Details the economic, political, and ideological justifications for American overseas expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including key figures and theories.
What were the three main drivers of American imperialism in the late 19th century?
1. Economic interests (new markets for goods, sources for raw materials)
2. Political and military competition (a desire for a strong navy and global prestige)
3. A belief in cultural superiority (racial and religious ideologies).
According to Alfred Thayer Mahan's 'The Influence of Sea Power Upon History,' what was essential for a nation to achieve world power status?
Mahan argued that a powerful navy was crucial for national greatness. This required a network of overseas naval bases for refueling and supply, which in turn required colonization or control of foreign territories.
What was the core argument of Josiah Strong's influential book, 'Our Country'?
Strong argued for Anglo-Saxon superiority and asserted that the United States had a divine mission to spread its 'civilizing' influence, including Protestant Christianity and democratic values, to 'inferior' peoples around the world.
How did the concept of Social Darwinism apply to foreign policy and justify imperialism?
Social Darwinism applied the idea of 'survival of the fittest' to nations. Proponents argued that it was natural and right for strong, 'fit' nations like the United States to dominate weaker, 'unfit' nations.
How did the closing of the American frontier, officially noted in the 1890 census, contribute to the push for overseas expansion?
Historian Frederick Jackson Turner argued the frontier had been a 'safety valve' for American society. Its closing led some to believe that America needed new lands for expansion, resources, and opportunities to maintain its vitality.
What economic factors drove the United States to seek new markets abroad?
The immense productivity of American industry created a surplus of manufactured goods. Imperialists argued that new overseas markets were needed to sell these goods and prevent economic downturns and labor unrest at home.
Who was Queen Liliuokalani and what happened to her rule in Hawaii?
She was the last monarch of Hawaii. Her 'Hawaii for Hawaiians' agenda threatened the interests of American sugar planters, who, with the help of U.S. Marines, overthrew her in 1893 and pushed for U.S. annexation.
What was the 'White Man's Burden,' a phrase taken from a Rudyard Kipling poem?
It was an ideological justification for imperialism, suggesting that it was the moral duty of white Westerners to govern and 'civilize' the supposedly backward non-white peoples of the world.
