IMPERIALISM
BECOMING A WORLD POWER IN
THE LATE 1800s
What is Imperialism?
 Policy of extending the rule or authority of
an empire or a nation over foreign
countries, or of acquiring and holding
colonies
 Under imperialism stronger nations
attempt to create empires by dominating
weaker nations (economically, politically,
culturally and militarily)
Why did imperialism
grow?
 Growth of industry – creates need for more
natural resources (U.S. looks overseas)
 Nationalism – countries (especially in Europe)
competition for large empires, goal to be
superior over other nations
 Military factors – military technology led to
more advanced armies and navies than those
in Africa or Asia, and need for military bases
 Duty to spread humanitarian aid and religion
(Western civilizations laws, medicine and
Christian religion)
Forms of Imperial Rule
 Colonies: direct or indirect rule of
controlling nation
 Protectorates: local rulers left in charge,
but followed the foreign advisors advice
 Spheres of Influence: outside power
claimed exclusive investment or trading
privileges
Hawaii
 Why Hawaii?
 Tropical climate,
fertile soil
 Good location for
naval base and
coaling station for
travel to and from
Asia
 US begins to send
missionaries and
grow crops (sugar)
 Sugar exempted from US tariffs
 12 years later, US demands control of Pearl
Harbor in exchange for tax free status; Hawaii
refuses
 Force King Kalakaua to sign new constitution
at gun point; US gets rights to Pearl Harbor
 Queen Liliuokalani tries to regain Hawaii, US
Minister to Hawaii places marines around
palace
 Queen surrenders
 Hawaii annexed in 1898, despite
opposition of most of Hawaii’s population
 Became territory in 1900 and 50th state in
1959
Becoming a World Power
EVENT/
AREA
DATE OF
EVENT
Spanish- 1898
American
War: “A
Splendid Little
War”
Treaty of
Paris
1898
Philippine 1899
Islands
SUMMARY OF
EVENTS
OUTCOME OF
INCIDENT
AFFECT ON
THE NATIVE
PEOPLE
-The de Lome letter
- Explosion of the
USS Maine
-Preparing in the
Philippines
- War against Spain
-Fighting in
Cuba and the
Philippines
-U.S. destroyed
the Spanish
Navy
- Thought the
Americans were
helping but
found
themselves
under a new
ruler
-Spain recognized
- U.S. gains
new
“unincorporated
territories”
- Caused
debate in the
U.S. over
acquiring new
territories
Cuba’s
independence
-Sold the Philippines,
Puerto Rico and
Guam to the U.S. for
$20 mil.
-Filipinos declare
independence from
the U.S.
- U.S. v. Filipinos
- U.S. wins
(Cuba, Philippines,
Guam and Puerto
Rico)
- U.S. will
control the
Philippines
until 1946
- Filipinos are
unhappy and
continue to fight
sporadically
until 1946
1898
1900
1900
-America established
a military gov’t. after
Spain was defeated
- Platt Amendment
- U.S made
military bases
and kept right
to intervene in
Cuba’s affairs
- Cubans
feel
betrayed
-U.S. established a
military gov’t.
- slowly gave them
their independence
-1917, Jones
Act
- Puerto Ricans
can be U.S.
citizens
- Still under
U.S. control
Hawaii
1893
-U.S. used Hawaii for
trade and Pearl
Harbor
- overthrew Queen
Liliuokalani
-U.S. annexed
Hawaii (1898)
- People very
unhappy
Samoa
1878
1899
-three-power
protectorate, U.S.,
Germany and Britain
- Britain pulls out in
1899
- U.S. acquired
the harbor at
Pago Pago
- Open Door Policy in
China for trade with
all other nations
-continued
Cuba
Puerto
Rico
Open Door 1899to China
1900
open trade
policy with
china
- Chinese
unhappy with
foreign
involvement
(Boxer Rebellion)