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?
They overthrew the Hawaian Government in 1893 because of the fact that Hawaii was considered a valuable prize in the Pacific. Hawaii was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and so it was a really good spot for ships moving from America to Asia and back to refuel. Also the soil was good to grow crops like sugar and coffee. Grover Cleveland's reaction was one of disgust. He didn't think it was right to annex Hawaii to the U.S. Yes, I do agree with the quote because freedom is the right of all people. They should be able to govern themselves unless the government is doing somthing horrible to the people.
2. Identify five important changes that transformed American in the nineteenth century. How did these five changes affect Americans?
The Resources of the West brought money and the ablitly to build more things faster with the reasources like timber and coal. These helped the U.S expand itself faster. The amount of Immagricants immagrating greatly increased which gave America more workers for it's work force. Which helped them build things faster and make more money. Also expanding West gave America more resources which allowed them to have more politcal power by having somthing people want like timber and iron. These things helped America make alliances and have more political influence over the rest of the world. The invention of the railroad and faster ships let America export more things and therefore make more money and money is power which can be used for many things. Inventions also helped increase the amount of things able to be exported by increasing the amount of stuff able to be grown.
3. How did the economic depression that began in 1893 deepen the divisions in American society? Which groups suffered the most during the depression?
Two railroad companies went bankrupt which bankrupted other companies because they couldn't transport their goods to be able to sell them. Workers and farmers were affected the most because they couldn't get paid or get jobs because of the depression.
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?
Resourcefulness, bravery, pragmatism, ingenuity, individualism, egalitarianism, and patriotism were all associated with the frontier. The Americans didn't know who or what they would become if their wasn't any more land to settle because that's what they did for a while.
5. Why did some Americans suggest greater involvement overseas?
It was the next place they could expand. If they started expanding and taking over territories their would be more land to settle and their would be more money to be made.
6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say?
They said that if America could creat a canal in Central America it would increase trade, if they got a foothold in Central America and Asia and the Pacific it would increase the American Economy. Imperialist said that America should take over countries to make territories so that they could have an empire where their would be more resources and other things to make more money off of.
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?
Both ideas said that whites were superior to others and that they were meant to rule over the other races. They aren't really because the government stepped in and took care of it but I guess they could be because of the fact that people always hate what is different.
8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world?
They said it was America's destiny to rule the world.
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 U.S became involved with Latin American Nations because they wanted to civilize them and make them better. The U.S became involved in Samoa, Hawaii, and othe Latin American nations because they wanted more power and more money from those countries.
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 was concered of British involvement in Venezula because of the fact that if the British took over the ties for ecomonic exchange in Latin America between the U.S and them would be cut. Richard Olney used the Monroe Doctrine in responce to this.