Imperialism: The Origins of a Global Power

Questions for Introduction and Part I - 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?

American plantation owners and U.S. Marines toppled Hawaii's queen in 1893 because the island of Hawaii was a critical stopping point for U.S. ships heading to East Asia and also because Hawaii's rich soil was excellent for growing tropical plants such as pineapples and coffee. All this together persuaded the U.S. that it would be a good idea to acquire the islands before another country. President Cleveland did not approve of this however 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 steal this land from its native people and a nation that claims to give its citizen's freedom is stealing this very right from the people of Hawaii.

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

The Industrial Revolution- gave Americans new technology to complete everyday tasks with greater ease, mass immigration- created greater diversity within the U.S. and expanded the American culture, end to slavery- enabled African Americans to be free and allowed them to be true citizens of the U.S., food and drug laws- gave people a greater sense of security when purchasing meat products and drugs in stores, urban growth- 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 and this caused people to worry about the nation's future and caused plant owners to worry about profits as well. Laborers suffered a great deal due to constant strikes and labor unions and farmers also suffered greatly because the depression only hurt their recent slump in 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 closed there would no longer be anything to work or strive for and 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 live on in the eyes of Americans.

6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say? The policy was called imperialism , imperialism would enable the United States to secure export markets, raw materials, and cheap labor. The imperialists the second group, considered it's strategy central to America's role in the world.

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? It lended support to the cause of American imperialism because the same principles of Darwin, "survival of the fittest," was applied to the same principles in an effort to chart the social and economic progress of different groups of people. Propents justified racism and imperialism by explaining differences among the world's racial and ethnic groups in terms of evolution. Imperialism was reflected by the "survival of the fittest." Social Darwinists believed that the "success" of Western Europeans was a result of their being more suited to postitions of power than other races and cultures.The considered western European cultures to dominate as a natural process in the advancement of civilization. Followers of scientific racism assigned differences aming people according to ethnic and racial groups. They considered mental abilities and personality traits as racial characteristics. Of course they are still used to today, not close to as much but still there is a great deal of racism and people who are racist are different in racist ways and the reason for why they are racist. Racism wasnt just directed toward African Americans. Native Americans, the Irish and the Italian were all discriminated against when they first arrived in the United States as well.

8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world? Many Protestant churches said that America's role in the world was to "lift up" the "downtrodden" of other nations, and sent missionaries over seas to do this work.


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.
The United States was involved with Samoa because they had free access to Samoas harbor but when Germany and Britain each made plans to take over Samoa, the Unites States got involved. They were involved in the conflict which included Germany, Britain, and various Samoan groups for eight years. The United States got territories in Samao. The United states was involved in Venezuela because Britiain was bullying them and they bordered the Brititsh colony of Guiana and held large deposits of gold. The United states did not want Britain or any other European countries to go all through Latin America looking for gold. The United states was involved with Hawaii because they wanted to put a restriction on Japanese immigration. They annexed the United States so the Japanese would not expand into it and it became a colony of the United states in 1898.

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 was concerned about British involvement in Venezuela because they did not want them find gold in Venezuela and Guiana and then carve up Latin America like they and other European countries had done to Africa. U.S secrartary of State Richard Olney invoked the Monroe Doctrine to try to prevent Britain from taking any further steps.