American Expansionism Assignment

The turn of the century was a transformative time for the United States as it moved out of the depression of 1893 into a player on the world stage by 1901. How did this expansionism fundamentally change the U.S. or superimpose trends in the U.S. on its new territorial holdings? For this week's assignment you will be looking at the American Yawp sections for "American Empire",

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available in the highlighted text (here generally and below specifically). Read through these documents and answer the questions below. You should answer the questions completely and concisely. View submittal requirements at the bottom.

DOCs:

School Begins (1899)

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image (at the bottom of the documents page in "Media")

William James on The Philippine Question (1903)

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McKinley on American Expansionism (1903)

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Questions:

1. What is James' perspective on American Expansionism? How do you think we saw intervention and particularly the role of the US in the Philippines? Did he support or oppose it, why? Reference the source for support.

2. Look at the image "School Begins". How is America's role in the outside world depicted in this cartoon? What are some of the stereotypes you see in it and how can you relate some of these stereotypes to trends in American intervention, foreign policy or immigration? Tie three aspects of the image to what was going on with the U.S. around 1900.

3. How does President McKinley see the role of the US in the Pacific? What is his reasoning for US involvement? What, in the long run was the purpose for further expansion, colonization? New Markets? Explain.