Lesson 5.01: Empire Building

• Introduction
• Empire Building
• Imperialism Political Cartoons
• Practice
• Task

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to: Describe the various motives for U.S. imperialism in the late 1800s. Trace U.S. imperialist efforts starting in the late 1800s. Explain how and why Alaska and Hawaii were added to the United States. The above objectives correspond with the following Alabama Course of Study Objectives: ACOS 3.4Describing consequences of the Spanish-American War, including the Treaty of Paris of 1898, insurgency in the Philippines, and territorial expansion in the Pacific and Caribbean..

 

	Signing the Alaska Treaty of Cessation
Signing the Alaska Treaty of Cessation, 30.3.1867. Image courtesy of the Alaska Library. This image is in the public domain.

Signing of the Alaska treaty, 1867.

 

Overview

While reformers promoted social justice within the United States, other Americans eagerly looked outward for opportunities to expand the American empire. This imperialist (expansion) mindset consumed many Americans for a variety of reasons. Whether motivated by economic, humanitarian, religious, nationalist, or military reasons, supporters of imperialism were determined to expand American influence across the globe.

The first overtures of U.S. imperialism occurred shortly after the Civil War with the acquisition of Alaska. In the 1860s, the purchase of Alaska was highly unpopular; some even called it "Seward's Folly" after the official who proposed the purchase. However, over time public opinion shifted with the majority of Americans endorsing expansionism just a few decades later. This newfound enthusiasm led to the eventual, and somewhat questionable, annexation of Hawaii in 1898. Though critics openly voiced their opposition to imperialistic policies, the support for empire building was overwhelming leading to further expansionist efforts. Yet in time, the critics warnings proved fateful as the United States found itself involved in an entangled set of alliances; allegiances that eventually led to the First World War.