Chapter 17 Section 4
Debating America’s New Role
Racism
• A belief that differences
in character or
intelligence are due to
one’s race
– Many during this era
believed that those of
Anglo-Saxon heritage
were superior to other
races
- A racial argument against
imperialism:
Imperialism was just
another form of racism
Why did some people believe that
racism was at work in imperialism?
• Americans seemed to
desire to bring their
values to other people
• Kept alive the belief
that Anglo-Saxons were
better than others
• Other races inferior and
had to be
“Americanized”
Compulsory
• Something that is
mandatory
• For example:
Compulsory military
service
What were three economic arguments
raised by the imperialists?
• 1. Expansion involved too
many costs. (Maintaining
the armed forces required
more taxation, debt, and
possibly even compulsory,
military service).
• 2. Laborers from other
countries would compete
for jobs with U.S. workers.
• 3. Cheap goods from
overseas possessions
could hurt American
industries
How did imperialism help the United
States maintain it’s “frontier spirit”?
• By attempting to obtain
new markets and
territories, America had
to compete with other
nations for these prizes
• American frontier spirit
was reinvigorated by
this competition
Great White Fleet
• President Roosevelt
sent the Great White
Fleet, part of the United
States Navy, on a cruise
around the world to
demonstrate U.S. naval
power to other nations
What was the significant about the
tour of the Great White Fleet?
• It reinforced
Imperialism’s appeal to
Americans as it
demonstrated the
nation’s impressive
naval power to the
world
Pro Imperialism
1. Imperialism offered a new kind of frontier for
American expansion.
2. A new international frontier would keep Americans
from losing their competitive edge.
3. Access to foreign markets made the economy
stronger.
4. In 1907, President Roosevelt sent the Great White
Fleet, part of the United States Navy, on a cruise around
the world to demonstrate U.S. naval power to other
nations. Other nations now knew that the U.S. was a
military power
Anti-Imperialism
A moral and political argument: Expansionism was a
rejection of our nation’s founding principle of “liberty for
all.”
2. A racial argument: Imperialism was just another form
of racism.
3. An economic argument: Expansion involved too many
costs. Maintaining the armed forces required more
taxation, debt, and possibly even compulsory, or
required, military service. In addition, laborers from other
countries would compete for jobs with U.S. workers.
1.