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Overseas American Expansion

Overseas American Expansion. U.S. History. Background. For most of U.S. history, America’s role was confined to North America. America had little role in world affairs. Countries such as England, France, and Spain were global superpowers. Age of Imperialism. Mid-1800’s through early 1900’s

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Overseas American Expansion

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  1. Overseas American Expansion U.S. History

  2. Background • For most of U.S. history, America’s role was confined to North America. • America had little role in world affairs. • Countries such as England, France, and Spain were global superpowers.

  3. Age of Imperialism • Mid-1800’s through early 1900’s • Powerful nations expand to control natural resources and markets. • Europe dominated much of Africa and parts of Asia. • The U.S. needed to play this game in order to develop into a superpower.

  4. European Imperialism

  5. American Imperialism • Already having conquered “sea to shining sea,” and completing Manifest Destiny, America turned it’s sights overseas. • America did not need resources, but instead new markets (people) to sell their goods to. • Farmers grew too much food • Industrialists waned to sell their goods to more people • If not, factories would close, jobs would be lost

  6. American View • “Today we are raising more crops than we can consume. Today we are making more than we can use. Therefore, we must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital ($), and new work for our labor.” • Senator Albert J. Beveridge • “I firmly believe that any territory outside the present territorial limits of the U.S. becomes necessary for our defense or essential for our commercial development, we should waste no time in acquiring it.” • Senator Orville Platt

  7. How would America accomplish this goal? • Military might! • America developed a powerful Navy. • This allowed expansion into distant territories. • Alfred Mahan

  8. Social Darwinism • Survival of the “fittest” cultures. • Superior cultures need to dominate inferior cultures and “make them right.” • Whites must civilize weaker races • Ethnocentric and racist • Manifest Destiny expands to global level

  9. Early American Expansion • 1867- Midway Islands • 1867- Alaska • 1898- Hawaii • 1898- Spanish American War • Philippines • Cuba (did not officially control, but economically involved) • Puerto Rico • Guam

  10. U.S. in Latin America • Between 1898 and 1934, the U.S. invaded… • Cuba 4 times • Nicaragua 5 times • Honduras 7 times • Dominican Republic 4 times • Haiti once • Guatemala once • Panama twice • Mexico 3 times • Colombia 4 times

  11. Big Question • What is the real motivation for American expansion? • Democracy? • Freedom? • Profit? • $$$?

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