United States History I
Imperialism Research
Paper Revision Help
Guide
Thesis Statement CP
Thesis: During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Americans were
divided over the issue of imperialism because of different
opinions on Social Darwinism, the proper role of democracy, and
the economic benefits of the action. (Choose 2)
Thesis Statement Honors
Thesis: During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Americans were
divided over the issue of imperialism because of different
opinions on Social Darwinism, the proper role of democracy, and
the economic benefits of the action.
For and Against Imperialism Chart
For
Imperialism
Social
Darwinism
(racist)
The proper role of
democracy
(Political)
The economic
benefits of the
action
(Economic)
*Americans
need a new
frontier
*Military would gain
power by having
bases around the
world
*Economy
would benefit
from more
markets
*American
ideals of liberty
and democracy
would be
spread
Against
Imperialism
*Racist beliefs
are used to
justify
controlling
other nations
*American ideals of
liberty and
democracy would be
spread
*People in territories *Oversea
under American
involvement is
control will be denied expensive,
their liberties
**United States has
enough problems at
home, should not
take on more
responsibilities
leading to higher
taxes and debts
Sample topic sentences
For Imperialism:
*Imperialist believed that American ideals of liberty and
democracy would be spread.
*Some in America felt that Social Darwinism required the country
to help others around the world.
*Military leaders, who voiced their opinion on the economic
views, spoke in favor of Imperialism.
Against Imperialism
*Anti-Imperialist believed people in territories under American
control would be denied their liberties.
*Some in America felt that the theory of Social Darwinism was
wrong because racist beliefs were used to justify controlling other
nations.
*College professors, expressed their opinion on political views,
spoke out against the policy of Imperialism.
How to set up quote and analysis
Introduce Quote
(Author’s last name) stated “_______________________” ( ).
Introduce Analysis
(Author’s last name) explained (questions to think about in
analysis
*Who said the quote?
*When did they say it?
*To whom did they say it?
*Why did they say it?
*How does the quote support your thesis?
II. Support Paragraph 1
A. Topic Sentence: (use first supporting argument)
The foreign policy of Imperialism would cause people in territories under American control to
be denied their liberties.
B. Present document using to support: (when is it from, who is talking, what are they talking
about)
In 1899, Senator George Hoar of Massachusetts expressed his extreme disapproval of
Imperialism through giving a speech on why the country should not annex the Phillipines.
C. Introduce and present quote:
Hoar explains that a country cannot govern another territory against their will. He addresses
supporters of Imperialism by saying they cannot take over the Phillipines just “because you
think it is for their good, when they do not; because you think you are going to give them the
blessings of liberty”.
D. Explain Quote: (what does it mean)
Through this, Hoar is trying to express that the ideals and values of people in this country are
not necessarily the same for people in other lands and that it is not fair to impose them on
people without their consent.
E. Connect to thesis:
Hoar’s speech presents one of the most prominent arguments against Imperialism as he
believed that if America takes over other countries that are unwilling, those people will be
denied their civil liberties. (change the items in red to match your document and ideas in
topic sentence)
Sample Quotes for Political stance in thesis statement
For Political
Lodge stated “the taking of the Phillippines does not violate the principles of the Declaration
of Independence, but will spread them among a people who have never known liberty” (83).
Loge explained that the U.S. going to the island of the Phillipines to spread the principles of
the D.O.I. on the Filipinos did not break any laws. In fact America spread life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness to a new group of people in the Phillippines.
OR
Lodge explained that by taking the area of the Phillipines was not going against the Declaration
of Independence but it was going to extend the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness to the Filipinos. The Americans by helping the Filipinos gave them a gov’t that
enabled them rights they never had.
Against Political
Hoar stated “you have no right at the cannon’s mouth to impose on an unwilling people your
Declaration of Independence and your Constitution and you notions of freedom and notions of
what is good” (82).
Hoar explained that the U.S. should not push the American gov’t on the Filipino people
because they did not have the right to vote about the U.S. gov’t the Filipinos were forced to
follow it.
Sample Quotes for Social Darwinism stance in thesis statement
For Social Darwinism
President Mckinley stated “that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and
educate the Filipinos and uplift and civilize and Christianize them and by God’s grace do the
very best we could by them as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died” (82).
Mckinley explained that the U.S. wanted to educate the Filipinos and teach them the American
cultures. The U.S. also wanted to teach the Filipinos about Christianity in their village.
Against Social Darwinism
Sumner stated “We assume that what we like and practice and what we think better, must
come as a welcome blessing to Spanish-Americans and Filipinos. This grossly and obviously
untrue. They hate our ways. They are hostile to our ideas. Our religion, language,
institutions, and manners offend them…” (Sumner).
Sumner explained that Spanish Americans and Filipinos rejected the culture the U.S. brought
to the island. The people in the Philippines did not want to accept the new religion of
Christianity, English language and American gov’t as it insulted their culture.
OR
Sumner explained that the Filipinos and Spanish Americans did not like the Americans culture
or gov’t and did not like the U.S pushing it on the Filipino people for example the push on
religion and Chrisitanity.
Sample Quotes for Economic stance in thesis statement
For Economics
Mahan stated “Americans must begin to look outward. The growing production of the country
demands it” (81).
Mahan stated the U.S. needed to spread its markets to the Pacific. America needed markets
because factories had a large supply of goods that needed to be sold and would profit for
American business and gov’t.
Against Economics
Bryan stated “When trade is secured by force the cost of securing it and returning it must be
taken out of the profits and the profits are never large enough to cover the expense. Such a
system would never be …” (Bryan).
Bryan explained that oversea involvement was expensive, leading to higher taxes and debt for
the American people. The U.S. would spend more money building the new territories but the
new territories would not make enough money to pay off the debt that it cost to expand and
American tax payers would pay without receiving any benefits.
Citation Material College Prep & Honors
DOCUMENT 1
Strong, Josiah. “Our Country.” (1891): 222-223. Rpt. in Document-Based Assessment Activities for U.S. History Classes.
Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 81. Print.
DOCUMENT 2
Mahan, Alfred T. The Interest of America in Sea Power. (1897): 21-22. Rpt. in Document-Based Assessment Activities for
U.S. History Classes. Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 81. Print.
DOCUMENT 3
Rusling, James. “Interview with President William McKinley,” The Christian Advocate 22 (Jan. 1903): 17. Rpt. in
Document-Based Assessment Activities for U.S. History Classes. Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch,
1999. 82. Print.
DOCUMENT 4
Hoar, George. “The Lust for Empire.” Congressional Record. (1898): 493-503. Rpt. in Document-Based Assessment
Activities for U.S. History Classes. Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 82. Print.
DOCUMENT 5
Beveridge, Albert. “In Support of an American Empire.” Congressional Record. (1900): 704-712. Rpt. in DocumentBased Assessment Activities for U.S. History Classes. Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 83. Print.
DOCUMENT 6
Lodge, Henry Cabot. “The Retention of the Philippine Islands.” Senate of the United States. Washington, D.C. (7 Mar.
1900): 7-14 Rpt. In Document-Based Assessment Activities for U.S. History Classes. Ed. Kenneth Hilton.
Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 83. Print.
DOCUMENT 7
Schurz, Carl. “The Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League.” Chicago: 1899. Rpt. in Document-Based Assessment
Activities for U.S. History Classes. Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 83. Print.
Anti-Imperialist William G. Sumner, Yale University professor, in an 1898 speech
Sumner, William G. “The Conquest of the United Stated by Spain.” Delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of
Yale University at College Street Hall, New Haven, 16 January 1899. Molinari Institute. Web. 5 March 2012.
Anti-Imperialist Platform of the American Anti-Imperialist League, October 17, 1899
Schurz, Carl. “Anti-Imperialist Platform of the American Anti-Imperialist League.” Address at the Anti-Imperialist
Conference in Chicago. 17 October 1899. Liberty and Anti-Imperialism. Web. 5 March 2012.
Pro-Imperialist Albert J. Beveridge, leading imperialist and later United States senator, in an 1898 speech
Beveridge, Albert. “The March of the Flag.” Campaign Speech. 16 Sept. 1898. Rpt. in Great Debates in American
History. Ed. Peter Pappas. Needham, MA: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1989. GD28. Print.
Pro-Imperialist The Reverend Josiah Strong, Our Country, 1885
Strong, Josiah. “Our Country.” (1891): 222-223. Rpt. in Document-Based Assessment Activities for U.S. History Classes.
Ed. Kenneth Hilton. Portland, ME: Walch, 1999. 81. Print.
The following two sources were only given to Honors classes.
U.S. Senator Albert J. Beveridge speaks on the Philippine Question, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., January 9,
1900
Beveridge, Albert J. “The Philippine Question.” U.S. Senate Speech, Washington, D.C. 9 January 1900. UCLA
International Institute, 10 Dec. 2004. Web. 5 March 2012.
William Jennings Bryan’s Acceptance Speech for the Democratic nomination for President Indianapolis, IN,
August 8, 1900
Bryan, William Jennings. “Imperialism.” Democratic National Convention Speech, Indianapolis, Indiana. 8 August
1900. Great American Documents, 2008. Web. 4 March 2012.