Imperialism
Imperialist Activity
• Imperialism- The
extension of a
nation’s power over
other nations.
• America’s imperialist
policies began with
Hawaii.
• What led to this quest
for empire?
Reasons to Grow
• Economic Interest- The Industrial Revolution brought the
West great prosperity. They looked toward different
countries for new consumers and new sources of raw
materials for their factories.
• Military interest- Navies needed bases where ships
could refuel and make repairs.
• Ideology- Nationalism creates more prestige. Cultural
Superiority- Africa, Asia, and Latin America had less
industry and urban development. Social Darwinism
plays a factor once again. There was idea of social
responsibility to civilize these countries, i.e. Protestant
Christian Missionaries.
The Scramble for Territory
• Late 1800s- European imperial powers had
taken control of vast territories in Africa and Asia
and dominated the economy of Latin America.
The British ruled one quarter of the world’s land
population. Japan also controlled huge areas
overseas.
• This all began to make America want a piece of
this imperial pie to spread the Christian faith and
democratic values.
Hawaii
• Hawaii was an ideal spot for coaling
stations and naval bases for ships to and
from Asia.
• The British first showed interest in Hawaii
with Captain James Cook visiting in 1778.
Cook brought world attention to Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Chief Kamehameha
• He united the eight major
islands under him.
• Established a monarch
and began trade.
• 1820- Americas show in
great numbers to bring
Christianity, but they also
bring disease.
• Population of 300,000 in
1770 to 40,000 in 1893.
Sugar Interest
• America brought in workers from China,
Japan, and the Philippines to help run the
Sugar operations.
• Kalakaua became the new king
• An 1875 treaty allowed the US to get
sugar tax free.
Plot against the King
• The Hawaiian League- Wanted to
overthrow the monarchy and establish a
democracy which Americans controlled.
• They forced Kalakaua to sign a
constitution at gun point in 1887.
• The king called it the Bayonet
Constitution.
What the constitution did…
• Restricted the King’s power and deprived
most Hawaiian’s of the vote.
• Peal Harbor was given to the U.S.
• American sugar plants had political control
of Hawaii.
End of the Monarchy
• Liliukalani began queen.
• She wanted to destroy the Bayonet Constitution and
restore power to the Monarch.
• The business community wanted to overthrow her
because they wanted the island to become a U.S.
territory.
• John L. Stevens, the American Minister to Hawaii,
helped her opposition.
• 4 unauthorized boatloads of U.S. Marines surrounded
the royal palace and positioned cannons and machine
guns. The rebels declared an end to the monarch and
Liliulkalani surrounded in 1893.
Influence in China
• They remained isolated until 1842 when the
British forced China to Open five ports for British
trade… and the U.S. did the same in 1844.
• China fought against foreign interests from
overrunning the country.
• Spheres of Influence- Russia, France,
Germany, and GB made this a geographical
area where an outside nation exerts special
economic or political control.
The U.S. in China
• America entered their imperial policies of
China too late, but...
• John Hay proposed the Open Door
Policy- Give all nations equal trading
rights in China.
• GB, Germany, Russia, Japan, France, and
Italy didn’t accept nor reject.
Boxer Rebellion
• Antiforeigner sentiments
grew
• The Society of Righteous
and Harmonious Fist
formed and attack foreign
missionaries and Chinese
Christians in June of
1900.
• This increased support
for Hay’s Open Door
Policy as competition
among themselves would
hurt their ability to exploit
the China trade.
Influence in Japan
• Japan seized Taiwan from China in 1895.
• Millard Fillmore sent four ships into Tokyo
to scare the Japanese.
• In 1854, it signed a treaty to open Japan to
the U.S. for trade.
• Japan wanted Korea and Manchuria, but
so did Russia.
Russo-Japanese War
• Began in 1904.
• Both sides saw no end in sight and
Theodore Roosevelt negotiated a peace
treaty… He receive a Nobel Prize for
Peace.
• Japan emerged as a major power.
• Great White Fleet