U.S. Imperialism Target Sheet
Imperialism – New Manifest Destiny
‐Greatest economic argument for expansion, U.S. needed
new markets/consumers for its goods
(acquisition of raw materials, markets, naval bases)
*Need for Raw Materials and Markets
*Strategic Reasons – Naval Strength
*Nationalism
*Attitudes towards other Peoples (superiority)
‐Darwinism and Social Darwinism: usually influenced by
patriotic and nationalist concerns, White Man’s
Burden, Civilize and Christianize the “others”
1898 Hawaiian Annexation
– U.S. participated b/c Queen Liliuokalani’s attempt to reduce the political influence of American sugar planters;
revolt led by Sanford Dole succeeded; Liliuokalani is removed; Hawaii is annexed by the US.
1898 Spanish American War
(U.S. against Spain to in order to free Cubans)
‐USS Maine Explosion: Reason for U.S. involvement (later found out
that it was not an intentional attack)
‐Yellow Journalism: William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer
used propaganda to fuel the war
-De Lome letter: publication that called President McKinley weak.
‐Platt Amendment: resulted in a U.S. military base in Cuba
(Gave US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs at any time.)
-Rough riders- Theodore Roosevelt organized the Rough Riders,
the first voluntary cavalry in the Spanish-American War.
Famous for its action at the Battle of San Juan Hill.
‐U.S. acquired Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico
-United States became a World Power
1899-1902 Philippine American War
-McKinley maintained control of Philippines to increase commercial opportunities for U.S. business
‐Went against promise for the right of self‐determination
‐Spanish American war led to the Philippine Insurrection / revolt
‐American Anti‐Imperialist League opposed U.S. possession of the Philippines after the Spanish American War
1899 Open Door Policy – Open trade with China (John Hay)
1903 U.S. Construction of Panama Canal
‐Constructed supported by Alfred Thayer Mahan in
his book “Influence of Sea Power...”
(In order to achieve world power, a
country needed a powerful Navy)
‐Important because it facilitated movement
between Atlantic and Pacific ports for
military and business
1904 Roosevelt Corollary – formed due to Latin
American countries defaulting on debts to foreign
investors (Monroe Doctrine prevented Europeans from
establishing new colonies in the Western Hemisphere.
The Roosevelt Corollary extended the Monroe
Doctrine)
‐Big Stick Diplomacy: Roosevelt “Speak softly and
carry a big stick; you will go far”
‐Roosevelt Corollary developed after due to
Construction on the Panama Canal
‐U.S. had interest to intervene in nations with political
instability
‐Great White Fleet – Demonstrated U.S. ability to
defend its international interests
1909-1913 Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy – support the development of democracies in Central America
1912-1918 Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy - Wilson disliked the
assertive policies of Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. He advocated
"moral diplomacy" (a policy that made the U.S. the conscience of
the world). He hoped to spread democracy, condemn colonialism,
and promote peace.
Timeline:
Hawaiian AnnexationSpanish American War
Philippine‐American WarOpen Door Policy [John Hay]
Big Stick Diplomacy [Roosevelt]Dollar Diplomacy [Taft] 
Moral Diplomacy [Wilson]
American Anti-imperialist league- On June 15, 1898, the Antiimperialist league formed to fight U.S. annexation of the
Philippines, citing a variety of reasons ranging from the economic
to the legal to the racial to the moral. It included among its
members such notables as Andrew Carnegie & Mark Twain.
Additional Imperialism Terms to Know:
*Boxer rebellion- a Chinese secret organization
called the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious
Fists led an uprising in northern China against the
spread of Western and Japanese influence there.
*Concession- something that is allowed or given up,
often in order to end a disagreement
*Dewey, George- known for his victory at the Battle
of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War.
*Dole, Sanford- a prominent figure in the creation of
Hawaii as a republic and its annexation to the United
States.
*Great White Fleet- conducted a famous aroundthe-world cruise in 1907-1909 to demonstrate the
United State's growing naval strength.
*Jingoism- extreme patriotism, especially in the form
of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.
*Mahan, Alfred Thayer- argued that the strength of
a nation’s navy was the key to strong foreign policy.
*Pancho Villa- a Mexican revolutionary leader who
is often remembered as a folk hero.
*Queen Liliuokalani- the last reigning monarch of
the Kingdom of Hawaii.
*Seward’s Folly- the transaction in 1867 in which
the U.S. Secretary of State William Henry Seward
purchased Alaska from Russia.
*Turner, Frederick Jackson- laid the foundation for
modern historical study of the American West;
pointed to expansion as the most important factor in
American history.
*Watchful Waiting- phrase used by Woodrow
Wilson to describe American policy towards Mexico
during Mexico's revolutionary period.