WHY IMPERIALISM?
GALLERY WALK
WHAT IS IMPERIALISM?
• The practice of building an
empire by founding colonies or
conquering other nations
• In the mid to late 1800’s the U.S.
moves away from a foreign
policy of ISOLATIONISM (George
Washington’s policy and advice)
• New Foreign Policy = Imperialism
LIST REASONS WHY NATIONS BECOME
IMPERIALISTIC: (WHY WANT OTHER LANDS?)
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Natural Resources, raw materials
More Land
More Power
Spread your religion and culture
Military Need
For trade reasons
Competition with other nations
More Wealth/Money
STATION #1- SEWARD’S FOLLY
This cartoon depicts Russia selling a
large block of ice to the US for a little
over $7 million. (2 cents an acre) The
caption reads “Prepare for the
heating team! Seward lays a great
stock of Russian ice in order to cool
down the Congressional majority”
Thomas Nast was a famous cartoonist
who shows Seward putting a
“Russian” ointment on the Presidents
head to sooth it and help him agree
more with his purchase of the Alaskan
territory. (Convince him)
STATION #1 QUESTIONS
• Who made the purchase of the Alaskan Territory?
• Answer: William Seward, our Secretary of State, bought it
for the US
• Which nation was Alaska purchased from?
• Answer: We bought it from Russia
• How do you think American’s felt about the purchase of
Alaska? Describe their feelings and why they felt this
way.
• Answer: Americans were not happy about this purchase
and thought it was a big joke. They thought all we
bought was a “big piece of ice” up in the artic and it
was a big waste of money
STATION #1 CONTINUED
• Why did Seward want the Alaskan
Territory?
• Answer: He wanted the land and
resources it would provide along with a
place for our military.
• Did Alaska become a US State? If so,
which number?
• Answer: Alaska will become a US state
and it will be state number 49 when it
becomes an official state
STATION #2- A NEW NAVY FOR THE U.S.
US organizing its large Naval fleet on
Virginia shores in 1853.
Japanese depiction of US
naval fleet entering their
ports in 1854. Very
intimidating show of force.
By the mid-1870’s the US Navy ranked twelfth
largest and most powerful in the world. The US was
motivated by its advances and began to build up
its Navy more for future overseas use. By 1896, they
had risen to have more than 10,000 American
sailors in uniform and their Navy now ranked fifth in
the world. Their new steel plated battle ships were
all powered by steam. The expansion of the Navy
was one sign that the US was becoming a world
power.
STATION #2- QUESTIONS
• How big was the US navy in the mid 1870’s?
• Answer: The US Navy was 12th largest and
most powerful navy in the world.
• By 1896, how large had the US navy grown?
• Answer: By 1896, the US Navy had more then
10,000 sailors in uniform and had risen to the
5th most powerful in the world.
STATION #2 CONTINUED
• Why was having a large naval power important to
nations at this time? Explain.
• Answer:
• Why might the US have had its naval ships enter a
Japanese port in 1854? Make a prediction.
• Answer:
STATION #3- THE OPENING OF JAPAN
(TREATY OF KANAGAWA)
Japanese painting
illustrating a US
Naval ship as a sea
monster that forced
its ships into
Japanese harbors.
Stamp created by the US to celebrate
the work of Commodore Perry and
the US Navy in getting Japan to sign
the Treaty of Kanagawa and open
themselves up to trade with foreign
nations.
A Japanese illustration showing Commodore
Matthew Perry giving an ultimatum to the
Japanese emperor over trade issues.
Americans wanted the Japanese to open
their ports to foreign trade & to help
shipwrecked sailors. Perry entered Tokyo
harbor in 1853. He then asked that Japan
follow its wishes and he would return in one
year for an answer. A year later Perry
returned with seven armed Naval ships. This
show of aggression, intimidation, and force
made the Japanese give in to the US
demands. In 1854 the Treaty of Kanagawa
was signed and Japan was open to trade.
STATION #3- QUESTIONS
• Why would the US be celebrating the Treaty of
Kanagawa on a postage stamp? What did it
accomplish?
• Answer: We celebrated because this event helped to
open up the United States to trade with Foreign Nations
• View the second image at this station. How does this
Japanese painting depict the US ship? How do you
think the Japanese feel about the American presence
at their shores?
• Answer: The Japanese depict us as a monster. This
shows that they did not like our navy being in their
country and that they saw the United States as a scary
threat to their people and nation.
STATION #3 QUESTIONS CONTINUED
• Who is Commodore Perry and how did he get
Japan to agree to open up their country to trade?
• Answer: Matthew Perry gave Japan and ultimatum.
“You do this or else”. He threatened the Japanese
with naval force if they did not do what he wanted.
He gave them a year to think about it and showed
up with a 7 armed ships. Japan gave into our
demands.
• Before the Treaty of Kanagawa, what happened to
US shipwrecked soldiers in Japan?
• Answer: Japan refused to help any soldiers before
this time and had a policy of isolationism.
STATION #4- HAWAIIAN PLANTERS
REBEL
Planters were interested in
Hawaii due to its climate
year round. In this
environment farmers could
grow crops at anytime of
the year. The most
profitable crops were
pineapple, bananas, and
sugar cane.
The US began to
extend its influence
and control around
the globe in the late
1800’s and early
1900’s. They began
with Alaska in the
north and then laid
claim to islands in
the Pacific. First the
Midway, then
Hawaii.
Annexing (taking control) of the
Hawaiian Islands was good
economically for growers. But it was
also a strategic location in the middle
of the Pacific for military bases and
naval ports. A presence in the Pacific
was also good for trade and
protection.
STATION #4- QUESTIONS
• What interested US planters in the lands of Hawaii?
• Answer: Planters were interested in Hawaii because
of its year round climate for growing profitable
crops like sugar, pineapples, and bananas.
• What “theme” or vocabulary word is depicted in
the cartoon image on this station? How does this
cartoon make the US look?
• Answer: The cartoon depicts the United States as an
IMPERALISM Nation, as we are taking over new
lands beyond our shores like Hawaii and other
islands in the Pacific.
STATION #4- CONTINUED
• Why might the Hawaiian Islands have been
attractive to the US government? Why was its
location ideal?
• Answer: The islands were attractive to the US
government because it was good economically for
some of our growers and provided a Pacific
presence for trade and protection. It was also a
strategic location to help our navy with ports and a
base.
STATION #5- ANNEXATION OF HAWAII
This cartoon
represents the US as
a tyrant sitting on its
throne upon the
Hawaiian Islands.
The US annexed
Hawaii and
overthrew its
original traditional
government.
Cartoon from a US newspaper
depicting the unhappiness of the
Native Hawaiian people over
becoming the 50th US state.
Caption reads: “Meeting of
Natives at Hilo, Island of Hawaii…
Protest Against Annexation”
Queen Liliuokalani was forced to step down
from her throne as ruler of the Hawaiian Islands
in 1893 in the midst of the Planters Rebellion.
Soon after, the US annexed Hawaii as its 50th
state.
The Queen was disgusted by what she called
“outright exploitation of her land and people”
She felt the US used them to prosper
economically from their land (farming) and for
their Christian Missionaries to force their
religion on the Natives.
STATION #5- QUESTIONS
• How does the cartoon in the first image depict the
United States? Explain.
• Answer: The first cartoon depicts the US as a mean
monarch (king) sitting on his thrown trying to take
over the Hawaiian Islands with force.
• What is annexation?
• Answer: To annex a territory is to basically just take it
and add it onto to your nation without asking the
people who live there what they want.
STATION #5 CONTINUED
• Why might the native Hawaiian people have been
angered at the US missionaries? Explain.
• Answer: The Hawaiian people were upset because
the missionaries tried to make the natives give up
their own culture and beliefs and become Christian.
• What happened to Queen Liliuokalani?
• Answer: The Queen was forced to step down and
give up her thrown to the US planters that overthrew
her government.
STATION #5 CONTINUED
• Did Hawaii become a US State? If so,
what number?
• Answer: Hawaii will eventually become
a state and it will be number 50.