The Pros and Cons of Imperialism
Thoughts on United States
Imperialism
Reasons for the US to Expand Overseas:
• Continental frontier was not adequate
– US needed “elbow room”
Reasons for (continued)
• US belief in cultural superiority
– Race, values, religion, and economics
– Goal was to civilize the world
– Helping “lesser peoples”
**Ethnocentrism**
Reasons for (continued)
• Industrialization
– Increase in productivity=need for new markets
– natural resources
Reasons for (continued)
• Social Darwinism
– “survival of the fittest” applied to people AND
nations
Anti-Imperialism Arguments
• Unchristian
• Imperialism is
undemocratic
• Lack of resources to
defend acquired
territories
Anti-Imperialism (continued)
• Stay out of European affairs
– Use the two oceans to protect us
– Stay isolated
• Imperialism= tyranny
– US was a colony of Great Britain once
Anti-Imperialism (continued)
• There is no need to expand overseas
– Country has everything it needs
Political Cartoon Activity
• Look at each political cartoon
– Argument being made for or against imperialism
– List the details of each cartoon
Bill Walker
Anti-Imperialism
Theodore Roosevelt
Pro-Imperialism
Howard Zinn
Anti-Imperialism
Ernest Crosby
Anti-Imperialism
Rudyard Kipling
Pro-Imperialism