Unit 7: Topic 2 - Imperialism: Debates

Question 1

Define Imperialism.

Answer 1

Imperialism is a policy of expanding a nation’s territory, power, or influence through force. This expansion will most often use military or economic force, but subtler forms can be used as well.

During the late 1800s, imperialists began looking to expand beyond the United States’ immediate borders. This era of Imperialism is most often associated with President William McKinley and the Spanish-American War.

Question 2

How did the purchase of Alaska influence American Imperialism?

Answer 2

Although the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 was before the time period associated with American Imperialism, the discovery of gold in 1898 changed people’s perception of expansion. Because Alaska was so far removed from the rest of the United States and it contained large amounts of gold, territorial expansion beyond U.S. borders became a more popular idea among the American public.

Question 3

What were the motivations of the Imperialists?

Answer 3

Imperialists were motivated by a variety of reasons such as:
- expanded access to raw materials
- new markets for American goods
- the spread of Christianity
- the spread of western civilization
- social darwinism - tied in with racism and religion

Question 4

How did Alfred Thayer Mahan influence American Imperialism?

Answer 4

Alfred Thayer Mahan’s book “The Influence of Sea Power on History” argued that a strong navy was necessary to secure foreign markets and dominate trade. This influenced Congress to build up the U.S. Navy and look for new territories that could be used as supply depots to refuel and organize international trade.

Question 5

What was the Anti-Imperialist League?

Answer 5

The Anti-Imperialist League was a group opposed to the annexation of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. They believed that a forced annexation was against the American principle of the “consent of the governed”.

One of the most popular members was three times Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. He campaigned for President on an anti-imperialist platform and lost each time.

Question 6

What were the arguments of the anti-imperialists?

Answer 6

Anti-imperialist arguments
- Democracy: Forcing people to join your country is anti-democratic
- Racism: Most foreigners are non-white and would change the demographics of the United States
- Isolationism: The U.S. should stay out of the affairs of other countries to avoid being drawn into a conflict.