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American ExceptionalismAmerica holds gods chosen people

1871: Darwin wrote about natural selection: the best immigrated doAmerica- Interna tional Darwinism

Idle unemploym ent would lead to violence. Darwin believed thatUS had to imperialize.

Unemployment affects everyone:1 person laid off -> Buy cheaper goods ->manufacturers lose money ->

workers laid off ->buy cheaper goods.

IMPERIALISM IS THE ANSWER.

Justificat ion : others are inferior to AmericansSena tor Albert Beveridge: believed that US could exploit others-sense of duty because they are inferior. Missionaries extolled virtues

of American civilization

The US looked to Asia and South America for resources and market .Diplomat John A. Kassa n said that the US was using up land- they mustexpand.

Production exceeded demand => must exportProduction exceeded demand => tight federal money policies -> less

loans to banks => farmers get no profit-> borrow money -> sink into

debt-> DEPRESSIO N -> hopelessness, anger -> REVOLUTIONThe Grange and the Populace movements (agricultural)

Railroad strike in 1871

Chicago riot in 1886

Pollman strike 1894(Pollman owned everything => pay cut => no other expenses lowered => people couldnt

afford anything)

Johnsons secretary of state William Henr y Seward and GrantsHamilton Fish thought that China was the answer: a botto mles s

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market . They wanted to acquire Canada and Latin A merica . Theymade treaties with Hawa ii and Samoa:

Rutherford B. Hayes secretary of state William Everett established

com mercial USA Garfields secretary of state James Blaine- brought peace and

cultivated friendly relations with American countries for trade

Fred Frelinguysen: bilateral reciprocity- lower tariffs and stimula tetrade.mid 1880s

congress reevaluated isolation policies

navy was a joke- neede d stronger nav y to trade w ith china Chester Arthur (congress) passed act for 3 small cruisers and a

dispatch boat (wh ite squadron) Under Grover Cleveland- squadron grew, personnel improved.

Otto van Bismarck said that talking is not the answer- war wasnec essary .Benjamin Tracy wanted ships that could defend AND attack. Gooddefe nse is o ffen se (it shows strength- intimidation) He wanted todefe nd traders to improve trade. Wanted 2 fleets- atlantic and pacific.He was backed by Hale and Lodge (senators)

1890: Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote Influence of Sea Powerupon the Navy saying that naval power was the ke y the na tionalgreatne ss and without a powerful navy, they would never be a worldpower or have peace and prosperity.

Public Opinion:

When people hear something enough and start to believe it- they

mentality. (Approved by politicians and media)

Walter Q. Grisham (1893) said public opinion is made and controlled

by thoughtful men of the country.