USH2 UNIT 2: FACTORS THAT LED
TO EXPANSION
LESSON 2.2: Expansion leads to Imperialism
Unit Overview
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The purpose of this unit is to understand the
factors that led to exploration, settlement,
movement, and expansion and their impact on
United States development over time.
Activating
List as many reasons you can
think of as to why Americans
risk settling in the west
during the last half of the
19th century?
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 http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=Q16OZkgSXfM
QUICK WRITE: How did our
experience in the western
frontier help shape modern
America?
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Western Frontier – Frederick Jackson
Turners Frontier Thesis
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The Frontier Thesis or Turner
Thesis, is the argument advanced
by historian Frederick Jackson
Turner in 1893 that American
democracy was formed by the
American Frontier. In essence, our
frontier experience made us who
we are today: risk takers and
adventurers, rugged individualists,
fiercely independent. In addition
Turner emphasizes the need for a
“frontier” in order for Americans
to remain “cutting edge”. What
“Frontiers” do we still have today?
Many historians point out today
that Turner fails to mention the
plight of Native Americans in his
Thesis.
Turners Frontier Thesis
School House Rock
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs2w4lwQRtc
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New Markets
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DURING THE LATE 1800’S,
THE DESIRE TO FIND
NEW MARKETS, INCREASE
TRADE, AND BUILD A
POWERFUL NAVY
CAUSED THE UNITED
STATES TO BECOME MORE
INVOLVED IN
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Imperialism
BUILDING SUPPORT FOR IMPERIALISM
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IN THE 1800’S, NATIONS IN EUROPE EXPANDED OVERSEAS
IMPERIALISM IS A STRONG NATION’S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
DOMINATION OVER WEAKER ONES.
CAUSES:
EUROPE NEEDED MORE RAW MATERIALS
TARIFFS HURT TRADE
NEED FOR NEW MARKETS = INDUSTRY
TO PROTECT INVESTMENTS, EUROPE MADE COUNTRIES INTO
COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES
IN A PROTECTORATE, THE IMPERIAL POWER LET LOCAL RULERS
STAY IN CONTROL
A FEELING OF SUPERIORITY
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THE UNITED STATES ALSO WANTED TO FIND NEW MARKETS IN
OTHER COUNTRIES
SOME AMERICANS USED SOCIAL DARWINISM TO JUSTIFY
EXPANSION
OTHERS BELIEVED THAT ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES WERE
NATURALLY SUPERIOR = ANGLO-SAXONISM
BUILDING A MODERN NAVY
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AMERICAN LEADERS
THOUGHT THE UNITED
STATES NEEDED A POWERFUL
NAVY.
NAVY COULD PROTECT
MERCHANT SHIPS AND
DEFEND TRADE
BY THE LATE 1800’S THE
UNITED STATES WAS
BECOMING A GREAT NAVAL
POWER.
AMERICAN EXPANSION IN THE PACIFIC
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IN THE 1800’S JAPAN ONLY TRADED WITH THE CHINESE AND
DUTCH
IN 1853, PRESIDENT FILMORE DECIDED TO FORCE JAPAN TO TRADE
WITH THE USA
HE SENT A NAVAL EXPEDITION LED BY MATHEW PERRY TO
NEGOTIATE A TREATY
IN SEEING OUR WARSHIPS, JAPAN KNEW THEY HAD TO OPEN TWO
PORTS TO AMERICAN TRADE
ANNEXING HAWAII
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AMERICANS WERE INTERESTED IN HAWAII FOR SUGAR TRADE AND
A MILITARY BASE
IN 1875 THE UNITED STATES REMOVED TARIFFS ON HAWAIAN
SUGAR = SUGAR INDUSTRY BOOMED
IN 1887 PLANTERS MADE THE KING SIGN A CONSTITUTION
LIMITING HIS POWER
ANNEXING HAWAII - CONTINUED
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IN 1891 QUEEN LILIUOKALANI BECAME RULER = DISLIKED
AMERICAN INFLUENCE
TRIED TO CREATE A NEW CONSTITUTION TO RE-ESTABLISH HER
AUTHORITY
PLANTERS RESPONDED BY OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT
THE UNITED STATES ANNEXED HAWAII 5 YEARS LATER
AP: Imperialism
The Spanish American War (Will Cover in
depth later in course)
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What you need to know
now:
1) Monroe Doctrine
2) New Markets
3) Reasons to invade
Cuba
-Yellow Journalism
-Explosion of USS Maine
4) Teller Amendment vs.
Platt Amendment
The Spanish American War
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lj0nMjuBn4
Assignment “Should we go to war with
Spain?” Talking Heads
1’s read “Yes” US Senator Albert J. Beveridge (501)
2 ‘s read “No” William Jennings Bryan (501)
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1’s summarize to 2’s Reasons FOR:
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2’s summarize to 1’s Reasons Against:
Compare and contrast the arguments for
and against imperialism.
Activity
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1) Persuasive Essay “Should the US have adapted an
imperialistic foreign policy during the first half of the 20th
century?”
2) Primary source document from the Spanish American
War and Yellow Journalism.
How does this worksheet relate to the Spanish American
War?
How does this worksheet relate to the concept of
expansion?
Learning Log
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Today I learned………..
What were Frederick Jackson Turner’s main points in his
Frontier Thesis? Why do some historians criticize his Thesis?
How did Helen Hunt Jackson influence the treatment of
Native Americans?
How did the Dawes Act seek to assimilate Native Amercans?
Summarize the reasons FOR and AGAINST imperialism.
How did the United States FORCE Japan to end its isolation?
Why did the US move to annex Hawaii?
How did expansion influence our decision to go to war with
Spain?