Chapter 20 – The Imperial
Republic
Stirrings of
Imperialism
just won is
For You
$1,000,000…..What
imperialism?
$1,000,000!!!!!
Reasons for
Imperialist Thoughts:
1. Experience of subjugating Native Americans
2. Frederick Jackson Turner’s thesis  “Closing of the
frontier“ (natural resources would become scarce
therefore Americans must look abroad for resources
3. Potential for overseas markets
4. Fear that no territory would be left to acquire
because of European imperialism
5. Social Darwinism  apply to nations
6. Military bases needed (Alfred Thayer Mahan)
Increase of U.S. Influence
U.S.A.
Latin
America
War With Spain
Controversy over Cuba
A Cuban revolt against the Spanish was
sensationalized in the American press
What is this known as???
“You furnish the
pictures, and I’ll
furnish the war.”
Pulitzer
Hearst
The U.S. Declares War
2 Incidents that pushed
the U.S. to war with Spain:
Letter by the
Spanish minister
Dupuy de Lome
Sinking of the
USS Maine
Was the Spanish-American
War “a splendid little war”?
The Debate over the Philippines
The U.S. demanded the Philippines
as well in the Treaty of Paris (1898)
Can’t give it
back to Spain
Can’t give it to
another
imperialist
nation
They are “unfit
for self
government”
Critics of the Treaty (including the AntiImperialist League)
• Immoral
• Inferior races
• Fear of an influx of cheap labor
Imperialism Argument
You are going to “argue” whether or not the United
States should have become an imperialist nation
around 1900. Remember, just like an AP Essay, good
arguments are the ones that have specific content and
interpretation to back up an opinion.
The class will be divided into 2 sides and each will have
a few minutes to formulate their arguments. There
should be no “hogs” or “logs”.