Imperialism: 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 business owners and the Marines overthrew Hawaii's queen because Hawaii would be a very good place for business men to plant crops and it also was situated in the middle of the Pacific, making it a strategic location. Grover Cleveland thought that it wasn't right for the U.S to take over hawaii. I agree with this quote by Grover Cleveland because the Hawaiians were perfectly happy as they were and didn't need a new government.
2. Identify five important changes that transformed American in the nineteenth century. How did these five changes affect Americans?

Five important changes that transformed Americans in the 19th century were, immigration, economic growth, westward expansion, labor reform, and railroads and faster ships. These things made it easier for people and goods to travel(railroads and ships), gave the United States a better standing among world powers(westward expansion and economic growth), provided workers to support the growth of economy(immigration), and changed American character (westward expansion) and standard of living so they could focus on outside affairs more easily(labor reform).
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 in 1893 deepened the divisions in the U.S because workers saw how easily they could be hurt in the current economy and saw strikes as a way to fix this. This made businessmen fear to loose their profits, and laborers their jobs. The laborers suffered the most because they had no way of getting enough money to survive and had no money already to try and ride it out.
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?

Some values many Americans attached to the frontier were resourcefullness, bravery, pragmatism, and patriotism. These people feared that if their was no west to settle than people would no longer have a way to gain these values and they would be lost in in the cities where there was no need for them.

5. Why did some Americans suggest greater involvement overseas?

Some Americans suggested greater involvement overseas because they felt they would preserve the frontier and the values gained there, and would make them less vulnerable to Europe and even make the U.S more powerful on a world scale.
6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say?

Expansionists would say that the policy for ecomonic success as too trade with other Nations and try to control their trade laws, build the Panama canal, and gain footholds in foreign countries. Imperialists would say that the U.S needed to take other countries over so that the U.S could use their land and people as well as open new trade opertunnities.
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?

The American theories of social Darwinism and scientific racism justified imperialism because they made the people the U.S conquered to be inferior and in need of help. They also made the U.S superior and supposed to give the help by conquering the countries.
8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world?

Many Protestant churches said the America was supposed to "lift up the downtrodden" of other nations. Meaning that the U.S had a right to conquer nations because they had a divine duty to help the downtrodden there. If the U.S had other interests in going there, that was o.k because the people of that country 'needed' them.
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 became involved in several latin American countries because the U.S wanted to build a canal in Panama so it could control the trade between Europe and Asia. Also they feared European control in the Americas. The U.S became involved in Samoa, Hawaii, and Latin American Nations because the U.S wanted to control trade, control the Pacific Ocean, and gain world prowess, and thwart European Nations.

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 U.S feared that the British would make Europe want to control Latin America. THe U.S secretary of State Richard Olney invoked was the Monroe Doctrine, meaning the European Nations had no right to interfere in the Americas.