HST 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Great White Fleet, Havana Harbor, American Imperialism
6 Feb 2017
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Imperialism: a nation acquiring dependent territories/extends its influence through trade, and diplomacy: u. s creates oversea empire through acquisition of colonies. Economic factors: belief that continued growth of american economy depended on acquisition of new markets (mercantilism) Ideas about national greatness: strategic concerns fuel desire for colonies: alfred mahan: argued all great nations were seafaring powers that relied on foreign trade/wealth the great white fleet. Desire to catch up with europe: 1870-1914; great age of imperialism. White man"s burden : rudyard kipling"s poem expressing the belief that the u. s is destined to civilize and christianize the inferior, darker races of the world. American way: oppose traditional european style colonialism -> advocate a policy of open door to which american will enter/dominate less developed regions: most americans want an informal empire based on trade. 19th c: u. s missionaries try to christianize hawaii/ establish lucrative sugar plantations: u. s economic/strategic interests in hawaii pressure for political control.
