1) The document discusses American imperialism in the late 19th/early 20th century, when factors like global competition, economic interests, and beliefs in cultural superiority motivated the US to expand its territory and influence. 2) It provides examples of US expansion like the acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867 and the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 after American business interests overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. 3) The annexation of Hawaii faced some opposition from President Cleveland, who wanted Hawaiians to vote on the issue, but his successor McKinley pushed it through Congress without Hawaiian approval.

1. Miss Bonk
AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

2. What does super mean?
What does power mean?
What is a super power?

3. Military supremacy, economic
power, global influence,
technological and scientific
accomplishment
SUPERPOWER

4. How does a country become a
“superpower”?

5. A large group of states or countries under a single, supreme
authority-especially an emperor.
Supreme control in governing.
A group of nations or people ruled over by an emperor or a
powerful government. (ex: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire)
WHAT IS AN
EMPIRE?

7. Create your own definition of empire using the 4
square model
1. Definition
2. Example
3. Use it in a complete sentence
4. Draw a picture
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE AN
EMPIRE?

8. Working Definition: a transnational political formation where a
state exerts power over another subordinated society, territory
and people.
Political control exercised by one organized political unit over
another unit separate from it. The imperial power rules over the
subordinate.
WHAT IS “EMPIRE”?

9. HOW DOES A COUNTRY
CREATE AN EMPIRE?
Who is the central figure in the cartoon?
What is he holding?
What is he doing?
Who might the smaller men represent?
What are they doing?
What is the cartoon a visual
representation of?

10. Formal
• Directly ruling a foreign territory
• Imperial state declares sovereignty
over over territory
*Roman Empire, French Empire, British Empire
Informal
• Exercising power without direct rule over
somewhat independent states/countries
(financial aid, military occupation)-showing their power
*American Empire
WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH
POWER IS EXERCISED?

11. Howard Zinn A People’s History of the American Empire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
Do you think the US engaged in imperialistic actions?
If so, when?
Was the US an “empire” in the 20th century?
What do you think were the motivations for their actions?
DISCUSSION

13. What factors motivate American expansion?
Learning Objective: Understand and identify the various factors that
motivate American expansion
Main Idea: Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the 20th
century, global competition, economic, military, and political factors
cause the US to expand.
Why It Matters Now:
During this time period, the United States acquired Hawaii and
Alaska (became states in 1959).
INTRODUCTION TO
IMPERIALSM

14. When should the US intervene in the affairs
of another country?
DISCUSS

15. *During the Early Republic, America practiced a policy of
isolationism.
*A policy to remain neutral in world conflicts and not form
permanent alliances with other countries.
AMERICAN ISOLATIONISM

16. 19th century doctrine in which the US believed it had the
“God given right” to expand into the whole North
American continent.
MANIFEST
DESTINY

17. *The closing of the frontier in 1890 marked the end of
westward expansion in the US.
*Manifest destiny encouraged the US to expand and
spread American culture, Christian religion, and
democratic government abroad.
MANIFEST DESTINY

18. A policy where stronger nations exert their economic, political or
military control over weaker nations.
Factors That Fueled American Imperialism:
1. Political: Global competition
2. Military: Desire for military strength
3. Economic: Thirst for new markets
4. Cultural: Belief in cultural superiority of Anglo Saxon race
IMPERIALISM

19. 19th century advances in technology made farmers and
factories able to produce more goods than Americans
could consume.
The US needed raw materials for the factories and new
markets for US goods.
DESIRE FOR NEW
MARKETS

20.  William Seward, a supporter of American expansion, arranged to
buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (.02 cents per acre).
 They called the land “Seward’s Ice Box”
 The land was rich in timber, minerals and oils.
THE US ACQUIRES
ALASKA

21. In the 1920s, American
missionaries settled in Hawaii
and created Christian schools
and churches.
A missionary is a member of a
religious group, sent somewhere
to promote their religion.
The children of these
missionaries grew up to be sugar
planters on the island.
THE UNITED STATES IN HAWAII

22. In 1875, the US agreed to import Hawaiian
sugar duty (tax) free.
The McKinley Tariff of 1890 got rid of the tax
free status of Hawaiian sugar grown by US
sugar planters on the island, causing
American planters to face competition in the
US market.
American planters wanted the US to annex
Hawaii so they would not have to pay the
sugar tax.
THE UNITED STATES IN
HAWAII

23. Queen Liliuokalini wanted “Hawaii for
Hawaiians”
She wanted to get rid of property owning
qualifications for voting which would
allow more Hawaiians to vote.
Wealthy American sugar plantation
owners did not want the property owning
qualifications removed. They organized
a revolution and with the help of US
Marines they overthrew the queen and
set up a new government.
THE UNITED STATES IN HAWAII

24. SHOULD THE US ANNEX HAWAII?
President Grover Cleveland said the queen had to be given back her
throne.
President Cleveland refused to consider annexing Hawaii unless the
majority of the Hawaiians voted in favor of it.
THE UNITED STATES IN
HAWAII

25. ANNEXING HAWAII
William McKinley, President after Cleveland, favored annexing
Hawaii.
On August 12, 1898 Congress proclaimed Hawaii a US territory even
though Hawaiians never had a chance to vote.
In 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state.
THE UNITED STATES IN
HAWAII