Excerpt from President Cleveland's Message to Congress, December 18, 1893
It is unnecessary to set forth the reasons which in January, 1893, led a considerable proportion of American and other foreign merchants and traders residing at Honolulu to favor the annexation of Hawaii to the United States. It is sufficient to note the fact and to observe that the project was one which was zealously promoted by the Minister representing the United States in that country. He evidently had an ardent desire that it should become a fact accomplished by his agency and during his ministry, and was not inconveniently scrupulous as to the means employed to that end. On the 19th day of November, 1892, nearly two months before the first overt act tending towards the subversion of the Hawaiian Government and the attempted transfer of Hawaiian territory to the United States, he addressed a long letter to the Secretary of State in which the case for annexation was elaborately argued, on moral, political, and economical grounds. He refers to the loss of the Hawaiian sugar interests from the operation of the McKinley bill, and the tendency to still further depreciation of sugar property unless some positive measure of relief is granted. . . .
. . .
The lawful Government of Hawaii was overthrown without the drawing of a sword or the firing of a shot by a process every step of which, it may be safely asserted, is directly traceable to and dependent for its success upon the agency of the United States acting through its diplomatic and naval representatives.
But for the notorious predilections of the United States Minister for annexation, the Committee of Safety, which should be called the Committee of Annexation, would never have existed.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
What inference can you make about the goals of American imperialism in the late 1800s?
A.
Expansion was driven by business interests such as planters, traders, and investors.
B.
Expansion was motivated by moral imperatives to expand republicanism and democracy.
C.
Expansion represented a strategic plan to enhance the strength and reach of the U.S. military.
D.
Expansion reflected the will of most American diplomats and citizens, who wanted more land.
A. Expansion was driven by business interests such as planters, traders, and investors.
Based on the excerpt, the inference that can be made about the goals of American imperialism in the late 1800s is:
A. Expansion was driven by business interests such as planters, traders, and investors.
In the excerpt, President Cleveland highlights the role of American and other foreign merchants and traders residing in Hawaii who favored the annexation of the territory to the United States. He mentions the loss of Hawaiian sugar interests and the need for relief, which indicates the economic motivations behind annexation. Furthermore, Cleveland criticizes the United States Minister for his ardent desire to accomplish annexation, suggesting that the goals of American imperialism were steered by individuals with business interests.
Based on the excerpt, the inference that can be made about the goals of American imperialism in the late 1800s is:
A. Expansion was driven by business interests such as planters, traders, and investors.
The excerpt mentions that American and foreign merchants and traders in Hawaii favored the annexation of Hawaii to the United States, particularly due to the loss of the Hawaiian sugar interests and the potential further depreciation of sugar property. This suggests that expansion was motivated by economic reasons, driven by business interests.