16th Century American Imperialism

Imperialism is a recurring theme in the history of the world. Stronger countries see themselves as superior to other societies and believe their ways are right. They force religion, government, and practices on countless foreign lands. At the very end of the nineteenth

During the conquest of the new world, the idea of varied culture was far from the minds of the Spanish exploring the Americas . This lack of thought for other definitions of normal allows modern readers to better understand the debate of the time: the moral obligations associated with subjugation and conversion. Two Spanish theologians, Bartolomé de las Casas and Juan Gines de Sepulveda, thought that their specific means for carrying out the tasks of evangelization and colonization were superior to the other. Though no clear winner of the dispute over a “just war” was declared, their argumentation continues to be discussed due to its relevancy.

Imperial powers have a long tradition of exploiting less powerful states for political and economic gain. We see this throughout much of history, from early warlords demanding tribute from weaker rulers, and arguably even today in the United States. Citizens in places such as Guam must pay taxes and are subject to the draft, and yet can only vote for a non-voting member of congress. Evidence of exploitation are myriad across much of human history. Perhaps the most widespread examples, however, are those of the Colonial period, during the 1500s through the 1700s, and the New Imperial period, of the late 1800s.

With the late 19th century came a great change in the ideas of expansionism in the United States, but also a continuation of its ideals. The idea of imperialism, where the United States would extend its power around the globe, stood in contrast with the original Manifest Destiny ideal of the 1840s and 1850s when America was expanding west from ‘sea to shining sea.’ However, the inherent social and cultural sentiments were still present in the late 19th century expansionism, though the economic and political purposes had changed.

Convinced of the superiority of Catholicism to all other religions, Spain insisted that the primary goal of colonization was to save the Indians from heathenism and prevent them from falling under the sway of Protestantism. The aim was neither to exterminate nor to remove the Indians, but to transform them into obedient Christian subjects of the crown. To the Spanish colonizers, the large native populations of the Americas were not only souls to be saved but also a labor force to be organized to extract gold and silver that would enrich their mother country. Las Casas’ writings and the abuses they exposed contributed to the spread of the Black Legend-the image of Spain as a uniquely brutal and exploitative colonizer. This would provide of a potent justification for other European powers to challenge Spain’s predominance in the New World.

England has always been a very powerful country, and when the Virginia Company of London, a group of wealthy investors, offered King James I to fund the voyage to the New World, he gladly agreed. The main goal for establishing the new colonies for England was to spread Protestant Christianity and to convert the indigenous people they encountered. Another objective was to find more resources that could be sent back to England, which would mean more jobs for many of the farmers and others living in poverty. It also meant England would not have to buy goods from other countries which would increase their economy. Rumor had it that the Spanish had discovered gold in that area and the members of the Virginia Company of London hoped to find these

In the late 19th century, a desire for expansion and control swept through Europe. Today, we know this as the age of imperialism. Influential powers like Britain and France competed to gain more land and to spread their influence throughout the world. The purpose of imperialism was to gain political power by means of land and wealth. The more power an empire held, the more influence it had on worldly matters. With this power came racial tensions, and a strong sense of nationalism. Britain was the leading power in the race for imperialism, leading many of its citizens to believe that they were above those not of English origin. Growing powers meant new opportunities for the citizens of the growing imperialistic empire. Anna Leonowens, a British

I am for imperialism because it was a logical and effective decision for the United States to do during that time. The American mindset had always veered towards some form of imperialism even though American Imperialism didn't officially begin until the late 1800s. For instance, when the American citizens had the constant desire to expand their territories and settle west in hope for land and more opportunities, they conquered the land previously owned by Indian and placed them on horrific reservations. Later, the Americans sought to americanize the Indians because they felt that the Indian’s lifestyle was inferior to that of theirs and thus needed help from Americans, who had the superior style of living and should come in and change the Indian ways. Americans essentially repeated this process again in the late 1800s/early 1900s

Expansion In the late 1800’s the United States practiced imperialistic policies like the Europeans by creating the “Open Door” policy in China. In the UCScout reading of McKinley and Roosevelt it stated, “The economic and social environment was perfect for the rise if the International Darwinism movement.” This movement had loyal followers who supported U.S imperialism. Other Americans also wanted the government to spread the American influence in other countries, but they were also concerned that they would not be able to keep up with European powers.

Throughout history, humankind has been extending their power to others to gain more control. Whether that was political, military, or even economics, this use of dominance, no matter how large or minuscule, is considered imperialism. It has been used all over the world for centuries to gain strength, land, and even alliances, but when it came to being used by America, it changed. The United States, along with several other countries, preferred the use of indirect imperialism. (“Imperialism | Definition, History, Examples, & Facts''2024) Like others, America wanted to continue the growth of their influences on different countries and territories, which in turn caused a lot of conflict for the United States.

The United States used force to gain world power through expansion, also known as Imperialism. Imperialism was a thoroughly debated topic in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Imperialists believed the United States should gain foreign territory. Anti-Imperialists, however, did not think that the United States should expand. Imperialism was alluring for many reasons, such as, becoming more powerful, better trading and ports, protecting other countries, and more.

During the time of the 1800s and the early 1900s the United States of America became more imperialistic than it ever has before. Some of these places that America took control of later became actual states of the United States or ended up having good relationships with America. Throughout this time, there was a real thought again about the manifest destiny method. This manifest destiny was seen beyond the United States, but also seen outside of America by taking control or influencing other countries. The expansion of the American Navy, and the victory in the Spanish-American war effected the decision to become imperialistic in the eyes of America. This war forced Spain to give control over Cuba to the United States and grant Puerto Rico, Guam,

Josiah Strong, a reverend and famous Protestant clergyman, wrote in his book, Our Country, about why the United States should support imperialism. He himself is American, but where exactly in America is unknown. It is important that this established, as it makes it easier to understand his motivations for promoting what he thinks are best interests for America. The exact date of this publication is not given, but further research states it is from 1885. At around 1885 was a period of time where imperialism was a concept which was spreading quickly to many large countries, and there were many who supported it in the United States. His book, given the quote, appears to embrace American imperialism for spreading the ideals of the United

Imperialism is a policy that has positively impacted nations and their development for centuries. This was especially true during the late 1800s and early 1900s, when many European nations began to expand far beyond their borders. Imperialistic policies were not only good for the development of countries that were expanding, but in many cases, the countries that were being expanded into as well.

In 1796, Edward Jenner created the first vaccine, but his discovery was an accident. Even though his discovery was an accident, Jenner’s discovery had revolutionized the medical world, and since his discovery, many more vaccines have been created. These vaccines can be very beneficial, so people should get vaccinated because it prevents diseases, stops outbreaks, prevents isolation among people, and exceeds the risks associated with vaccines.