Social Political Economic Causes of Imperialism 1890 1909

Social, Political & Economic Causes of Imperialism 1890 -1909

Social • New sense of power due to increase in population, wealth and industrial production • yellow journalism: sensationalized stories of dubious veracity • need for excitement abroad/publishing “news” for entertainment & profits • exp: William Randolph Hearst and the San Francisco Examiner

Social Darwinism • The Earth belonged to the strong and the fit. In this case, the United States of America. • Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge advocates of this philosophy • Missionary work also allows to Christianize the heathens “Our Country”. • Take up the White Man's burden-Send forth the best ye breed-Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild-Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child. --Rudyard Kipling, The White Man's Burden (1899)

Political • International scramble for colonies in Africa and China - we needed to compete. • Need to reinforce the Monroe Doctrine - border dispute b/w Britain & Venezuela. • Militarism: Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii (1887)

Political: Propaganda • American ships sent to protect and evacuate American lives if war broke out b/w Spain and Cuba. • The Maine explodes: US blames Spain (later proved that it was an accident and not Spain) • Exaggerated by Hearst and yellow journalism

Political • Sugar producers burn their own fields to try to get Spain out (and the U. S. ’ help) • Valeriano Weyler as a brute reconcentration camps • Rough Riders invade Cuba • War w/ Spain leads US to invade the Phillipines (Spanish colony)

economic • Manufacturing and agricultural exports increase dramatically: expand or explode • Need for labor force that is not complaining (is: labor unions) • Agriculture in Hawaii Mc. Kinley increases tariff. Annexation attractive and cost effective for major exporters (Dole, etc).

Conclusion What was the antiimperialism response?