
Colonies to provide coaling stations, naval bases and to deny the
enemy access to strategic waterways like the Panama Canal in time of
war.
Adm. A.T. Mahan

14. “THE IRON TRIANGLE of IMPERIALISM”
MISSIONARIES
MERCHANTS MILITARY OFFICERS

15. YELLOW JOURNALISM
William Randolph Hearst Joseph Pulitzer

16. What did the
Advocates of
an American
Empire Manage
to Achieve ?

17. Annexation of Hawaii 1898
Lorrin A. Thurston Sanford Ballard Dole
Queen Lili'uokalani
Deposed 1893

18. Spanish-American War 1898
Colonies:
The Philippines
Puerto Rico
Guam
Protectorate:
Cuba

19. Open Door Notes 1899 -1900
Sec. of State John Hay

20. The Panama Canal Zone 1903-1977

21. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
“If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and
political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United
States....in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may
force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing....to the exercise of
an international police power.”
“The Big Stick”