Essay On American Imperialism

American imperialism has undergone varying transitions through its developmental stage in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and it was interpreted to be many things, including controversial to the original colonial beliefs. The United States rapidly took up the sport of becoming involved with foreign nations, and it was clear that through influence on these nations, the United States would grow in both territorial size and power in the global sense. America helped many Polynesian, Latin American, and Asian nations during this period, and most of the conversed issues was trade and foreign relations. The desire of territorial expansion was also in response to the blossoming ideal of Social Darwinism, where expansionism was justified if the United States was aiding struggling nations with their foreign and domestic policies. Although justified, Social Darwinism was an unethical approach to world power, and many perceived this step in American Imperialism as corrupt. The Panama Canal also held a large part in building American Imperialism. Creating this canal would determine which nation dominated the sea, and the United States was more than eager to pounce on the opportunity to increase their global influence. The United States dipped its hand into many global issues during and following the Gilded Age, and these hold the honor of molding American Imperialism, but its change over time was held up to debate by scholars in the Gilded age and by contemporary

Imperialism is the policy of extending the role of authority of a nation over a foreign country, usually in material gain. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the United States went through an era of imperialism. At the time, the US was quite powerful, but was looking to continue to spread their territory, make themselves even stronger, and have multiple trade routes to have all the resources they needed and wanted.

After the civil war, United States took a turn that led them to solidify as the world power. From the late 1800s, as the US began to collect power through Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines, debate arose among historians about American imperialism and its behavior. Historians such as William A. Williams, Arthur Schlesinger, and Stephen Kinzer provides their own vision and how America ought to be through ideas centered around economics, power, and racial superiority.

American Imperialism has been a part of United States history ever since the American Revolution. Imperialism is the practice by which large, powerful nations seek to expand and maintain control or influence on a weaker nation. Throughout the years, America has had a tendency to take over other people's land. America had its first taste of Imperialistic nature back when Columbus came to America almost five hundred years ago. He fought the inhabitants with no respect for their former way of life, took their land, and proceeded to enslave many of these Native Americans. The impact of the 1820's and 1830's on American Imperialism is undeniable. Although the military power was not fully there during this time period, their ideals and foreign

In the 19th century the scramble for control was under way when the Americans, Japan, and the Germans entered, other countries struggling with their empires. In the late nineteen century became a new age of imperialism in where technology and communications brought empire’s within reach. Many counties were joining the hunt fort new colonies, Americans preferred an indirect imperialism. The concept was first popularized during James K. Polk presidency, where he led the United States into the Mexican-American War of 1846. America’s version was that to “export products, ideas, and influence”, they viewed it as a “pure” version so they can share their values of democracy, and Christianity.

For one to fully understand why the U.S. was an imperialistic nation, they must first understand the definition of imperialism. Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. During the decade of the 1840’s, the U.S extended its power through obtaining

Imperialism was an extremely controversial issue in the 1800s and early 1900s. Imperialism is defined in our book as: “The practice by which a nation acquires and holds colonies and other possessions, denies them self-government, and usually exploits them economically.” The Republicans and Democrats had a huge role in the idea of expansion during this time period, Republicans defined themselves on the idea of what their party did to gain self worth and the Democrats were more focused on what they opposed rather that what they stood for. Democrats imposed government influence on economy and countless other things. Democrats stood for white supremacy.

From: Romesh Dutt, The Economic History of India Under Early British Rule Englishmen…have given the people of India the greatest human blessing – peace. They have introduced Western education. This has brought an ancient and civilized nation in touch with modern thought, modern sciences and modern life. They have built an administration that is strong and efficient. They have framed wise laws and have established courts of justice.

U.S imperialism was both like and unlike the imperialism practiced by European powers. The assertion that U.S. imperialism was unlike any other is because of the way that citizens viewed themselves. While native European citizens supported imperialism because of resources and wealth which their colonies provided, they mainly supported the expansion of their empires because they thought they were “helping” the supposed inferior races by colonizing. Race played a very large and important role in the rise of overseas European empires and while they acknowledge this fact, the U.S., on the other hand, had a different reason.

The United States of America had begun its political life as a colony of the British Empire. However, as the 20th century dawned, the nation quickly found itself as one of the world’s leading imperial powers. Historians have proposed various reasons for this change in the American psyche. Historians from the progressive school of thought argue that economic interests dictated American foreign policy; while academics of the Conservative or older patriotic tradition advocate that the nation's brief foray into imperialism represented a “great aberration” from typical American isolationism. A third school led by Julius Pratt, applied Social Darwinism to the country – stating that a combination of religious and humanitarian components motivated

Americans generally have feelings of exceptionalism from the rest of the world. This was especially prevalent during the late 19th and 20th centuries when the United States had completed its growth from coast to coast, and civilization and industry were booming. Patriotic pride is important to the growth and prosperity of a country because it provides a positive outlook on the future. Senator Albert Beveridge of Ohio declared in a speech to Congress that America was “[God’s] chosen people…to lead in the regeneration of the world” (Beveridge 1). This type of radical nationalism can lead to American imperialism simply because the American imperialists believe they have a right to colonize other nations. Rahul Varma, a Canadian playwright and essayist for the Playwrights Guild of Canada, wrote an article about the damaging effects of globalization. He writes that globalization is changing world policy and cultures into a monoculture not unlike that of the United States. The American culture, he continues, which the other unique cultures may fall victim to is one of rapid

Explain America’s expansionist ideals. What were some of the factors that justified American imperialist actions?

The age of the empire is responsible for creating the foundation for our modern day view of race. A factor not given much thought before European imperialism, race became a key determinant of social standing after Europeans engaged in the African slave trade to acquire workers for the colonies in the Americas. Even after the colonies liberated themselves from their founding countries to become their own nations, the predisposition left by slavery to assign worth based on skin color remained. Throughout history and in the present day, misconceptions and prejudices about race continue to be an issue for countries like Brazil and the United States.

In the two sources, “Our Country” and the “Platform of the American Antiimperialist League”, the issue of American imperialism is being discussed. There are two opposing views about American imperialism being discussed in the two sources, one for and one against. American Imperialism in “Platform of the American Antiimperialist League” was seen in a negative light, while American imperialism was seen as something that must happen to demonstrate the greatness of

In a passage from Our Country, Josiah states, “let us hope, of the largest liberty, the purest Christianity, the highest civilization -- having developed peculiarly aggressive traits calculated to impress its institutions upon mankind, will spread itself over the earth” (674). This applies to the issues with the Philippines because it supports McKinley's reasoning for sending troops and “missionaries” over to convert the people but ultimately ended up wreaking havoc. “Aguinaldo’s Case against the United States” written by Emilio Aguinaldo explained why he opposed American imperialism. Emilio led the Filipino armed against Spain for Independence. He was against imperialism because he believed the Filipino’s were being treated unfairly, America thinking that they were “ignorant savages”. The point he made was that America was treating the Philippines like how the colonials were treated before they escaped England. Emilio asked for America to “give us the chance; treat us exactly as you demanded to be treated at the hands of England when you rebelled against her autocratic methods”. By America treating the Filipino’s this way, it tossed all their morals about liberty and out the door putting the Filipino’s in the position that Americans were in trying trying to escape from England’s