Chapter 18 America Claims an Empire, Section 1 Imperialism and America

Chapter 18 America Claims an Empire

Overview
America Claims an Empire
How would you react if the U.S. took over another country? Some may oppose it under any circumstances. Are there certain circumstances that it is proper for a nation to control another?

Interpreting the opening quote: According to Hay, what was the basis for American imperialism?
Economic competition.

More About . . .
John Hay
As a young lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, John Hay met Abraham Lincoln. He accompanied Lincoln to Washington and served as assistant private secretary to the President. Hay later co-authored a ten-volume biography of Lincoln. In addition to serving as secretary of state under presidents, McKinley and Roosevelt, Hay also served as a diplomat in France, Spain, Austria, and Britain.

Section 1, Imperialism and America

Overview
Objectives
To summarize the causes and effects of European and Asian imperialism.
To identify factors that influenced American imperialism.
To explain how the United States acquired Hawaii.

Focus & Motivate
How does a person behave when he or she feels superior to others?
Ask if countries might behave in similar fashion.

More About . . .
Liliuokalani
The last reigning queen of Hawaii greatly admired the role of Britain’s Queen Victoria. L. carried out the antique royal custom of sitting in front of a golden yellow cape of feathers when delivering important messages. The deposed queen lived until 1917. She was respected among Hawaiians as a link to the past. She is also remembered as the composer of “Aloha Oe”—Hawaii’s traditional farewell song.

Objective 1 Instruct
Discussing Key Ideas
Imperialist European nations carve Africa into colonies.
Britain’s empire includes a quarter of the world’s land and people.
Japan joins European nations in imperialist competition in China.

On the World Stage
Carving Up Africa
Critical Thinking:
Analyzing
A flow chart can be created showing causes and effects of imperialism in Africa.

Objective 2 Instruct
American Imperialism
Discussing Key Ideas
American imperialists seek more markets for U.S. goods.
To protect economic interests abroad, the U.S. develops a modern fleet and plans to acquire naval bases.
Some Americans argue that their culture is superior and should be spread to other nations.

More About . . .
Social Darwinism
British naturalist Darwin (1809-1882) had concluded that only the strongest creatures survive in competition against other creatures. Several philosophers applied Darwin’s theory to human situations. They argued that certain people succeed in competition with others due to genetic and biological superiority.

Objective 3, Instruct
The U.S. Takes Hawaii
Discussing Key Ideas
American sugar planters gain control of Hawaii’s government and economy.
White business groups depose Queen L.
Americans establish a provisional government, and the U.S. annexes Hawaii.

History From Visuals
Hawaii’s Changing Population, 1853-1920
Reading the Graph Note that the graph depicts shifts in the percentage of Hawaii’s total population and does not address numbers of persons.

Extension
What do the changes in Hawaii’s population shown in the graph say about the effects of imperialism on smaller, less powerful countries?

More About. . .
Sanford B. Dole
The son of an American missionary, Dole was born in Hawaii and educated in the U.S. He returned to Hawaii to practice law and was twice elected to the Hawaii Legislature. An opponent of King Kalakaua’s policies, Dole led an opposition party against the king and eventually helped engineer the overthrow of his sister. After the U.S. annexed Hawaii, Dole served as first territorial governor.

Close
The U.S. joined European and Asian countries in political and economic competition for colonies. A belief in Anglo-Saxon superiority provided additional incentive for imperialism. These factors led to annexation of Hawaii.