Imperialism: The Origins of a Global Power

1. Why did American plantation owners and U.S. Marines topple Hawaii’s queen in 1893? Why was Hawaii considered to be a valuable prize? What was President Grover Cleveland’s reaction? Do you agree or disagree with his quote on page 1?

The American plantation owners and U.S. Marines had toppled Hawaii's queen in 1893 because the island was a very important stopping point for U.S. ships heading to East Asia. It was also because Hawaii had rich soil that was excellent for growing tropical plants. This all together persuaded the U.S. that it would be a great idea to acquire the islands before another country. Although President Cleveland didn't approve of this and when the new American government in Hawaii tried to take over the islands, Cleveland withdrew the treaty that permitted them to do so. I agree with his quote on page one because the U.S. did not have the right to forcefully take their land. Also I think it is ironic that a nation that claims to give its citizen's freedom is stealing this very right from the Hawaiian people.

2. Identify five important changes that transformed American in the nineteenth century. How did these five changes affect Americans?


The Industrial Revolution
1)gave Americans new technology to complete everyday tasks with greater ease, mass immigration
2)created greater diversity within the U.S. and expanded the American culture, end to slavery
3)enabled African Americans to be free and allowed them to be true citizens of the U.S., food and drug laws
4)gave people a greater sense of security when purchasing meat products and drugs in stores, urban growth
5)caused an influx of people in U.S. cities where the most jobs were located.

3. How did the economic depression that began in 1893 deepen the divisions in American society? Which groups suffered the most during the depression?


The economic depression that began in 1893 deepened the divisions in American society by causing more labor strikes because the workers realized their vulnerability in an economy based on industry and manufacturing. This caused people to worry about the nation's future and caused plant owners to worry about profits as well. This resulted in laborers suffering a lot due to constant strikes and labor unions. Farmers also suffered greatly because the depression only hurt there low income.

4. What were the values many Americans attached to the frontier? Why did many Americans fear that the closing of the frontier would harm America’s national character?


Americans attached values to the frontier such as bravery, individualism, ingenuity, and patriotism. Americans feared that the closing of the frontier would harm the nation's character because they felt that once the frontier was done expandingand there would no longer be anything to work for resulting in no new opportunity to be found.

5. Why did some Americans suggest greater involvement overseas?


Some Americans suggested greater involvement over seas because this could be America's new frontier and there could be new land to claim and settle. This would allow the American frontier to continuously expand.




6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say?

Imperialism. They said the control over foreign territories and nations would give the United States control to secure export markets, raw materials, and cheap labor.

7. How did the theories of social Darwinism and scientific racism lend support to the cause of American imperialism? How were these pseudo-scientific theories used to justify racist policies and imperialism? Are they still used today?

Social Darwinism basically was survival of the fittest. According to Darwinists this could be done by the U.S. if other races or cultures were influenced by the country. Scientific racism assigned differences among people according to racial and ethnic groups. These scientists used mental abilities and personality traits as racial characteristics. Whites were obviously considered to be the most superior while blacks were at the bottom. The two confirmed the view that the United States and a handful of European nations were destined by nature to dominate the world; by doing so these countries would become more civilized. I believe these theories are not used today.


8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world?
They said America's role was to "lift up" the "downtrodden" of other nations. This being they sent missionaries overseas to do this work. The leaders of this church believed the God had specially blessed Americans that their duty was to civilize the world.

9. Why did the United States become involved in several Latin American nations in the nineteenth century? Summarize why the United States became involved in Samoa, Hawaii, and other Latin American nations.

They only became involved because imperialist-minded leaders convinced others that the United States needed to stabilize any "quarrelsome" nations so that American commerce and influence could travel safely across the seas. The U.S. became involved in Samoa because they made a treaty in 1878 that promised American assistance in case of foreign interference and in return gave America free access to Samoa's harbor. Not too long after Germany and Britain tried to take over parts of Samoa. This led to an 8 year conflict. The United States became involved in Hawaii because they feared that one day the Japanese, who made up one quarter of Hawaii's population, would gain power on the islands and begin to demand rights. This could lead them to preventing the U.S. from accessing its naval base at Pearl Harbor. The United States became involved in the Latin American nations because they were intervening during a revolution.

10. Why was the United States concerned about British involvement in Venezuela? What concept did U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney invoke in response?

The United States were concerned about British involvement in Venezuela because Venezuela shared a border with Guiana, which held large deposits of gold. Olney didn't want any European countries to think they could carve up Latin America for colonies as they did in Africa. Richard Olney invoked the Monroe Doctrine in response.