A New Form of Expansion Essay

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.

Not only would it become the ‘most favored nation’ with its Open Door Policy with China (Doc G- “American Diplomacy”), it would also expand and increase its power in the Western Hemisphere. Despite America’s refusal to admit its purpose in competing for land, the expansion into territories of the Western Hemisphere, such as with Guam, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, along with the creation of the Panama Canal, proved otherwise. Power meant territory and as naval officer Alfred Thayer Mahan would emphasize, power in the Pacific with control over naval bases, harbors, and a strong naval force (Doc C- The Interest of America in Sea Power by Alfred Thayer Mahan), would make America invincible, both economically in terms of trade and politically in terms of territorial

American foreign policy from 1890-1930 was driven primarily by our businesslike economic and strategic considerations based on American self-interest. With westward expansion over, there had to be a new way for the United States to continue expansion. In the name of maintaining our innovative spirit and political ideology, our conquest for money, resources and trade took us outside of our borders for the first time. After all, how could we continue this upward monetary and resource tick if we didn’t expand? All countries are very self-centered and driven by their own success, and ours is no different in this respect. Going from a country that could large in part be ignored, to a real world power

During the years surrounding James K. Polk's presidency, the United States of America grew economically, socially, and most noticeably geographically. In this time period, the western boundaries of the Untied States would be expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Many Americans in the 19th century believed that the acquisition of this territory to the west was their right and embraced the concept of "Manifest Destiny". This concept was the belief that America should stretch from sea to shining sea and it was all but inevitable. Under the cover of "Manifest Destiny", President Polk imposed his views of an aggressive imperialistic nation. Imperialism is the practice of extending the power and

By late the nineteenth century the world was in an Age of Imperialism. The foremost European powers were all competing and swiftly increasing their territorial claims. Americans have always felt the desire to grow and expand the United States, they ultimately proved that with Manifest Destiny, when they settled from the east to the west coast. The idea of expansion overseas was something not new to the United States. The war against Mexico had allowed the United States to be carried into the Pacific and the issuing of the Monroe Doctrine allowed the United States to expand their sphere influence well beyond the Caribbean and into Latin America. American Historian Howard Zinn (1980) says that the Monroe Doctrine was, “Issued in 1823 when the countries of Latin America were winning independence from Spanish control, it made it plain to European nations that the United States considered Lation America its sphere of influence” (p. 297). Also, the very idea of imperialism is deep rooted and is expressed through that very ideal of Manifest Destiny. Bowles (2013) states that, “Many believed it was God 's plan for the United States to control the continent from sea to shining sea” (p. 8). With the outbreak of the Civil War, the idea of expansion and Manifest Destiny would be nonexistent, but this very idea of expansion outside the continent would return into the hearts of many American politicans and leaders at the end of the nineteenth century.

Although Nast’s point in the comic was that countries had overstepped their boundaries, it provides reasoning behind why the United States did expand. Other already powerful countries were gaining land and thus power and the U.S. was not about to be left out in the race for power in the world. Another example of the wish to gain power is in Senator Albert J. Beveridge’s Speech to the 56th Congress (Doc. E) after the Philippines had become a U.S. territory. He said, “The power that rules the Pacific, therefore, is the power that rules the world.

Victory in the Spanish-American War transformed the United States, a former colony, to an imperial power. Many Americans saw this development as a natural part of the nation’s “Manifest Destiny”--the belief that expansion of the United States was both right and inevitable.

The American imperialism of the late 1800s and early 1900s showcased the same social and cultural advocation of the past expansionism. The original doctrine of Manifest Destiny was created in the 1840s to escort westward expansion and upheld a belief that America was predetermined by God to expand across the country to spread favors of freedom. As Senator Albert J. Beveridge explains in his 1900 discourse to 56th Congress, this conviction was just as influential to the later colonial America. He showcases Americans’ self acknowledgement as God’s chosen individuals, a race not only as blessed, but bound by a heavily obligation to illuminate whatever is left of the world through their own development. This was the point of view of “The White Man’s Burden,” which was

“Our largest trade henceforth must be with Asia. The Pacific is our ocean and the Pacific is the ocean of the commerce of the future the power that rules the Pacific, therefore, is the power that rules the world. And, with the Philippines, that power is and will forever be the American Republic” (Doc E). The Roosevelt Corollary, the most important departure from past United States expansionism, made the acquisition of such territories not only possible but socially acceptable. Under Teddy Roosevelt, the people of the United States were all for expansion. He had the ability to incite the American public and rally its force behind him. After all, who can stand against the people of the United States of America when they are truly united? Our country had progressed in its departures tracing all the way back to 1885 when, as Thomas Nast depicts, the United States was nowhere to be found in the game of “World Plundering” (Doc A). After the acquisition of a naval power, the United States could withstand the competition involved in economic world dominance. As shown in the cartoon of “American Diplomacy” in 1900, Uncle Sam is standing at the forefront of Chinas “open door” holding the key which represents said American Diplomacy. (Doc G) However, with positives always come negatives. Prejudice against immigrants and no chance of citizenship for our newly acquired lands were a few of the drawbacks of over expansion. There simply was not enough room for all the

Courtney Leon Mr. Haldeman AP US History 6 April 2015 Throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century, America was reconstructing itself following a revolution in Cuba against the Spanish; in addition, Americans prepared for involvement in the Spanish-American War. Consequently, the United States of America leaped into the trail of imperialism, attaining more territories in a short period time. America’s expansion was persistent with the spirit of Manifest Destiny, a belief that it was G-d’s wish that Americans spread over the entire continent, and to populate and direct the country as they desire.

The late 19th-century and early 20th-century US expansionism was a continuation of past us expansionism and to some extent was a departure. The United States’ expansionism in the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century has a similar effect that of Imperialism. Imperialism is the collection of colonies to gain wealth and power. Colonization that occurs in the world has a more traditional, but the United States has a more modern way, helping in addition to helping themselves. The US also wants other countries to develop, such as creating a structure government, instead of taking advantage of other countries through colonization. The United States plays the “gentleman” role within the world, yet the United States wanted to also be a part of expansionism,

Americans expanded their country in two different eras throughout history: American imperialism and westward expansion. During both of these eras, the mid-late 1800s and the early 1900s, Americans believed that expansion was necessary and beneficial. To a great extent, late nineteenth-century and early twentieth century United States expansionism was a continuation of past United States expansionism and to a lesser extent was it a departure. The similarities and differences between American Imperialism in the early 1900s and Manifest Destiny in the mid-late 1800s are shown through political, economic, and moral motives of America and its government.

These advances along with the pressure of other countries seemingly shifted intentions of expansions. Document G, a drawing of America guarding China, along with Document E, which states “we will not abandon our opportunity in the orient”, both hint at alternate desires for the country other than growing and civilizing. There was a hunger for power that swept the globe, including America. However the United States had a lot to gain from these areas like new materials, business, and relationships. These advances that they were fighting for did line up with previous expansion’s desire to better America. The desire for power was their, but this did not lesson American desire to better the nation and the people in

Expansionism is the belief that a country should grow larger; a policy of increasing a country’s size by expanding its territory. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, American’s believed that for the economy to continue to grow, they needed to expand the United States’ borders. Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans had a divine right to expand across North America, and therefore they did just this. Since the U.S. had a small navy at this time they were not able to pursue territories overseas for their expansion. They then set out to conquer the territories that were closer; this included Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines and Cuba. In order to have these countries become a staple for the United States, the U.S. would have to invest a lot of money and time into the Navy. Once this had been done and

The Treaty of Paris of 1898 outlined these agreements that ended the war. For example, Spain agreed to forfeit their power over Guam and Puerto Rico, giving these territories to the United States. Furthermore, Cuba finally gained its independence from Spain and their government. However, America intervened for three years after they were given freedom. This means that America was involved in Cuba’s government until Cuba added the Platt Amendment in 1901 to their constitution.