Overview

In the decades after the Civil War, the United States began asserting itself on the global stage. Motivated by economic interests, strategic concerns, and a belief in cultural superiority, the nation pursued expansionist and imperialist policies that shaped modern American foreign relations.

Key Themes and Events

• Alaska Purchase (1867): Often called "Seward’s Folly," the U.S. acquisition of Alaska from Russia signaled growing American interest in territorial expansion beyond the continent.
• Open Door Policy: The U.S. promoted equal trade access in China without formal colonization. Secretary of State John Hay’s notes helped define U.S. policy in Asia.
• Spanish-American War (1898): Sparked by the sinking of the Maine and yellow journalism, the war ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
• Philippine-American War (1899–1902): After defeating Spain, the U.S. faced Filipino resistance to occupation. The brutal conflict questioned American ideals of liberty and empire.
• Panama Canal and Roosevelt Corollary: The U.S. supported Panamanian independence from Colombia and built the canal. Roosevelt's corollary to the Monroe Doctrine justified U.S. intervention in Latin America to maintain stability.
• American Imperialism Debates: Expansion was supported by strategic and economic motives, but critics, including Mark Twain and the Anti-Imperialist League, warned of hypocrisy and moral decline.

Quick Tip

Know the causes and outcomes of the Spanish-American War, the significance of the Panama Canal, and the broader shift from isolationism to imperialism. CLEP questions may test both events and the reasoning behind foreign policy decisions.