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.

Spanish-American War (1898)

Causes: How did each of the following help to cause the outbreak of the Spanish-American War?

1. American business owners
The American business owners wanted to put sugar plantations in Cuba, but the Spanish didn't want them to. So, the U.S always supported Cuba in Spanish Cuban conflicts.
2. José Martí
Started a rebellion in Cuba. During the rebellion he destroyed American plantations to get the U.S involved.
3. Valeriano Weyler
Spanish General that put Cubans in concentration camps so they couldn't aid the rebels.
4. Yellow journalism
A style of reporting where the news is exaggerated and sensationalized to attract readers.
5. De Lôme letter
A letter by the Spanish minister to the U.S that insulted the president, thus angering many citizens.
6. U.S.S. Maine
A ship sent to take U.S citizens back to the U.S from Cuba. However, it blew up in harbor killing over two hundred people. The newspapers said the Spanish did it.

Effects: What happened to each of the following territories as a result of the Spanish-American War?

7. Cuba
Cuba gained its freedom because of the Spanish-American war.
8. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico became a colony of the U.S because of the war.
9. Guam
Guam also became a U.S colony because of the war.
10. Philippine Islands
The Philippine Islands became U.S colony when bought from Spain. People argued over this, but imperialism won over the arguments of those opposed to the U.S annexing the islands.

U.S. Imperialism Begins

1. Name at least five factors that fueled American Imperialism.
Five factors that fueled American Imperialism were the new technology, want for military prowess, Social Factors such as Social Darwinism, Nationalists racing Europe for colonies, and new markets opened by the Industrial Revolution.

2. Choose two of the above five factors and describe them in your own words.
The Nationalists who wanted the US to expand saw Europe taking a bunch of colonies in the east, and saw the need to catch up by taking over the Pacific Ocean as compensation. The Industrial Revolution caused Imperialism because it opened up a lot of new markets and caused the need for new recourses to fuel the new developments.

3. What was known as “Seward’s Folly” and why?
The purchase of Alaska was known as "Seward's Folly" because no one could think of any use for it and thought that Seward wasted 7 million dollars by purchasing it.

4. What plantation-based product accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii’s wealth in the mid-19th century and who controlled this product?
Sugar accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii's wealth in the mid-19th century and it was controlled by white, American planation owners and worked by Asian immigrants.

6. Using as much detail as possible, outline the sequence of events that led to America gaining possession of Hawaii? In other words, why was the United States interested in these Pacific islands?
The United States was interested in Hawaii because it provided a place to farm sugar, had a good harbor for the Navy, was on the way to China and provided a convenient refueling space for boats, and gave the US a good point to control the Pacific Ocean. The Navy saw Pearl Harbor a good place for the Pacific part of the US navy and a being in the middle, a good place to launch attacks on and protect the rest of the Pacific Ocean. Alfred Mahan promoted this by saying the US needed a way to be a navel power and that it would protect the US from the "Chinese Hordes". Also it provided a place for boats to refuel with coal and other things. Finally it was a good place to farm sugar, and many business men wanted to make use of this.

Progressive Era Presidents Taft and Wilson

1. How did William Howard Taft get selected to run for president?
After the end of Teddy Roosevelts presidency, he selected his secretery of war, William Howard Taft to replace him.
2. How did Teddy Roosevelt come to oppose Taft for the presidency in 1912?
Roosevelt came to oppose Taft for the presidency in 1912 because Roosevelt wanted New Nationalism, so he ran against Taft for a third term. This campaign got to be very violent towrds the end.
3. What events helped Woodrow Wilson win the election in 1912?
Woodrow Wilson won the election in 1912 because the republican party was split between two candidates and won a large electoral victory in congress.
4. What legislation did Wilson use to attack trusts and monopolies?
When Woodrow Wilson won the election in 1912, he started off as Roosevelt had by attacking large corperations.He pasted the Clayton Antitrust act, as well as creating The Federal Trade Commission. Furthermore, he changed the tax system.
5. What was the Nineteenth Amendment?
The nineteenth Amendment gave women the right to vote. It was ratified in 1920.
6. How did America's entry into World War I affect the reform movement?
America's entry into WWI caused the reform movement to stall because the eyes of polititions and reformers were turned elswhere and didn't think much about reform.

Child Labor Reform Photographs

Objective Assessment


As you view each photograph take note about what you see. (note people, background, objects) Pretend you were describing the image to someone who could not see it. Try to avoid making judgments.

Where are these children? List any clues relating to their surroundings.
Describe any tools or objects you see.
Describe their clothing. What do their clothes reveal about their work?

Photograph A
-girl has messy hair
-surprised look on face
-ragged clothing
-close fitting clothing
-cotton weaving machines in background: in cotton mill
-young girl
Photograph B
-girls look angry or sad
-dirty
-hair worn up:might work around machinery
-ragged clothing
-in street:in front of building
Photograph C
-Girl is very young
-machinery on either side of her: in mill
- looks slightly angry, face set
-simple clothing:dirty
-short hair
-no shoes
Photograph D
-very young boy
-looks very sad
-wearing shoes and hat
-standing on side walk in front of light pole
-holding large pieces of paper:looks like he's trying to sell them
Photograph E
-children sitting in roes very low to the ground
-have overseers that have sticks
-overseers have very dirty faces
-people all have shoes and hats
-children seem to be sorting something
Photograph F
-workers ranging in age from around 7 or 8 to 16 or 17
-ripped clothing
-lots of pipes in room
-have shoes and hats
-people look neither happy nor sad
Photograph G
-people ranging from very young to middle age
-most have shoes
-surrounding carts while shucking oysters
-look resigned
-children with mothers
-aprons
Photograph H
-young children
-girls all wearing bonnets or other head covering
-going to work
- night time
-going into factory
-some older:late teens
Subjective Assessment


What questions do you have about each of these photographs?
Based on your observations, list three things you might infer about the lives of these children. (Be sure to consider Hine's notes about the photographs when considering this.


Photograph A
-works long hours
-hard job for little money: 48 cents an hour for working for sides
-forced to work for some reason: has to lie about her age
-does she have family?
Photograph B
-poor
-work a lot: look very tiered
-aren't treated well:look either sad or angry
Photograph C
-works hard; caption says she was "working steadily"
-large risk of injury; small near large machines
-little food: poor
Photograph D
-sad life: looks increadibly sad
-little pay;no one is using his service/buying product
-no one helps him: alone
Photograph E
-backs hurt alot: hunched over
-submissive;have and overseer that has a stick to force them to work
-sick a lot: lots of dust
Photograph F
-fairly happy: smilling
-lots of friends/help
-probably tired a lot; working at 9pm.
-why are some of them happy?
Photograph G
-little time for relaxing (babies): have to go to work with their mothers
-working most of the time: 3:30 am to 5:00 pm
-large chance of injury: get tired after all that time working
Photograph H
-always tired: work all night long
-bad family life: at least two have a father that doesn't work
-little money/food; families are poor

TR's Square Deal

1. How did Roosevelt create the modern presidency?

Roosevelt created the modern presidency because he was the first president to use the media to promote his actions and achivements. He also used the presidency as an influential tool.
2. How did Roosevelt's intervention in a coal strike set a precedent for federal arbitration?

Roosevelt's intervention in a coal strike set the precident for federal arbitration because after that the government was expected to intervine in other strikes, thus proving that experts were not needed to solve things a nd that the government should.
3. What did Roosevelt do to the trusts and railroads?

Roosevelt started govermnent regulation for the trusts and railroads.
4. What legislation passed during Roosevelt's presidency protected citizens?

Roosevelt passed the Pure Food and Drug Act to protect citizens.
5. What did Roosevelt do to protect the environment?

Roosevelt proteced the enviorment by establishing more national parks and trued to protect national wonders without squandering the nations resources.

Urbanzation

1. What is Urbanization?

Urbanization is the growth of cities, in the early 1900's because many people move there at once

2. For what reasons did a number of Americans move from the country to the cities?

Many Americans moved from the country to the cities because the new farming technology prevented many of the smaller farms from competing with the large ones that had enough money to buy them. Also, farms needed less workers on them because of all the technology doing the work instead of people. Moreover, in the south, many cotton farmers could no longer support their farms without slaves. Finally, the freed slaves needed somewhere to go and the city was convenient.

3. What were the housing problems that many poor city dwellers faced?

Many poor city dwellers had to live in a building with many other families in it, making it very cramped. They also had terrible conditions in the houses such as lack of plumbing and air ventilation. Laws were made to fix this, but because the garbage was picked up so infrequently, the people threw it in the air shaft, which was supposed to provide air for the apartment, and nailed it up.