american imperialism

By: Jackie White

Danvers High School

America Claims an Empire

Key Question: What is an empire?

Learning Objectives:Students will understand the meaning of

the word empire by creating their own definitions.

Creating an Empire

What does “super” mean?What does “power” mean?What is a “super power?”

Bellwork:

Military supremacy, economic power, global influence, technological and scientific prowess, and world wide alliances.

How does a country become a superpower?

Superpower

Read 2 different articles on empire Colossus The Price of America’s Empire by Niall Ferguson (2004) & Paul Schroeder article Is the U.S. an Empire.(hard copies)

Background Reading

Create your own definition of empire using the 4 square model: definition, examples, used in a sentence, & visualization.

Activity: How would you define empire?

Definition: Empire- a transactional political formation by which a state exerts power over another subordinated society, territory, and peoples.Political control exercised by one organized political unit over another unit separate from and alien to it. But need not mean direct rule exercised by formal occupation by one unit within a community of units not under a single authority. Imperial power rules over subordinates. Imperialism by definition, empire is the negation of political freedom, liberation, and self-determination.

Examples: Roman, Ottoman, British, French, American, etc.

Used in a sentence:  The United States began creating an empire when it annexed Hawaii at the turn of the 20th century.

Visual:   

Definition of Empire

Working Definition: a transnational political formation by which a state

exerts power over another subordinated society, territory and peoples.

What is “empire”?

How does a country create an empire?

FORMAL: Directly ruling foreign territoryImperial state declares sovereignty over territory (aka “colonial”)

INFORMAL: Exercising power without direct rule over nominally independent states (e.g. financial aid, military invasion or temporary military occupation, “gunboat diplomacy”, covert operations, etc.)

What are the ways in which this power is exercised?

Do you think that the United States engaged in imperialist actions? If so, can you think of any examples?

Click on Time Rime timeline and have identify 3 instances when the U.S. appeared to engage in imperialistic actions.

“Was the United States an empire in the 20th century?”

Discussion Questions:

Key Questions:What are the arguments in favor of and against

American expansion?

Learning Objectives:Students will understand the major arguments

in favor of and against imperialism and be able to explain their personal opinion.

Activity: Click the Imperialist Reasoning Guide link on

the next page and check the response that corresponds with your beliefs.

Imperialist or Anti-Imperialist

Imperialist Reasoning Survey

Move around the room to indicate your level of agreement with each of the statements.

As a group discuss the reasons for your beliefs.

Select a group spokesperson to share the groups reasoning with the rest of the class.

Each group shares their beliefs and discusses the merits and drawbacks of each position.

Imperialist Reasoning Guide

Key Questions: What factors motivate American expansion? Learning Objectives:Students will understand the various factors that motivate

American expansion and be able to identify them in a Pears Soap Advertisement.

Main Idea: Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century, global

competition, economic, military, & political factors caused the United States to expand.

Why It Matters Now: During this time period, the United States acquired Hawaii and

Alaska, both of which became states in 1959.

Imperialist Motives

Sustained Noticing What do you notice about this picture?

Everyone can see the picture so everyone can notice something.

Once a student notices something the class will stick with it until there is nothing else to notice.

Bellwork:When should the U.S. intervene in the affairs of another country?

Background on American Foreign Policy

George Washington was appointed president for 2 terms in 1789.

At the end of his presidency, George Washington passed 2 very important documents which shaped the beginning of U.S. foreign policy.

Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793

The issue being considered was US involvement in the French Revolution.

States that the US will be neutral to any foreign conflict and not have permanent alliances.

The Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 provided the basis for United States foreign policy until World War 1 and World War 2.

Washington Farewell Address in 1796

Washington warned the nation to steer clear of any permanent alliance with Europe because he believed European and American interest were different.

Stressed trade and warned against "entangling alliances."◦

This policy of isolationism lasted until the Boxer Rebellion.

American IsolationismDuring 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.

Manifest Destiny

19th century doctrine in which the U.S. believed it had the “God given right” to expand into the whole North American continent

Manifest DestinyThe closing of the

frontier in 1890 marked the end to westward expansion in the U.S.

Manifest destiny encouraged the US to expand to spread American culture, Christian religion, and democratic government abroad

ImperialismPolicy in which stronger nations seek to extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker nations.

Factors that Fueled American Imperialism1. 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

Global CompetitionEuropean nations

competed for territory in Africa & Asia, especially China,.

Japan began modernizing

Japan joined other European nations in competing for China.

Desire for Military Strength

Alfred T Mahan urged the U.S. to build up its navy power to compete with other powerful nations

Transformed the U.S. into the 3rd largest naval power in the world.

Great White Fleet

Thirst for New Markets19th century

advances in technology enabled farmers and factories to produce far more goods than Americans could consume.

The U.S. needed raw materials for the factories and new markets for U.S. goods.

Belief in Cultural SuperiorityU.S. had a responsibility to spread Christianity, and civilization to uplift “inferior people”

Used to justify imperialism

Ticket to leave index card: What were some American motives for expansion illustrated in the Pear’s Soap advertisement?

Wrap-Up

Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century, global competition caused the United States to expand.

During this time period, the United States acquired Hawaii and Alaska, both of which became states in 1959.

Main Idea

To understand the media’s potential to sway public opinion and even to dictate events

To understand the main reasons why the United States declared war on Spain

Learning Objectives:

U.S. Acquires AlaskaWilliam Seward a

supporter of American expansion arranged to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, or .02 cents per acre.

They called it “Seward’s Ice box”

It was rich in timber, minerals, & oil

U.S. Takes Midway Islands

No one lived on the island the event did not attract much attention

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=942&bih=625&q=midway%20islands&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

American Missionaries in Hawaii

In the 1820’s American missionaries founded Christian schools and churches on the island.

A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to carry on ministries of the Word of God

The missionaries children and grandchildren grew up to be sugar planters on the island.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

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American Owned Sugar Plantations in Hawaii

In 1875, U.S. agreed to import Hawaiian sugar duty (tax) free.

McKinley Tariff of 1890 eliminated the duty (tax) free status of Hawaiian sugar causing American planters to face competition in U.S. market

American planters wanted to US to annex Hawaii so they would not have to pay the duty

U.S. Takes HawaiiSince the 1790’s U.S.

merchant ships stopped in Hawaii on their way to China and East India

1887 U.S. military leaders pressured Hawaii to build a naval base at Pearl Harbor which became a refueling station for American ships

Hawaiian MonarchyHawaii had a

monarchy form of government led by King Kalakaua

American business leaders forced the king to amend Hawaii’s constitution to give voting rights only to wealthy landowners

He died in 1891 and his sister came to power.

Hawaiian MonarchyQueen Liliuokalani

succeeded her brother.

Promoted a “Hawaii for Hawaiians” agenda

Proposed moving property owning qualifications for voting which would allow for more Hawaiians to vote

Sanford B. Dole

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture. Wealthy American plantation owners did not want the property owning qualifications removed so they organized a revolution and with the help of the U.S. Marines they overthrew the queen and set up a government led by American Sanford Dole

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Should the U.S. Annex Hawaii?

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President Grover Cleveland directed that the queen be restored to her throne

He refused to consider annexation of the Republic of Hawaii unless the majority of the Hawaiians voted in favor of it

U.S. Annexes Hawaii

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William McKinley succeeded Cleveland as president

He favored annexation On august 12, 1898 Congress

proclaimed Hawaii a U.S. territory although the Hawaiians never had a chance to vote

In 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state in the U.S.

U.S. Takes Over HawaiiU.S. sugar planters call for the U.S. to

annex (take over) Hawaii so they don’t have to pay the duty/tax.

U.S. sugar planters on the island sold most of their crop to U.S.

U.S. imported Hawaiian sugar duty (tax) free.

McKinley Tariff (1890) removed the duty free status of Hawaiian sugar

End of Hawaiian Monarchy

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

U.S. Marines overthrew Queen Liluokalani

President William McKinley favored annexing Hawaii

1898 Congress proclaimed Hawaii an American territory

1959 Hawaii became the 50th state

Video on Hawaiian Annexation

http://ahiv.alexanderstreet.com/View/777561

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hawaii/program.html

From Hawaii by James A. Michener Read the excerpt

from Michner’s sweeping saga about the poiwer struggle between the native Hawaiians and the American sugar planters.

Was the US justified in taking over Hawaii, why or why not?

Should the U.S. Annex the Philippines?