Section 1

US Expansion

        -US expanded towards Pacific Ocean throughout 1800s

                -By 1880s, started looking overseas

        -Imperialism

-Practice of extending the power of a nation by direct territorial acquisition of colonial empires

-Strong country extends economic, political, military control over weaker lands

        -Europe took over almost all of Africa in 1800s

                -British were imperialist powerhouse

                        -“The sun never sets on the British Empire”

                -Why the interest in land?

                        -More power, customers, natural resources

        -Reasons why US was interested

                -EconomicàNew markets

                        -Stopovers for trading vessels

                -Militaryà-Strategic military bases

                -Cultural  

                        -Spread Christianity

                        -Spread American “way of life”

Alaska

        -Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000

                -William Seward (Sec. of State) arranged deal

                        -“Seward’s Folly”

                                -Turned out to be a great deal

Hawaii

        -American missionaries started going to Hawaii in early 1800s

        -Queen Liluokalani wanted to limit sugar plantations power

                -Upset American planters

                        -Staged overthrow of Queen, asked to be annexed

        -Annexed in 1898