1. AMERICA BECOMES A
GLOBAL POWER
(1867-1919)

2. Should the United States
intervene in the affairs of another
country?

3. I can explain the political, economic, &
cultural factors that fueled the growth of
American imperialism.
Learning Target

4. Imperialism
Definition Illustration
Causes Effects

5. Definition
Imperialismis a
policy in which
strongernations
extend theirpolitical
ormilitary control
overweaker
territories.
 Examples?

6. Causes
Desire forMilitary Strength
Othernations around the world were establishing a
global military presence
Admiral Alfred T. Mahan urged government officials
to build American naval powerin orderto compete
 Construction of the Great White Fleet
 US became the world’s 3rd
largest naval power

7. The Great White Fleet

8. Causes
Thirst forNew Markets
The US needed raw
materials forits factories &
new markets forits
agricultural &
manufactured goods

9. Causes
Belief in Cultural Superiority
Some Americans combined Social Darwinism with a
belief in the racial superiority of Western Europeans
They argued that the US had a responsibility to spread
Christianity & “civilize” the world’s “inferior” people

10. White Man’s Burden

11. Effects
The US Acquires Alaska
In 1867, Secretary of State
William Seward arranged for
the US to buy Alaska from
Russia $7.2 million
 Called “Seward’s Folly” or
“Seward’s Icebox”

12. Effects
The US Takes Hawaii
Hawaii had been economically important to the US
since the 1790s
By the mid-1800s, American-owned sugarplantations
made up about 75% of the islands’ wealth
In 1887, the US built a naval base at Pearl Harbor

13. Effects
The US Takes Hawaii
In 1891, American business
groups organized a revolution
& overthrew Queen
Liliuokalani
Sanford B. Dole was put in
charge of the new government

14. Effects
The US Takes Hawaii
President GroverCleveland recognized the Republic
of Hawaii & called fora vote of the Hawaiian people
On August 12, 1898, Congress made Hawaii an
American territory although Hawaiians were never
given the chance to vote

15. The Fate of Hawaii