Kevin Li
1994 DBQ APUSH
To what extent was late 19th century and early 20th century US expansionism a continuation of past US expansionism and to what extent was it a departure? Over the years the United States expansionism has experienced many different changes. The United States has expanded for many different reasons such as the economy, land, and even God. Expansionism is now a continuation of past United States expansionism but was more so a departure. The United States has progressed economically and as a result methods of expansionism have evolved but it also tried to stay with the ideals of the forefathers. In Document C the importance of naval power is expressed and it outlines the obligations: the
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All of the major departures show hints of the United States forefather’s ideals. The expansion into foreign lands comes from Manifest Destiny and the idea that the Anglo-Saxon, or WASP, was mandated by God to expand into these territories. In Document B it states that “The race of unequalled energy, with all the majesty of numbers and the might of wealth behind it-the representative, let us hope, of the largest liberty, the purest Christianity, the highest civilization.” Although the continuation of the United States' expansionism was limited, they continued to stay true to the Monroe Doctrine. The Roosevelt Corollary comes directly from the Monroe Doctrine which protected the rights of struggling Latin American countries and their fights for freedom. “Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of international police power.” This is stated in Document F. Like anything in the world with good continuations comes bad continuations, for example the people of the United States never fully recognized immigrants or Native Americans as
The end of the nineteenth century marked a significant change in the American foreign policy. Prior to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, America had paid little attention to foreign affairs. When compared to some of the more powerful European countries, such as France, Germany, and Great Britain, the United States had a
To what extent was late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century United States expansionism a continuation of past United States expansionism and to what extent was it a departure?
During the 1890’s, the United States began building and advancing their economy, as well as focusing more independently on becoming an even more powerful nation. Not only did the Americans begin to create a stronger national military and navy, they also began to look overseas towards the Pacific Ocean for resources and territories; this is when America began to look less like a national power and more like an imperial power. There were many reasons as to why the United States began to expand between 1880-1929, two of which include the military opportunities countries abroad had to offer, such as Pearl Harbor, as well as the domestic and political objectives the U.S. felt obligated to fulfill. Although, there were many important reasons for the United States to began to expand, the most significant reason for the expansionist foreign policy was the economic resources and opportunities other foreign countries had to offer the U.S.
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.
The period 1875-1920 has been described by some historians as a period of “selflessness” during which the United States helped weaker nations from dominant European powers and spread the “blessings of democracy and civilization.” Others have described the “New Manifest Destiny” as a time of “ruthless American expansion” at the cost of weaker nations and in violation of our own principles of consent of the governed and popular sovereignty.
There were many country-splitting issues that characterized the United States in the 19th century. A major one of these issues was Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to extend its territory west to the Pacific Ocean. There were both positive and negative aspects to expansion in the era of Manifest Destiny. Expansionism was not a good idea in the 1840's in the event that it only benefitted the Americans. There were many Native American populations in the Midwest that were uprooted and forced to leave their homes. Problems in the Mexican government arose as well. Although the Americans thought that Manifest Destiny was a successful movement, in actuality, it was an aggressive imperialism at the expense of others.
American expansionism in the late 19th century and early 20th century was, to a large extent, a continuation of past United States expansionism, while also departing with previous expansionism in some aspects. During the period of time between the late 19th century and early 20th century, America was going through significant changes. After a revolution in Cuba against the Spanish, as well as the Americans starting the Spanish-American War, the Americans received several territorial concessions from their defeated opponent. Thus, America started on the path to imperialism, gaining several more territories in a short amount of time. Such an expansion in the late 19th century and early 20th century was mostly a continuation of past
During the time between the late 19th century and early 20th century, America was going through significant changes. Following a revolution in Cuba against the Spanish, and the Americans intervening to start the Spanish-American War, the Americans received several territorial concessions from their defeated opponent. Thus, America started on the path to imperialism. McKinley and Roosevelt gained several territories in a short amount of time, and would look to continue America’s success since they had a strong navy and intelligent leaders. To a large extent, United States expansion continued in a social and cultural aspect through Manifest Destiny, yet it differed in how the new land was acquired and for what purpose.
At the turn of the century, and after gaining our independence, the United States land mass more than doubled through the use of purchasing, annexing, and war. However, the foreign policy of our government took a predominately isolationist stand. This was a national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries. General Washington shaped these values by upholding and encouraging the use of these principles by warning to avoid alliances in his farewell speech. The reasoning behind these actions was that the Republic was a new nation. We did not have the resources or the means to worry about other
There were many examples of U.S. expansion, though some were worse than others. For example, Alaska, a territory previously owned by Russia, bought by secretary of state William Seward, for a dirt cheap price of only $7.2 million. It was nicknamed “Sewards Folly” because it looked as though it was a useless piece of ice. Turns out it was full of gold. Another example, China, before America came to China to trade there were many ‘Spheres of Influence’ which meant that within that Sphere of Influence China could only trade with whoever owned that Sphere of Influence.
The United States has a very long history of military actions that helped expand its power in both peacetime and war to a much higher status. After independence, the United States took military control of the North American continent, acquiring territory from the native peoples, and from other countries such as Britain, France, Mexico, and more countries. Not only seizing territory but also offering help to any allies who needed it. The Roosevelt Corollary written by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, is a great example of how the expansion of American influence has spread throughout North and Latin America, and also Asia. In the corollary, it basically says that if a nation cannot help keep up with its standard, as well as having chronic wrongdoing, the intervention of the United States will have to occur. Mainly this document is speaking to Latin America and the Caribbean /Central America.
They proceeded to expand into foreign markets not only for territorial advantages but also for the economic benefit. At the turn of the century, Isolationism took a back seat to expansionism, which had now arrived in full force. Throughout 1865 to 1914, the United States foreign policy was primarily expansionism.
In the American’s history, the US Expansion is one of the most important move for the rasing of the United States. The US Expansion helps American to get more land and more benefits, such as the Mississippi River, the California and the Taxes. These facts are why United States become a powerful country during the 19th century. So it is important to know why the US Expansion become so successful and what happened during the US
During 1897 a push for the nation to expand in a document written by Alfred T Mahan directed towards the public caused America to dive its nose in areas such as the Philippine, Puerto Rico, Guam, virgin islands, Wake Island, and, the Panama Canal Zone (6). American expanded beyond its borders and spewed into other areas oversees. This was very dissimilar to the original idea where the people only expanded westward.
Starting in 1898 we see a shift from the US being solely isolationist to a desire for the United States to become a more imperial power. this can most famously be seen in the annexation of Cuba and the Philippines during the spanish-american war , spurred by the success of their victory is against the Spanish the United States desired the further extend its power and strength in the Latin American region. With the election of Theodore Roosevelt in 1901 A foreign policy known as Big Stick diplomacy was implemented, in layman 's terms this effectively means that the United States would use his show of force to ensure that is strategic for and objectives were accomplished in Latin America. the United States had a history starting with the Monroe Doctrine of a certain influence in Latin America; Roosevelt added a portion appropriately titled the Roosevelt Corollary in 1904. The Roosevelt Corollary represented a shift in the United States’ foreign policy, from now on the United States