Roots of American Imperialism
There were multiple reasons America became involved in the imperialist era. One of the most significant reasons was economic. America had a surplus of goods due to the economic boom during the late 1800s. This led to a decrease in the prices of goods, and caused inflation. Theodore Roosevelt believed becoming a world power could solve this problem. America needed to expand its markets to sell goods in other countries. Naval officer Alfred T. Mahan believed the strength of the nation depended on the size of its military. Under his leadership, the U.S. achieved one of the largest navies in the world. Frederick Jackson Turner promoted the reopening of the frontier and overseas expansion. All of these things combined go in line with Social Darwinism. In order to survive and achieve national superiority, America needed to expand its influence through trade and the accumulation of territory.
aLASKA
On March 30, 1867, Secretary of State William Seward took up the offer from Russia that had been stalled by the Civil War and purchased Alaska for a total of $7.2 million. President Andrew Johnson signed the treaty and Alaska was officially transferred to the U.S. on October 18, 1867. The purchase of Alaska earned the title "Seward's Folly" since many people felt it was absurd to pay so much money for an area of cold, icy tundra. However, this had a significant impact on America. It was one of the first steps in increasing its global power. First of all, it ended Russia's presence in North America, as Russian military bases removed themselves from the area. Secondly, it increased the size of America by almost 20%! It also guaranteed U.S. access to the northern Pacific, which opened up new possibilities of expansion and trade. Alaska was a great source of raw materials such as timber and oil. Later in the 1890s, large amounts of gold were discovered, which attracted people to inhabit Alaska. What some considered to be "Seward's Folly" actually ended up being a major milestone in the history of American imperialism, and an important part of America today as one of the richest mineral resources. It finally became a state on January 3, 1959.
hAWAII
The U.S. had a growing interest in Hawaii, and they took several steps to acquire it. In the 1820s, the U.S. set up missionaries to spread Christian faith to the islands. Then in 1887, Americans convinced the King to amend the American constitution, which only permitted wealthy land-owners, who were usually white, with the right to vote. Americans ultimately gained a foothold in Hawaii through the sugar trade. White American planters set up sugar cane plantations, and eventually owned much of the land. At first, this trade relationship was beneficial for Hawaiians and Americans, until the new McKinley Tariff was put in place. This caused the price of imported Hawaiian sugar to rise, which led to decreasing sales and profits of Hawaiian sugar-growers. In 1891, King Kalakaua died. His sister, Queen Liliuokalani took the throne and removed the constitution previously amended by King Kalakaua. She believed the white minority in Hawaii should not have as much power, and that they were the root of the problems in Hawaii. In 1893, rebels responded by trying to overthrow the Queen. Minister John Stevens of Hawaii ordered marines to help seize power without the president's consent, and Queen Liliuokalani was forced to relinquish her throne. President Grover Cleveland became President shortly after this, and he made it clear that the U.S. rebellion was reprehensible, and he did not approve annexation. It wasn't until 1898, during William McKinley's presidency, when Congress annexed Hawaii as a U.S. territory. The U.S. knew Hawaii had one of the best harbors in the mid-Pacific, and felt it was a strategic location for a way station. This would come in handy during the Spanish-American War during the U.S.'s attempt to gain control of the Philippines. Once again, America had gained new territory and proved its imperialistic influence on global power. Today, Hawaii is a major source of tourism.