Involvement in Foreign Affairs

Question 1

Reasons for Expansions

Answer 1

1. to find new markets and materials for American goods
2. to build up military strength in order to protect economic interests
3. to spread American culture of the white, catholic man (supports social darwinism, only the most power nations will survive)

Question 2

Trade with Japan

Answer 2

US forced Japan into trade with the Gunboat Diplomacy

 - used force to make a country do something
 - used by Commodore Perry
 - Japan, surrounded by battleships surrendered to open trade

Question 3

Purchase of Alaska

Answer 3

Why Alaska?

 - strategic military base
 - natural resources (eventually found after the purchase)
 - fueling station and closer route to Asia

Question 4

Seward’s Folly

Answer 4

Alaska was very cheap, so people thought the purchase was joke, and a man bought it w/o the permission of Congress

Question 5

Annexation of Hawaii

Answer 5

Why Hawaii?
     -sugar cane
     -to spread Christianity 
     -great military base
     -fuel station to Asia
     -US could spread Christianity there
Hawaii King denied US gov. of annexation, but the navy was weak and US crushed them
Showed the 1st signs of imperialism (did not want to be imperialistic)

Question 6

Trade with China

Answer 6

Wanted to have an Open Door Policy
-no $ involved
-all countries could trade equally
-China could not support it financially
At the time, China was under Spheres of Influence
Boxer Rebellion tried to stop foreign policy, and they felt invincible to any military (wrong)

Question 7

Boxer Protocall

Answer 7

China had to pay for all of the damage done by the boxer rebellion and pay for all of the Americans’ life insurance who had died