America’s Rise to World Power

U.S. Expansionist Policies

1867-1920
 How did the U.S. follow a
foreign policy of imperialism
during the late 1800’s and
early 1900’s?
A Shift in Foreign Policy Goals

 Isolationism-

 Imperialism-
Reasons for U.S. Expansionism
 Economic Interests

 Military Interests

 Beliefs in Cultural
Superiority
US Purchase of Alaska
• Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867.
What else was going on in the U.S. during
that general time period?

• Why did some American’s call this

purchase “Seward’s Folly?”

• Was it a foolish purchase?

 The Annexation of Hawaii

 American merchant ships had been stopping in

Hawaii since the late 1700s
 American missionaries founded schools and
churches there in the 1820s
 Americans eventually controlled most of Hawaii’s
sugar cane plantations
 In 1891 American’s organized a “revolution” in
which Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown
 The U.S. annexed Hawaii as a territory in 1898
Spanish-American War 1898

The Cubans had been fighting with Spain

for their independence since the 1870s
American newspapers printed dramatic
stories, supporting the Cuban cause.
What other factors would draw the U.S.
into a war with Spain in 1898?
→ The publishing of the DeLome letter
→The Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
 The Impact of
the Spanish-American War
 U.S. gained the island of Puerto Rico in
the Caribbean, as well as Guam and the
Philippines in the South Pacific to
govern as colonies.
 By defeating the Spanish, the American
navy achieved world-wide recognition.
 America became known as a more
powerful nation.
What does this cartoon suggest about American
attitudes following the Spanish-American War?
 China Open Door Policy

 Throughout the 1800s, European powers

had established colonies or “spheres of
influence” throughout Asia
 Following the Spanish-American War,
US Secretary of State, John Hay wrote
letters to China, Japan and the European
countries suggesting the China should
be opened for international trade
 This succeeded in breaking down barriers
to US trade with China
U.S. Imperialism in Latin America
Cuba-1898
Puerto Rico-1898
Panama-1903
Dominican Republic-1905
Honduras and Nicaragua-1909
Mexico-1914
Haiti-1915
The U.S. had financial supervision or
military troops in all these countries
between 1898 and 1920
 Hawaii Activity
Choose one of the following
perspectives:
American planter, native Hawaiian, Queen
Liliuokalani, U.S. Ambassador
Writea viewpoint regarding the
annexation of Hawaii. Use pages 344-
345 and your notes.
Must be one page in your spiral