US Imperialism Begins

1. Name at least five factors that fueled American Imperialism.
Desire for military strength, thirst for new markets, belief in cultural superiority, manifest destiny, needed more natural resources

2. Choose two of the above five factors and describe them in your own words.
The beleif in cultural superiority meant that the Americans thought that their way of life was thee way God intended people to live and that all other cultures should wear their clothes, worship their God and have jobs. The desire for military strength meant that the US wanted to establish itself as a major force and be able to defend itself against other major powers.
3. What was known as “Seward’s Folly” and why?
Seward's Folly was the purchase of Alaska because people did not think that the expensive land had any real value to it.
4. What plantation-based product accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii’s wealth in the mid-19th century and who controlled this product?
Sugar accounted for 3/4ths of Hawaii's wealth and America controlled this product.

6. Using as much detail as possible, outline the sequence of events that led to America gaining possession of Hawaii? In other words, why was the United States interested in these Pacific islands?
Pearl Harbor was a very valuable military location and the Us recognized this. The thought that if they had control over the Hawaiian islands than they essentially controlled the Pacific Ocean. The also feared Britain and China taking over the island.Hawaii also had lots of potential for new markets with all the sugar and different crops being grown there.