U.S. Imperialism Begins

1. Name at least five factors that fueled American Imperialism.
a.)desire for military strength
b.)thirst for new markets
c.)belief in cultural superiority

2. Choose two of the above five factors and describe them in your own words.
The United States saw the other countries such as Europe capture and control other countries by force from their military; the U.S. wanted to expand their nation and followed the trend of foreign countries so they built up a stronger military lead by leaders such as Alfred T. Mahan.
The U.S. wanted new markets because all of the products being made from the factories were 'over-boiling,' they needed a way to sell these products and concluded that if other nations bought their products there would be less unemployment and economic depression.

3. What was known as “Seward’s Folly” and why?
Alaska was known as "Seward's Folly" because in 1867 William Seward, who was the Secretary of State under the presidents Lincoln and Johnson. He proposed to buy Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars, but the House of Representatives said no. In the end though they did buy Alaska for two cents an acre and what do you know the land was full of timber, oil, and minerals which could all have greatly improved the nation's economy.

4. What plantation-based product accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii’s wealth in the mid-19th century and who controlled this product?
Sugar plantations accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii's wealth in the mid-19th century and was controled by plantation owners that had Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese laborers.

6. Using as much detail as possible, outline the sequence of events that led to America gaining possession of Hawaii? In other words, why was the United States interested in these Pacific islands?
The United States wanted the Pacific Islands because it had the best port, Pearl Habor, for American ships to refuel and its sugar plantations would be momentous in the United States recieving more money. First, the U.S. forced Hawaii to allow them to build a naval base at Pearl Harbor which gave the U.S. some control of Hawaii. Then the U.S. helped the business groups overthrow the revolution organized by Queen Liliuokalani, and President Cleveland said that the Queen should restore her thrown but Sanford B. Dole wouldn't surrender. After that, President Cleveland recognized Hawaii as a Republic, and he let the people of Hawaii decide weither or not they wanted to be annexed into the United States. Finally, after Cleveland's presidency William McKinley had his turn and he favored annexation. So in 1897 he annexed Hawaii as the 50th state in the U.S. without a single vote from the Hawaiians.