Imperial Expansion

1
Imperial Expansion

• Factors Driving American Expansionism at Turn of
  20th Century Domestic industrializationSearch
  for Markets and Raw Materials International
  Climate European imperialism.
• Social Darwinism/Racial Theory Not only at home
  but also abroad
• Manifest Destiny America was preordained to
  expand in the world because it was superior
  (survival of the fittest). The treatment of the
  Native Americans.

2
Major Steps in Expansion

• Purchase of Alaska (1867)
• The control of Samoa and Hawaii in the late 19th
  and early 20th centuries
• The Spanish America War of 1898 Most Important
  Step

3
Spanish-American War of 1898

• Causes Outrage at another countrys imperialism
  Sensational media reports over Cuba and Maine
• Main battlefields Cuba and Philippines
• Trade with China Open Door Policy

4
Significance of Spanish-American War

• Turning Point in American Expansion, Producing
  War Fever and Enthusiasm
• Rise of the US as a World Power and Major
  Presence in Asia
• Anticipated Vietnam War

5
Did Everyone Support Imperialism?

• Anti-Imperialist League, 1899
• Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, Jane Addams Opposed
• From Splendid Little War to Sordid Little War

6
Mark Twain as Anti-Imperialist

• You ask me about what is called imperialism.
  Wellwe have no more business in China than in
  any other country that is not ours. There is the
  case of the Philippines. I have tried hard, and
  yet I cannot for the life of me comprehend how we
  got into that mess. Mark Twain, 1900.