Unit 12 Lesson 1: American Imperialism

Question 1

How were countries in Europe building their empire and how did it make US feel

Answer 1

Countries in Europe were building their empires through imperialism and the United States did not want to be left behind.

Question 2

What is imperialism

Answer 2

a national policy of expanding power by taking control of other lands and peoples

Question 3

A new group of American leaders rose up against the trend of

Answer 3

isolationism

Question 4

What is isolationism

Answer 4

Isolationism is a policy of staying out of world affairs.

Question 5

Throdora Roosevelt was one of the America leaders who rose up agaisnt the trend of isolationism; elaborate

Answer 5

. One example was Theodore Roosevelt. Then assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy, he supported expanding the navy to increase American territory.

Question 6

The U.S. Navy needed to modernize to compete with the fleets of European powers such as Great Britain and Germany. Elaborate

Answer 6

As late as 1890, much of the navy’s fleet was made up of iron-hulled and wholly wooden ships. Just 13 were modern ships that were made of steel and powered by steam engines. The U.S. Navy needed to modernize to compete with the fleets of European powers such as Great Britain and Germany.

Question 7

Another influencer of foreign expansion was historian Frederick Jackson Turner. What idea did he introduce at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893

Answer 7

At the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, he introduced his frontier thesis.

Question 8

What was the frontier thesis about

Answer 8

He theorized that the blending of European traditions and native wilderness in the frontier lands had developed the unique characteristics of American democracy and individualism.

Question 9

How did the frontier thesis resonate with expansionists

Answer 9

His argument that “for nearly three centuries the dominant fact in American life has been expansion” resonated with expansionists.

Question 10

How do historians feel about Turner’s ideas now

Answer 10

Later historians would regard Turner’s thesis as deeply flawed. It did not take into consideration the indigenous people who had lived in these lands long before settlers had arrived.

Question 11

How did Turner infleunce US leaders

Answer 11

However, the young historian’s work greatly influenced politicians and thinkers of the day. Turner exposed the problem; U.S. leaders found a solution by seeking out new frontiers for the creation of an American empire.

Question 12

Why did the policy of isolationism no longer work for new American leaders?

Answer 12

: New American leaders wanted the U.S. to become a global power. Focusing only on domestic affairs would not lead to the global expansion European nations had modeled.

Question 13

What was Alfred Thayer Mahan

Answer 13

Alfred Thayer Mahan was another American leader who was eager to expand U.S. influence. Mahan was a naval strategist and historian.

Question 14

While Turner exposed the problem of a lack of frontier land, Mahan provided a practical guide to solve the problem. What book did Mahan solve the problem?

Answer 14

In his book, The Influence of Seapower upon History

Question 14

In his book, The Influence of Seapower upon History, Mahan suggested three strategies to build and maintain an empire:

Answer 14

1. Build a stronger, more powerful navy.
2. Establish a network of bases to support the expanding navy.
3. Construct a canal across the isthmus of Central America.

Question 15

The U.S. government responded quickly to the first strategy, passing the

Answer 15

Naval Act of 1890

Question 16

What did the Naval Act of 1890 do

Answer 16

This act authorized the production of a new, modern fleet.

Question 17

What was the outcome of the Naval Act of 1890

Answer 17

By 1898, the size of the U.S. Navy had increased to an active fleet of 160 vessels, 114 of which were built of steel. In addition, the fleet included six battleships. It had previously had none. This massive increase in naval resources made the U.S. Navy the third strongest in the world, behind only Spain and Great Britain.

Question 18

What enabled the completion of the second strategy.

Answer 18

Acquisition of Pacific and Caribbean islands in the time period from 1865 to 1900 enabled the completion of the second strategy.

Question 19

What are the benfits of having island bases

Answer 19

Island bases would be key in supporting the new fleet with fueling stations and food and supplies for its crews. Remote bases enabled the fleet to travel and patrol in waters far away from the mainland U.S.

Question 20

What led to the completion of the 3rd sttratergy

Answer 20

Construction of the Panama Canal in the first decade of the 1900s completed the third strategy.

Question 21

What were the effects of the Panama Canal

Answer 21

This canal would decrease the time and power needed to move ships from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean by two-thirds. It would also be a boon to international trade.

Question 22

Why did Mahan suggest establishing a network of bases to support the expanding navy?

Answer 22

The network of bases was needed to refuel the fleet and to provide supplies and food to its crews. Without this support, the fleet would be severely limited in how far it could travel away from the mainland United States.

Question 23

What was the befnits of US forging new and stonger ties overseas

Answer 23

By forging new and stronger ties overseas, the United States gained access to new sources of labor and new markets for its exports. It also afforded greater access to the raw materials needed by U.S. industries.

Question 24

What did Americans learn from the Oanic of 1893? How did the expansion affect this

Answer 24

The Panic of 1893 showed business owners that they needed to tap into new markets. New markets would diversify their pool of customers, thus decreasing the risk of doing business. Having more customers in different places lowered the risk that they would all stop buying products at once, as had happened in previous depressions.

Question 25

Religious leaders and progressive reformers joined businesses in support of American expansion. Why so

Answer 25

Religious leaders sought to spread Christian values, while progressive reformers hoped to bring American democracy to other parts of the world. Many of them had good intentions, but their paternalistic attitudes often undermined their efforts.

Question 26

What does paternalism mean

Answer 26

Paternalism refers to treating other countries as a father would a child, and discounting indigenous culture and knowledge.

Question 27

What was it like for people in US terrtiories

Answer 27

The people of newly acquired U.S. territories did not have much, if any, influence when important decisions about their lives were made. Many grew to resent not being allowed to make their own choices. This was the source of much political and social conflict between the U.S. and the people of its overseas territories.

Question 28

What were the economic reasons for expanding American territory?

Answer 28

Business owners wanted to increase the size of their customer pool to decrease risk. Industrial production required new sources of labor and natural resources. American consumers wanted cheaper goods, which could be provided with a larger marketplace and increased competition.

Question 29

What religious and social interests pushed America toward expansion?

Answer 29

Religious leaders saw expansion as a chance to spread Christian values. Reformers saw a similar opportunity to spread their progressive ideas.

Question 29

What motivated progressive reformers to spread their ideas in foreign countries?

Answer 29

Some progressive reformers believed in the concept of the white man’s burden, the idea that non-Anglo-Saxon people were inferior and needed support and guidance from white people. Others loved democracy and wanted other countries to adopt democratic governments.

Question 30

What was Secretary of State William Seward, who held that position from 1861 through 1869, goals

Answer 30

Secretary of State William Seward, who held that position from 1861 through 1869, worked to extend American political and commercial influence in Asia and Latin America.

Question 31

Why did Secretary of State William Seward form a treaty with Nicaragua

Answer 31

a treaty with Nicaragua for the future construction of the Panama Canal.

Question 32

Why did Secretary of State William Seward pushed through the annexation of the Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean

Answer 32

He also pushed through the annexation of the Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean to open a more stable route to Asian markets.

Question 33

What was the usage of the midway islands

Answer 33

Steam ships used coal for fuel. The navy wanted to establish a coaling station in the Midway Islands (now known as the Midway Atoll). It was hoped this would allow the navy to widen its geographic reach. The proposed coaling station proved unworkable, but the Midway Islands would be strategically vital to the U.S. a few decades later during World War II.

Question 34

What reasons made Russia accept the American Purchase

Answer 34

. Russia had recently lost the Crimean War to Great Britain. With the British colony of British Columbia nearby, Russia feared losing the Territory of Alaska to future military conflicts. In addition, offering Alaska to the United States could create challenges for Great Britain. British Columbia stood between the United States and Alaska. Russians hoped the U.S., with its newly expansionist policies, might invade British Columbia to establish a land route to its new territory. For these reasons, Russia accepted the American purchase offer of $7.2 million.

Question 35

What was the seward’s Folly

Answer 35

In the United States, some people questioned the purchase and labeled it Seward’s Folly. They questioned the region’s large size, the presence of native peoples, and the difficulty of living there. Such detractors claimed that only finding gold in the Alaskan mountains could redeem this purchase. Luckily for Seward, his investment resulted in just that. It added an enormous territory to the country—nearly 600,000 square miles—and also gave the United States access to the rich mineral resources of the region, including the gold that triggered the Klondike gold rush at the close of the century.