What is IMPERIALISM
What Is Imperialism?
• Definition: the policy of extending a
nation’s authority over other countries by
economic, political, or military means.
• Usually in effort to obtain something for
the Motherland
Example of Imperialism
• Example: The Conquistadors from Spain
coming to the Americas.
• Motive: To bring treasures, gold, resources
back to Spain.
The New Manifest Destiny
• What is Manifest Destiny?
– It is the United States destiny to expand to the
West Coast in the 1840s.
• By 1890s, Americans were ready to
resume Manifest Destiny – where were
they to go?
American Attention Shifts
•
Causes for us starting to look Overseas:
1. Industrialization caused
–
–
–
More Natural Resources – and we had “closed the
frontier”
New Markets – Ex. 1893 Depression, needed people to
buy goods.
Places to stop on trade routes
2. We controlled the Natives, we can control others
3. Imperialist fever raging in Europe
Justification vs. Motives
• What is a Justification?
– An excuse for an action
– “Mom I got this job cause I want to show you
that I can be responsible.”
• What is a Motive?
– The real reason for an action
– “I got this job cause I wanted to buy the
iphone.”
Justifications for Imperialism
•
People in America founded justifications
for expansionism:
1. Social Darwinism:
nations or races were treated like
biological species, so for strong nations
to control/dominate weak ones was in
accordance with the laws of nature
Justifications for Imperialism
2. Anglo-Saxon Superiority:
combined philosophy of Social Darwinism
with the belief of racial superiority of AngloSaxons.
- US responsibility to spread Christianity
and civilization to “inferior” peoples.
Motives for Imperialism
1. Military Strength:
•
•
•
Alfred Thayer Mahan -The Influence of
Sea Power upon History – (1890)
sea power = great nations of history
effective sea power required colonies.
- America should acquire: Caribbean,
Hawaii, Pacific Islands
Motives for Imperialism
2. Showing off United States Strength
and Power:
shows strength in conquering and
controlling these regions.
Motives for Imperialism
3. Turner Thesis: stated the American
frontier has closed, and that expanding
frontier creates new cultures and
democracy.
- New Resources needed
Motives for Imperialism
4. A Thirst for New Markets:
American farms and factories produce
more than the American public could
consume b/c of technology.
- US needed new raw materials for
factories and new markets for its
manufactured goods