3, 2, 1, LIFTOFF!

3, 2, 1...

3 things that I learned: 

1. I learned that there was a Canal that helped the trade routes from Asia to Europe
2. Also, that West Florida was originally part of Spain
3. Lastly, I learned that the U.S. isn't exactly Imperialistic when I had thought that it was.

2 things I found interesting: 

1. John Quincy Adams was the person in charge of the merging of Florida
2. Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first black man to ever sit in the U.S. Congress.

1 question I still have: 

1. What's the difference between what America and Europe did to gain land? 

SpOtLiGhT!

SUEZ CANAL 

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. It allows transportation by water between Europe and Asia without navigation around Africa. The Canal is controlled by the Suez Canal Authority (The SCA) in Egypt and can be used in times of war, peaces with any vessel of commerce or of war, and without the distinction of a flag. It's important in today's world because it's a means of getting trade from one place to the other. From Asia to Europe, which will eventually come to America. 

What's in the news?

What's happening currently that could be connected to events that took place during Westernization and Imperialism? 

TUNISIA REVOLUTION: December 20, 2010

           This started one December day when Mohamed Bouazizi started a revolution by setting himself on fire, due to his anger with the government for their poor treatment of the citizens of Tunisia and also the bad economics there. This is part, and possibly the start of the Arab Springs Revolutions, which are revolutions that are taking place all across the Middle-East. 

Scrambling, Scrambling, Chaos...

THE SCRAMBLE OF AFRICA 

• The Scramble of Africa was the invasion, occupation, and annexation of Africa
• Between Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain 
• Some "Key People" were David Livingstone, Henry M. Stanley, and Leopold II
• Portugal arrived during the Age of Exploration, then as an opened market of trade developed and economic benefits grew, more countries decided to take part of the action there. 
• Another reason for this, was because of racial reasons, such as wanting to do their duties like it was said they should do in the White Man's Burden.

What happened in the U.S. during this time period?

MARCH 30, 1822

On March 30, 1822, the United States will merge East Florida with West Florida. This formed the Territory of Florida. Originally, Florida, or La Florida, was Spanish territory, but because of the Adams-Onis Treaty (AKA Transcontinental Treaty), signed on February 22, 1822 by John Quincy Adams and Luis de Onis, it became U.S. territory. The treaty was specifically granted to grant land to the United States. William Pope Duval would then become the first governor of the Florida Territory. 

If this would be connected with anything from European Imperialism, I believe it'd be the Union of South Africa because of the unification of Cape Colony, Natal Colony, Transvaal Colony, and Orange River Colony. 

FEBRUARY 3, 1870

On February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed. This would give all African American males the right to vote. Later that month, it inspired Hiram Rhodes Revels to become the First African American man to ever sit in the U.S. Congress. Then, the 15th Amendment was further ratified, giving all black the right to vote. This was a huge milestone for all African Americans in America. 

In a way, this connects with the White Man's Burden. It's similar to it, because when America voted a black man into Congress, it was kind of a political move in a sense that America was trying to show that they could accept and teach blacks to become "sophisticated" like whites. In opposition to the White Man's Burden, it seems like, while Europeans would teach them how to act as whites should, they would never actually let blacks hold office of any sort.  

Is/Has the United States Been Imperialistic?

       No, I don't believe that the United States has ever been imperialistic. Although we have wanted expansion and have gained land over time, we never wanted the land for a gain of colonies, which is the main goal of New Imperialism. In reality, we didn't want more land, but we wanted the economic benefits of some lands. America only fought wars for certain countries so that they could trade with them, not for the land itself. 

U.S. Imperialism

This picture is depicting Americans moving from "dumpy" areas with problems
such as recession, unemployment, and foreclosures happening in them. The American dad says
something about their "Next big national-building effort" being in this disastrous area, and the mother sarcastically answers that they would "rebuild" it right after they got through with Afghanistan.

The artist is trying to depict that America tries to move in, take over, and attempt to rebuild other countries for economic gains, even though it's obvious that we need to worry about ourselves more than these other countries.

I agree with this, because it seems like we do that a lot. It's happened since America first came to be, and it doesn't always end up too great. We focus on rebuilding and trying to build up some sort of government or economy, but we just end up wasting our time and being more in debt. The sarcasm of the mother when she says "Sure, right after Afghanistan" is saying that our goals for these other countries aren't gonna happen, and that's pretty much the whole point of this political cartoon.