Imperialism Review

US History 8Name: ______

Buatti/Muson/Yulo

IMPERIALISM REVIEW

BIG IDEAS

After the Civil War, the US changed its traditional foreign policy of ISOLATIONISM. Define ISOLATIONISM below:

By 1917, the US had established itself as one of the world’s great powers. US foreign policy was now IMPERIALISM. Define IMPERIALISM below:

Why the change? Remember the main reasons for Imperialism…

TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY! The US wanted to establish economic relationships with foreign countries.

TO PROTECT OUR NATION! The US wanted to be able to protect its merchant ships and establish military bases. America was very nationalistic at the time, and wanted to be a world power.

TO SPREAD DEMOCRACY & OUR CULTURE! Remember, Americans thought it was a good thing to “civilize” non-Western cultures with our ideals.

IMPERIALISM TOPICS

DIRECTIONS: Read the Key Facts with each topic, and then answer the question below.

THE ANNEXATION OF HAWAII

Key Facts

American sugar and pineapple plantation owners in Hawaii wanted to become part of the United States
The planters, with the help of U.S. Marines, overthrew the Hawaiianleader, Queen Liliuokalani
The United States officially annexed Hawaii in 1898. It was now under US control, though not a state yet.
The U.S. established a key naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Which reasons for Imperialism are illustrated in this topic? (Reasons are: to strengthen our economy; to protect our nation and be a world power; to spread democracy and culture.) One, two or all three reasons may apply! Explain your answers in your own words.

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

Key Facts

Cuba was fighting for it’s independence from Spain.
Spanish troops were treating the Cubans very badly – there was a lot of violence.
American merchants and businessmen in Cuba were suffering.
A U.S. battleship, the UISS Maine was sent to Cuba to protect Americans. It exploded in HavanaHarbor. The United States was quick to blame the Spanish, and declared war on them.
The Spanish-American War was won in under 6 months. Theodore Roosevelt became famous by leading a cavalry brigade known as the Rough Riders.
The United States won control over these territories, which had been Spanish colonies:
In the Pacific: the Philippines, Guam, and Midway. US Naval bases were established on all these islands.
In the Caribbean: Puerto Rico, & Cuba. Cuba was officially under the U.S.’s protection – America was supposed to be keeping watch over Cuba and helping it form a democracy.

THE PHILIPPINES

Key Facts

The U.S. won control of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. The U.S. established naval bases there.
The Filipinos assumed they would be granted independence.
President McKinley decided that it would be best for the Filipinos if the U.S. kept control over them – America would help the Philippines become a civilized and prosperous nation. McKinley also wanted to keep the naval bases in order to protect American trade with China.
The Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, revolted against American control. There was a short and very bloody war. America won, and kept control over the Philippines.

THE USCHINA

Key Facts

Many of the most powerful European nations had established spheres of influence in China. This meant that each nation, like France or England, controlled all the trade in their little “piece of China”.
The U.S. wanted to be able to trade with China freely. China offered many potential customers, and also had many interesting products to sell.
Many Chinese were unhappy with all the interference from outside nations. A group of Chinese revolted against the outsiders. This was called the Boxer Rebellion. The United States army joined with armies from European nations to defeat the Chinese.
The U.S. then declared the Open Door Policy, which meant that each nation would have equal trade with China. This would be a more fair and democratic system. There would be no more spheres of influence in China.

THE PANAMACANAL

Key Facts

The United States was interested in building a canal across Central America. A canal would allow ships to make a much quicker passage between the Atlantic and PacificOceans.
Colombia owned the best land for such a canal. They did not want to sell it to the United States.
President Theodore Roosevelt took command of the canal issue. The Panamanians lived on the best land for the canal, and were ruled by Colombia.
Roosevelt promised that the U.S. would send troops and money to support Panama’s war for independence from Colombia. In return, the U.S. would get land to build a canal, and be allowed to keep control over the canal. Roosevelt’s deal worked. The U.S. got land to build their canal.
The Panama Canal took over 10 years to build, and thousands of workers died from malaria.

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY

Key Facts

President Theodore Roosevelt declared this change in U.S. foreign policy. A corollary is an addition. Roosevelt said he was adding to the Monroe Doctrine.
The Roosevelt Corollary states that the U.S. has the power to be the “police force” of the whole Western Hemisphere – North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean islands.
Roosevelt believed that the whole hemisphere must have democracies and capitalist economies. It is the job of the U.S. to help all the other nations become “civilized” and prosperous like America.
If any other nation in the Western Hemisphere has conflicts or revolutions or civil wars, it is the job of the U.S. to get involved and re-establish peace and democracy. This protects the U.S. as well as all the other nations.