Heimler's History: AP U.S. History Unit 7 - Imperial Expansion (1898-1945)

Introduction

Expansion of one country’s political, economic, and military influence over another.
Considered an expansion of empire.

Purchase of Alaska (1867):
- Purchased from Russia via William Seward for $7.2 million.
- Initially viewed as "Seward's Folly" due to perceived lack of value.
- Gold discovery in 1898 increased its perceived value.

Historical Context:
- American territorial expansion tradition.
- Influence of Frederick Jackson Turner's ideas on the closing of the frontier.
Imperialist Motivations:
1. Access to valuable raw materials (e.g., gold in Alaska).
2. New markets for American goods (manufactured and agricultural).
3. Social Darwinism:
  - Justified expansion through the "survival of the fittest" concept.
4. Global presence and influence:
  - Desire to compete with European empires.
Racial and Religious Justifications:
- Josiah Strong’s ideas: White Anglo-Saxon superiority and Christian duty to "civilize."
Military Influence:
- Alfred Thayer Mahan’s "The Influence of Sea Power on History":
  - Strong navy essential for global power.
  - Led to approval for new steel fleet.
  - Need for strategic naval bases in Pacific and Caribbean.

Self-Determination:
- Nations should decide their own governance, echoing colonial anti-British sentiments.
Isolationism:
- Tradition based on George Washington’s farewell warning against foreign entanglement.
Racial Concerns:
- Question of whether the Constitution "follows the flag":
  - Concerns about granting citizenship and rights to annexed territories.
  - Underlying racial motivations to prevent expansion.