Us history Period 7A: Chapter 20: Becoming a World Power, [409 – 424] class notes summary verified A+

Us history Period 7A: Chapter 20: Becoming a World Power, [409 – 424] class notes summary verified A+ Period 7A: Chapter 20: Becoming a World Power, [409 - 424] Due Date:THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH Seward, Alaska, and the French in Mexico - William H. Seward sect. Of state under Lincoln and Johnson - Helped prevent GB and France from entering the war on CSA side; led drive to annex Midway Island in Pacific; gained rights to build canal in Nicaragua; and purchased Alaska territory - Failed to convince Congress to annex Hawaii and purchase Danish West Indies - The French in Mexico - Napoleon III sent French troops to occupy Mexico while US involved in Civil War - At Civil War end in 1865 Seward invoked Monroe Doctrine and threatened US military action unless French Withdrew - French troops left Mexico - The Purchase of Alaska - Russia and GB claimed AL territory - Russia settled colony for seal hunting but economic burden b/c threat from GB to takeover - Congress agreed to buy AL for $7.2 million in 1867 - Lobbying from Seward and Russian support during civil war - AL later referred to as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” b/c perceived as no value The “New Imperialism” - Industry led to intensifying foreign involvement - Advocates of expansionist policy hoped to achieve goals by economic and diplomatic means and not military action - International Darwinism - Applied to competition among nations and races for military advantage, colonies, and spheres of influence - Expansionists wanted to acquire territories overseas - Extension of idea of manifest destiny into Caribbean, Central America, and Pacific Ocean - Imperialism - Imperialism: acquiring territory or gaining control over political or economic life of other countries - Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan tried to possess weaker countries in Africa, Asia, and Pacific Ocean - US didn’t want to be reduced to “second-class power” - Advocates of American expansion: missionaries, politicians, naval strategists, and journalists - Missionaries - Reverend Josiah Strong wrote that people of Anglo-Saxon stock were “fittest to survive” in book Our Country: Its Possible Future and Present Crisis 1885 - Protestant americans had religious duty to colonize other lands to spread Christianity and benefits of superior civilization: medicine science and technology, to less fortunate people - Racial superiority and natural supremacy of whites - Mission activities encouraged many americans to support gov involvement in foreign affairs - Politicians - Republicans endorsed use of foreign affairs to search for new markets - Allied w/ businesses - Henry Cabot Lodge of MA and Theodore Roosevelt eager to build US power through global expansion - Naval Power - US Navy CT> Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History 1890; argued strong navy crucial to country’s ambitions of securing foreign markets and becoming world power - Influential book for wealthy - US naval strategists persuaded Congress to finance construction of modern steel ships and encouraged acquisition of overseas islands (Samoa) that were desired as coaling and supply stations so new fleet could be projected globally - By 1900 US had third largest navy in world - Popular Press - Newspapers and magazines increased circulation by printing adventure storeis ab distant/exodic places - Popular press stories increased public interest and made demand larger for US involvement in world affairs - Latin America - US assumed role of protector of Latin America from European ambitions - Special interest in problems of the Western Hemisphere since the Monroe Doctrine 1820s - Blaine and the Pan-American Conference (1889) - Meeting of first Pan-American Conference in Washington in 1889 b/c of Blaine’s efforts to establish closer ties between US and southern neighbors - W Hemi. created permanent organization for international cooperation on trade etc. - Blaine hoped to bring reductions in tariff rates; not achieved but foundation est. for larger goal of hemi. Cooperation on economic and political issues - Pan-American Unions part of Organization of American States (est. 1948) today - Cleveland, Olney, and the Monroe Doctrine - Monroe doctrine used to solve boundary dispute between Venezuela and British colony of Guiana - 1895 and 1896 pres Cleveland and secr. of state Richard Olney insisted that GB agree to arbitrate dispute; “US matter” b/c of monroe doctrine - British agreed to US demands (even tho won dispute w/ arbitration committee) - Latin American nations appreciation for US protection from Europe - Marked turning point in US-British relations - 1895 on friendship cultivated over rivalry The Spanish-American War - Target of US imperialism was Caribbean area - Expansionists from South coveted Cuba since 1850s - In 1890s, large US investments in Cuban sugar, Spanish misrule of Cuba and Monroe doctrine “justified” US intervention - Causes of War (against Spain) - Growing wave of US jingoism: intense form of nationalism calling for aggressive foreign policy - Pres. Cleveland and McKinley thought military action abroad both morally wrong and economically unsound - Cuban Revolt - Cuban nationalists renewed struggle against Spanish colonial rule in 1895 - Sabotage and laying w