Effects Of Post Civil War On Hawaii Imperialism

Joel J Huerta
Mr. Pineda
AP US History
23 January 2023

Post Civil War, the United States went under two major insurgence most known as the Agricultural and Industrial revolutions. These new cultivated goods and transformative machinery formulated from both revolutions would bring America to new heights and attract the likes of people all over the world. However, due to these new high technological advancements, over production became a vast issue leading America to turn to policies of imperialism in order to prevent an economic downturn. Imperialism was the policy of extending power over a nation by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over political or economic life. In the latter half of the nineteenth century,

Over time America started to gradually incorporate the Hawaiian islands as an extension of its territory even though Hawaii was largely recognized as its own monarchy by many global nations. It wasn’t until the 1840s when The States Department regularly intimidated other foreign countries that America would finally have full control over Hawaiian commodities. America used Hawaii as a way to solve its problem with its overpopulated naval harbors by signing the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 which allowed the US access to Pearl Harbor. American businessmen took advantage of Hawaii’s most notable product, sugar cane, which was readily available and cheap due to Hawaii’s close proximity to American coastlines. However, when President Mckinley enacted a tariff on Hawaiian goods, American businessmen became furious due to it costing them more money to import products. This led many angered businessmen to try and annex Hawaii so that they wouldn't have to pay the tax. American businessmen were blocked from going forth with the annexation by Queen Liliuokalan who stated that the control of the island should be left in the hands of the native Hawaiians. Although these businessmen were not allowed to go forward with the annexation, it didn’t stop them from conducting a successful revolt to capture the Queen, as well as establishing the momentary

searched for foreign nations in which they could start viable trading. In 1889, Secretary James Blaine introduced the Big Sister Policy, which opened up the markets of Latin American countries. Most Latin Americans weren’t particularly fond of this Policy and didn’t appreciate being taken advantage of. Then, ideas arose for building a canal through Latin America in order to allow merchant and navy ships to pass through the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in a timely manner. Not only would American ships be able to transport goods quickly and efficiently, but they would also have substantial economic benefits. In June 1902, America proposed a treaty to the Colombian government that involved the purchasing of land in Panama to build the canal. Colombia rejected the treaty and blocked any sort of construction in Panama. President Roosevelt disregarded Colombia's rejection, demanding the canal be built without Colombian authorization. Panamanians, Heavily influenced by American forces, decide to revolt against Columbia in 1903. Panama's revolt resulted in their independence and the creation of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, which gave the U.S. control over the parts of the land where the canal was going to be built. The inception of the Panama Canal is a great example of Dollar Diplomacy, which was the idea of investing in countries that provide deliberate benefits to America's military and