<p>Question 1: Why did the Americans wish to acquire an overseas empire during this time? </p><p>1. Overproduction of Industrial Goods led to a drive for overseas markets A. New Markets led to: 1. An increase in sales of manufactured goods from American factories, resulting in more trade, jobs and profits for business. 2. Greater access to raw materials. Foreign possessions could provide U.S. businesses with materials they needed, allowing lower costs and greater production and profit. 3. New places to invest American capital. U.S. businessmen could invest/create mining concerns, giant cattle ranches or fruit plantations. Text, p. 295 (http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/teacher.html#Outline)</p><p>2. Social Darwinism--Supporters of overseas expansion argued that nations competed with each other and that the strongest would survive. If the United States was truly the greatest nation on earth, it must participate in—and win--this competition.</p><p>3. Benefited the people in U.S. colonies. A. Politically—the U.S. was the world’s greatest democracy. By expanding overseas it could pass along this political philosophy and improve the lives of people in these colonies. B. Economically—the U.S. was the world’s greatest capitalist country. By expanding overseas it would develop the economic systems in these colonies and pass along this economic philosophy, improving the lives of the inhabitants. C. Religiously—U.S. missionaries would spread Christianity to these colonies and “save” the souls of these people.</p><p>President McKinley summed up these beliefs with these words: "that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them [the Philippine islands] all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also died."</p><p>4. Military Advantage—Alfred Thayer Mahan in his book The Influence of Seapower Upon History argued that colonies provided vital assets for the refueling and maintenance of a great fleet to protect and project American influence.</p><p>Text, p. 296 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/2708402) http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v13/v13n4p4_Ries.html</p><p>4. Racism—William Allen White said, “It is the Anglo-Saxon's manifest destiny to go forth as a world conqueror. He will take possession of the islands of the sea ... This is what fate holds for the chosen people."</p><p> http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v13/v13n4p4_Ries.html www.u-s-history.com/pages/h255.html3- www.spanamwar.com/imperialism.htm www.library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/spanamer/yellow.htm </p>