I. AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY

    A. 1789-1865

        1. Washington's Farewell Address 1797

        2. Conflict with Britain resulting in the War of 1812

        3. Monroe Doctrine 1823

        4. Mexican War 1846-1848

II. ROOTS OF EXPANSIONISM AND EMPIRE

    A. NATIONALISM: Americans had great confidence and belief in their
        own greatness and the superiority of their country. They reveled
        in their scientific achievements, and were confident that the
        American way of life was destined to sweep the world by the sheer
        force of its perfection. Post Civil War Americans were not so much
        concerned with the outside world; they were even somewhat indifferent
        America was the center of the universe.

        1. The 1876 Centennial celebration emphasized nationalism & unity.

        2. American scientific achievements were celebrated at world fairs.

        3. Patriotic societies were founded such as the Daughters of the
            American Revolution (1890).

        4. The concept of "Manifest Destiny" was revived. Josiah Strong's
            book Our Country (1885) claimed Anglo-Saxon superiority and the
            duty to spread those values. "As America goes, so goes the
            world." Followers believed they were extending the blessings
            of liberty and prosperity to less fortunate people. It was
            their duty to civilize the barbarians

        5. Social Darwinists claimed Americans were a superior people.

        6. Religious leaders wanted to convert the savages. It was their
            duty to Christianize the pagans.

        7. Business people and farmers yearned for new markets.

    B. TURNER'S FRONTIER THESIS 1893: The American frontier was declared
        officially closed in 1890. Historian Turner claimed the frontier had
        shaped the American character. He said its end closed the first
        chapter in American history. Some saw his theory as a validation of
        imperialism. The American character needed a place to expand.

    C. FOREIGN POLICY ELITE: these were the opinion leaders in politics,
        business, labor, agriculture, religion, journalism, education, and
        the military.

        1. The believed the prosperity and security of the U.S. depended
            upon the exertion of American influence abroad.

        2. This group greatly influenced American foreign policy and
            urged expansionism and imperialism. They included: writer
            Henry Adams, John Hay (Sec. of State in 1898), Theodore
            Roosevelt, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, corporate lawyer Elihu
            Root (Sec. of War under McKinley).

III. THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

    A. GROWTH OF FOREIGN TRADE: Exports rose from $234 million in 1865
        to $2.5 billion in 1914. American businesses were advertising and
        selling on the world markets. (Westinghouse, Singer, McCormick).
        Agricultural goods were 3/4 of exports in 1870 and 2/3 in 1900. By
        1913 manufactured goods surpassed agricultural. At that point the
        U.S. ranked third behind Britain and Germany in manufactured exports.

    B. NEW NAVY: Idea popularized by Captain Alfred Mahan who argued that
        the navy needed to be improved to protect shipping. Colonies were
        needed to serve as bases. His lectures were published as
        "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" (1890) His ideas
        were read world-wide by international leaders. In 1883 Congress
        authorized construction of the first steel-hulled warships. Shift in
        1880's from sail to steam and from wood to steel.

IV. U.S. AND THE WORLD 1865-1914: See Chart Quest for Empire

V. IMPERIALISTS AND ANTI-IMPERIALISTS DEBATE 

    A. ANTI-IMPERIALISTS included: Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan,
        William Graham Sumner, Andrew Carnegie. They argued that annexation
        violated the concept of self-determination. Labor leaders like Sam
        Gompers feared competition for jobs and the undermining of the union
        movement. Further, would exploitation of the weak abroad encourage
        exploitation of the weak at home?

    B. PRO-IMPERIALIST ARGUMENTS

        1. Appeal to American greatness and duty. Echoed Rudyard Kipling
            to "Take Up the White Man's Burden."

        2. Resistance to American rule in new territories required show
            of power.

        3. Germany and Japan were showing an interest in the Philippines
            so we had to maintain our presence.

        4. National honor demanded that we keep what we had shed blood for.

VI. IMPERIALISTIC U.S. POLICIES: Deemed necessary to preserve U.S.
    security and prosperity.

    A. Europe should not intervene in affairs in the western hemisphere.

    B. The U.S. would not get involved affairs on the European continent.

    C. America's best interests lay in cooperation with Great Britain.
        German-British rivalry led to Great Britain seeking U.S.
        friendship. This was called the "Anglo-American Rapprochement."