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Imperialism

The Basics - The following content has appeared on New York examinations

• Imperialism is the belief that a country can gain power by taking over areas around the world. The leaders of imperialism in the 1800s were Britain, France, and Germany. Americans felt that we were falling behind these other countries, and so the United States should have a more aggressive foriegn policy.

• The United States tries imperialism:

  1. Alaska - Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alask from Russia. Although originally thought to be a mistake, Alaska provided the U.S. with many raw materials such as lumber, fish, gold, silver, and oil.

  2. Hawaii - U.S. sugar companies were procuding sugar in Hawaii using their sugar cane. When the Hawaiians asked the Americans to leave, the U.S. sent the Marines in a bloodless takeover of the islands. This gave the U.S. a port in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

  3. Japan - Commodore Matthew Perry forces isolationist Japan to open to the United States for trade. Within 50 years of doing so, Japan is a world power.

  4. China - Germany, France, and Britain all have spheres of influence in China - special ports where only they can trade. The U.S. wants a sphere of influence, but China does not allow this. As a result, the United States issues the Open Door Policy, stating that any country was now free to trade anywhere in China. Some in China object to a foreign government making rules for them, and a group called the Boxers begin to attack foreigners. Britain, France,m Germany, and the U.S. crush the Boxer Rebellion with force and mandate that China allows foreign trade until a huge sum is paid.

  5. Spanish America War - The U.S. supports a Cuban attempt to overthrow Spanish rule on the island, and the U.S. places the USS Maine, a gunship, in the Bay of Havana. When the Maine explodes, yellow journalism articles claim it was Spanish who blew it up. The U.S. declares war on Spain and wins easily, gaining control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba in the process. Eventually the U.S. frees Cuba and the Philippines.

  6. Panama Canal - Presdident Theodore Roosevelt supports a revolution by those in Panama to overthrow Columbian rule of the area. When Panama declares independence, they permit the U.S. to contruct the Panama Canal and lease it for 99 years.