Imperialism: The Origins of a Global Power

Questions for Introduction and Part I - The Origins of a Global Power

1. Why did American plantation owners and U.S. Marines topple Hawaii’s queen in 1893? Why was Hawaii considered to be a valuable prize? What was President Grover Cleveland’s reaction? Do you agree or disagree with his quote on page 1?

Since Hawaii was in the middle of the Pacific ocean, it offered a crucial stopping point for American ships traveling to East Asia. Also Hawaii had rich volcanic soil that was ideal for growing crops such as sugar, pineapples and coffee. This made Hawaii a valuable prize. American plantation owners wanted the islands officially under U.S. control and with the help of U.S. marines, this became a reality. But Grover Cleveland withdrew the treaty that allowed the U.S. to annex Hawaii. He believed that annexation would corrupt traditional American values of freedom and equality. I agree with his quote on page 1 because I don't think that taking over Hawaii was right. Hawaii was a happy, sovereign nation and the U.S. shouldn't have come in and toppled the Queen. The U.S. didn't have the right to invade like that.

2. Identify five important changes that transformed America in the nineteenth century. How did these five changes affect Americans?

1)Population Growth-Immigration to America was very high during this time. Many people living in America at this time were immigrants, which changed and broadened America's ethnic diversity.

2)Economic Expansion-Since many immigrants were coming into the country, and many of them most likely didn't have much money, the economy changed a lot. There was an increasing lower/working class.

3)Urban Growth-Many immigrants settled in cities where there were job opportunities. Cities grew tremendously. This made quite a few problems such as transportation issues, housing issues and diseases. This also affected the agriculture in the country, making it decrease.

4)Trade-The increase of manufactured goods made trade more important. Advances in transportation made trade easier. Since there were many European tariffs (taxes on imported goods), U.S. exporters looked towards less developed countries of Latin America and Asia to expand their sales. They were especially interested in China. This changed the selection of items Americans could buy since the country was trading with different countries who traded different products.

5)The 1893 Depression-When two major railroads went bankrupt, the New York Stock Exchange tumbled. Many banks and businesses went bankrupt. Prices declines and millions of Americans lost their jobs. This made many workers realize how vulnerable they were in an economy based on industry and manufacturing. This depression made many people concerned that the United States wouldn't be able to compete globally and that all of the changes during this century might not have been good for America.

3. How did the economic depression that began in 1893 deepen the divisions in American society? Which groups suffered the most during the depression?

The economic depression deepened the divisions in American society. There were two groups of Americans, those who favored "cheap" money and those who favored "tight" money. This had to do with their views on how to fix the country's economic problems. Those who favored cheap money, who were mostly farmers in debt, believed that an increase in the money supply to lower interest rates which they thought would ease their debt burden and raise crop prices. Those who favored tight money said that increasing the money supply would cause unstoppable inflation and cripple the national economy. Since the depression caused many Americans to lose their jobs, the working class suffered a large amount. Workers raliezed how vulnerable they were in an economy based on industry and manufacturing.

4. What were the values many Americans attached to the frontier? Why did many Americans fear that the closing of the frontier would harm America’s national character?

The Americans looked at the frontier as being abundent of fertile land and other natural resources. They also attached words like bravery, individualism and patriotism. Many Americans feared that the closing of the frontier would harm America's national character because the frontier defined what America was all about. Some people thought that America wouldn't survive without this abundance of land to draw immigrants to the U.S. and westward in the country.

5. Why did some Americans suggest greater involvement overseas?
They believed that this would fuel economic growth. Overseas there were many people who where potential customers of American trade (this would help control the surplus of American products).

6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say?

Expansionalists said that trading with other foreign nations would ensure the economis success of the U.S. Imperialists believed that the U.S. should build a sizable overseas empire which would rule over foreign territories. This would enable the U.S. to secure export markets, raw materials, and cheap labor.

7. How did the theories of social Darwinism and scientific racism lend support to the cause of American imperialism? How were these pseudo-scientific theories used to justify racist policies and imperialism? Are they still used today?
They believed in social Darwinism and thought that the cultures of western Europe had shown their superiority by taking over most of the world. They believed that imperialism reflected the "survival of the fittest." Scientific racism (the belief that certain races were more intelligent than others), was based on a foundation of false biological research. These pseudo-scientific theories backed up the idea that the U.S. and some European nations were destined by nature to dominate the world.  

These pseudo-scientific theories are not still used today because they have been proven wrong.

8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world?

Many Protestant churches said that America's role was to civilize the world.  Missionaries were sent overseas to civilize other nations.

9. Why did the United States become involved in several Latin American nations in the nineteenth century? Summarize why the United States became involved in Samoa, Hawaii, and other Latin American nations.
The U.S. became involved with Samoa because is ensured a permanent, secure resting and refueling point for American ships on their way to Australia, where they could trade.  Hawaii had many sugar plantations and it provided a stopping point in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for ships heading to East Asia.  This made the U.S. interested in Hawaii.  Hawaii became a colony of the U.S. in 1898.

10. Why was the United States concerned about British involvement in Venezuela? What concept did U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney invoke in response?

The U.S. was concerned that Britain was bullying Venezuela.  If Britain made Venezuela a colony, the U.S. couldn't expand it's commercial ties to Latin America.  Richard Only invoked the Monroe Doctrine, which tried to prevent Britain from doing this.