Debating America’s New Debating America’s New RoleRole

Angela BrownAngela Brown

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Learning Targets:Learning Targets:

Describe the main arguments raised Describe the main arguments raised by the anti-imperialists.by the anti-imperialists.

Explain why imperialism appealed to Explain why imperialism appealed to many Americans.many Americans.

Understand how imperialism made Understand how imperialism made the United States both welcome and the United States both welcome and unpopular around the world.unpopular around the world.

The Anti-ImperialistsThe Anti-Imperialists

After annexation of the Philippines in After annexation of the Philippines in 1898 opposition to imperialism grew.1898 opposition to imperialism grew.

Anti-Imperialism League established Anti-Imperialism League established by Democrat William Jennings Bryan; by Democrat William Jennings Bryan; settlement house leader, Jane settlement house leader, Jane Addams; and novelist, Mark Twain. Addams; and novelist, Mark Twain.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/SCOPE10.JPG

Moral and Political ArgumentsMoral and Political Arguments

Expansionist behavior was a Expansionist behavior was a rejection of the nation’s foundation of rejection of the nation’s foundation of “liberty for all”.“liberty for all”.

U.S. had enough difficulty at home so U.S. had enough difficulty at home so should not take on more should not take on more responsibility.responsibility.

The large armies used to control The large armies used to control other nations could be used to crush other nations could be used to crush dissent at home.dissent at home.

http://www.authentichistory.com/images/1900s/cartoons/190x_roosevelt_big_stick.html

Racial ArgumentsRacial Arguments

Racism – belief that differences in Racism – belief that differences in character or intelligence are due to character or intelligence are due to one’s raceone’s race

Many Americans believed Anglo-Many Americans believed Anglo-Saxons were superior to other races Saxons were superior to other races – public officials often agreed!– public officials often agreed!

http://www.authentichistory.com/images/1900s/cartoons/190x_roosevelt_panama_canal.html

Southern Democrats feared effects of Southern Democrats feared effects of having to absorb more people of having to absorb more people of different races into U.S.different races into U.S.

Others feared it would encourage Others feared it would encourage people of other racial backgrounds to people of other racial backgrounds to move to the U.S.move to the U.S.

http://www.authentichistory.com/images/1900s/cartoons/1914_monroe_doctrine.html

Economic ArgumentsEconomic Arguments

Expansion involved Expansion involved too many coststoo many costs.. Maintaining necessary armed forces Maintaining necessary armed forces

required more taxation, debt, and required more taxation, debt, and possibly even compulsory (required) possibly even compulsory (required) military service.military service.

Samuel Gompers argued laborers Samuel Gompers argued laborers coming into U.S. would coming into U.S. would compete with compete with American workers for jobs.American workers for jobs.

They would work for lower wages = They would work for lower wages = drive wages downdrive wages down

Imperialism’s AppealImperialism’s Appeal

Keep Americans from losing Keep Americans from losing competitive edgecompetitive edge

Offered a Offered a new kind of frontier new kind of frontier for for American ExpansionAmerican Expansion

Scouting appeared in U.S. in 1910Scouting appeared in U.S. in 1910 Need to Need to gain access to new marketsgain access to new markets

1907 Roosevelt sent Great White Fleet on 1907 Roosevelt sent Great White Fleet on Cruise around the world to demonstrate Cruise around the world to demonstrate power to the world.power to the world.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hazegray.org/features/gwf/gwf-bc.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hazegray.org/features/gwf/battlesh.htm&h=560&w=792&sz=85&tbnid=7PYVR_88P9A6XM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreat%2Bwhite%2Bfleet%2Bphotos&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1

Two Sides of ImperialismTwo Sides of Imperialism

The U.S. often had to defend The U.S. often had to defend governments that were unpopular governments that were unpopular with local inhabitants.with local inhabitants.

Even those fearful about maintaining Even those fearful about maintaining their independence turned to the their independence turned to the U.S. for help.U.S. for help.

Imperialist RacismImperialist Racism

We wanted the land and resources We wanted the land and resources but we don’t want the people.but we don’t want the people.

Our culture and government is better Our culture and government is better than everyone else’s.than everyone else’s.

They all want to be like us. So we They all want to be like us. So we should help them be just like us.should help them be just like us.

Manifest Destiny states that God Manifest Destiny states that God means for us to have this property.means for us to have this property.