Questions for Introduction and Part I - The Origins of a Global Power1. Why did American plantation owners and U.S. Marines topple Hawaii’s queen in 1893? Why was Hawaii considered to be a valuable prize? What was President Grover Cleveland’s reaction? Do you agree or disagree with his quote on page 1?
American plantation owners and the U.S. marines toppled Hawaii's queen in 1893 because they supported full U.S. control over the islands. This was because Hawaii was so valuable due to its resources and location. It was an important stopping point for American ships on their way to Asia, and its volcanic soil was very fertile for profitable crops like sugar, pineapples, and coffee. Grover Cleveland detested this act of overthrowing the queen because they unjustly took her place at the throne. Therefore, he denied the treaty that the new Hawaiian government had approved for the U.S. to annex Hawaii.
I completely agree with Grover Cleveland's quote on page 1. I agree that it was unfair to overthrow the Hawaiian government when the belief of the Americans was freedom and equality. That did not fit in with freedom or equality.
2. Identify five important changes that transformed American in the nineteenth century. How did these five changes affect Americans?
Five important changes that transformed America in the nineteenth century are: a rapid increase of immigration, urbanization, industrialization, and a dramatic increase in trade. In the mid-1890s, more than 45 percent of the U.S.'s population was made up of immigrants and their children. Most of the immigrants settled in the cities, which led to the urbanization of the U.S. In the time of George Washington, less than five percent of the nation's population lived in cities. By the end of the nineteenth century, that number increased to a bout one-third. The overpopulated cities brought about problems such as overcrowded public transportation, insufficient sanitation, increase in crime, poor housing, and political corruption. Also spurned by the immigration was the industrialization. In 1776, ninety percent of the American population made their profit from agriculture. By the end of the nineteenth century, manufacturing was the primary source of income. During the 1890s, iron and steel became the largest industries in the nation. New inventions and discoveries in electricity, oil, and chemicals brought about other industries. Farmers relied on machinery to do work that men and animals once did and railroads to transport their products. With the increasing economy, trade became a large source of income to America. During the 1890s, the annual income of exported goods went above $1 billion. The exports changed from cotton, grain, beef, tobacco, and dairy to mostly manufactured goods. The rising power of U.S. trade frightened other countries, and to protect their own factories by placing high tariffs on U.S. goods, so the U.S. traded with less developed countries. China was especially popluar.
3. How did the economic depression that began in 1893 deepen the divisions in American society? Which groups suffered the most during the depression?
The economic depression led many workers to realize how vulnerable they were with an economy based on manufacturing and industry. Workers went on strike in a attempt to gain recognition and control in their work; 500,000 workers went on strike and 600,000 more were fired to to strike-related activity. The depression and following strikes struck fear and instability into everyone. The groups that suffered most in the depression were the city dwellers, laborers, and farmers.
4. What were the values many Americans attached to the frontier? Why did many Americans fear that the closing of the frontier would harm America’s national character?
Many Americans attached to the frontier valued resourcefulness, bravery, pragmatism, ingenuity, individualism, egalitarianism, and patriotism. Many Americans feared that closing the frontier would harm America's national character because that national character was based on exploration and discovering new land and resources. Without any frontier, they had no new land or untapped resources.
5. Why did some Americans suggest greater involvement overseas?
Some Americans suggested greater involvement overseas because some, led by the fear of the changing American character and the belief of American power, believed that an aggressive approach to dealing with other countries would perpetuate the American success. Some businessmen believes that overseas expansion would fuel economic growth.
6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say?
The expansionists said that acquiring strategic ports in the seas that would service trade and assist foreign trade would ensure the economic success of the U.S. Imperialists believed in building an overseas empire with which America could conquer and rule strategic territories and nations.
7. How did the theories of social Darwinism and scientific racism lend support to the cause of American imperialism? How were these pseudo-scientific theories used to justify racist policies and imperialism? Are they still used today?
Imperialists used social Darwinism and scientific racism to argue that the people they believe in conquering were intellectually, socially, and generally inferior to the white Americans, and that the U.S., being superior, had the right to take the weaker nations. "Survival of the fittest," the idea of the stronger surviving and the weaker dying out, was used to support this idea. Their success reflected their superiority. "Scientific racism" were stereotypes that were supposedly "proven" scientifically with methods that were in no way accurate, but people believed them to be at the time. This made people truly believe that other races were inferior. These ideas were used to justify imperialism. People said that they were the "fittest," and that their domination of the "inferior" races was just a natural process in the advancement of civilization. These ideas are not used today.
8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world?
Many Protestant chirches said that America's role in the world was to "lift up" the "downtrodden" of other nations.
9. Why did the United States become involved in several Latin American nations in the nineteenth century? Summarize why the United States became involved in Samoa, Hawaii, and other Latin American nations.
The U.S. became involved with several Latin American nations in the nineteenth century because they made a deal with Samoa: to gain free access of its harbors in return for protection. Then Germany and Britain tried to take parts of Samoa and for eight years the U.S. was involved in protecting it. Then the secretary of state, Richard Olney, was concerned that Britain was bullying Venezuela, and did not want other nations to pick apart Latin American territories because that would prevent American connection with them. Hawaii was annexed because, after the U.S. attempted to restrict Japanese immigration, Japan warned them not to do so. So to prevent the Japanese from overthrowing and taking power in Hawaii, McKinley annexed the islands, and it passed with a large margin in Congress. The U.S. also assisted revolutions in Chile and Brazil, and negotiated with Nicaragua to ensure that the canal-building company would stay there.
10. Why was the United States concerned about British involvement in Venezuela? What concept did U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney invoke in response?
The U.S. was concerned about British involvement in Venezuela because if Britain and other European nations picked apart Latin American territories and gained power, then America would not be able to extend their commercial ties into Latin America. In response, U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney invoked the Monroe Doctrine to try to stop Britain in its tracks.