The document provides background information on how the US became a world power following the Civil War. It discusses the US policy of isolationism in the late 1800s while European nations practiced imperialism and colonialism. Economic pressures and social ideologies influenced the US to begin expanding overseas through acquiring Hawaii and building a modern navy. Tensions grew between the US and Spain over Cuba, which led to the Spanish-American War in 1898 and marked the US emerging as a new imperial power.

1. Unit IIIThe US Becomes a World PowerChapter 12

2. Following the Civil War, America wanted to do 3 things:

4. 1. Reconstruct the South

5. 2. Settling the West

6. 3. Become Industrial

7. The US was not interested in expanding nations, territories or having international influence.

8. Our Foreign Policy—(how we deal with other nations)-was called Isolationism—the policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs

9. European countries did the opposite-they started to practice expansionism and imperialism-theeconomic and political domination -taking over smaller countries

14. Why?Most industrial nations had placed tariffs on their products-intended to protect their products, however in effect what they did was they reduced trade between the countries. So now what?? What do companies do when the countries around them stop trading?

15. They look for other marketsWhere?Overseas—Africa and Asia.They started to not only trade with these countries but also invest in these countries. So then they needed to protect their investments.In order to do that they started to exert control over those territories where their investmentsWere and soon these areas became colonies.

16. The next thing we know Africa and Asia have been carved up by countries like Britain, France and Spain. The US starts to feel like they better get a “piece of the pie” or else…..

17. http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=7DA63659-26F6-439C-836A-0FA7FA13E3A3&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

18. So we have economic pressures to expand but also we have social reasonsJosiah Strong, a popular minister in the late 1800’s linked Anglo-Saxonism to Christian missionary ideas. He said the Anglo- Saxon was “divinely commissioned to be, in a peculiar sense, his brother’s keeper”

19. The White Man’s Burden

20. Rudyard Kipling

21. Expansion in the Pacific- Hawaii

22. Expansion in the Pacific-HawaiiAs trade with China and Japan increased, many Americans became interested in Hawaii. Ships traveling between China and the US regularly stopped in Hawaii. Americans soon discovered that the climate and soil of the islands were suitable for growing sugarcane. Planters became very powerful and wealthy. Soon tensions between the planters and the Hawaiians mounted.

23. In 1891 Queen Liliuokalani ascended to the Hawaiian throne.

24. Faced with an economic crisis and the queen’s action, the planters backed an attempt to overthrow the queen. Supported by the US marines, a group of planters, with the help of Samuel Dole, forced the queen to give up power and set up a temporary government. Five years later, the US annexed Hawaii.

25. Building a Modern NavyAs Americans were becoming more willing to risk war in defense of American interest overseas, support for building a large modern navy and acquiring navy bases began to grow.

26. Alfred T. Mahan wrote a book called The Influence of Sea Power. In it he wrote about the importance of a nation having a great navy. It became a best seller and helped to build public support for a big navy. Along with a very powerful senator, Henry Cabot Lodge, the US was well on its way to becoming one of the tip naval powers in the world.

27. Summary: By the 1890’s, several ideas had come together: Business leaders wanted new market overseasAnglo Saxonismhad convinced many Americans that hey had a destiny to dominate the worldGrowing European imperialism threatened America’s security Combined with Mahan’s influence, these ideas convinced congress to authorize the construction of a modern American navy.

28. Chapter 12 Sec. 2The Spanish American War 1898Why did the US go to war against Spain in 1898 and why was the outcome significant?

29. By the late 1800’s, Spain was no longer a world power. Its empire only now consisted of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico