Period 7: 1890-1950 Flashcards
Post Civil War US goals:
-increase foreign trade
-gain new territories in Caribbean Sea and across Pacific Ocean
William H Seward Accomplishments
-stopped Britain and France from allying with the Confederacy
-annexed Midway Island
-purchase Alaska
-Gained canal-building rights in Nicaragua
William H Seward shortcomings
-didn’t annex Hawaii
-didn’t purchase Danish West Indies
How was Alaska purchased?
Russia and Britain both claimed Alaska, but Russia got control. Due to pressures by Britain, Russia sold Alaska to the US under Seward’s support
Public opinion of Alaska
it was worthless until gold was found
Increased interaction with Hawaii
Ulysses S Grant wanted control over Pearl Harbor and trade treaties
-US got exclusive trade rights to Hawaiian sugar
Annexation issues with Hawaii
US settlers in Hawaii helped overthrow Queen Liliuokalani and supported US annexation, but Grover Cleveland blocked annexation
Where was being conquered by imperialism?
Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands
Imperialism definition
extending a country’s power and control
Which countries were imperialists?
France, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, the US
How did countries imperialize?
Military force, diplomats, economic control
the US tried not to use _____ to imperialize
military force
Economic benefits to imperialization
-new raw materials like oil, minerals, rubber
-new markets/customers
Political benefits to imperialization
would allow US to emerge as a major world power
Supporters of imperialization
business leaders, republicans, farmers who wanted a larger market
Alfred Thayer Mahan and The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
-wanted a larger navy
-wanted a canal
-wanted US ports/bases throughout the world
Congress paid for what naval advancement
modern steel ships
Did Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge support a larger navy
Yes
What other reason caused people to support imperialism
Idea of no more frontier and still wanting to expand
Reverend Josiah Strong
-thought Anglo Saxons were superior
-Protestant Americans needed to spread Christianity and superior American culture to less developed countries
Did the press support imperialism?
Yes, it gave it stories about adventure and exploration
Opposition to imperialism
-countries had a right to self government
-Imperialism was racist
-Imperialism would bring other races to America
-Isolationism ideals
-Building a strong navy and controlling other territories was too costly
James G Blaine
extended tradition that the US was Latin America’s protector and in charge of Western Hemisphere
Pan American Conference
reps from Western Hemisphere decided to cooperate on trade, economic, and political issues
