From the dawn of man, the different civilizations of mankind have been out to dominate and conquest the globe. To spread his/her’s power, authority, and culture across as vast an area humanly possible. Only in the last century have these ideals been diminished, but for the U.S. during the turn of the 20th century it faced a choice on this path. Was the U.S. to remain to the domain of the contiguous United States? Or was it destined to take foot on the global stage and claim land far from it’s shores? William Graham Sumner, an American sociologist and Albert Beveridge, a U.S. senator from Indiana both disagreed as to whether imperialism was right for the country. Beveridge argues that imperialism is beneficial to the U.S. by giving access to raw materials, while Sumner fears that imposing rule on someone who does not want to be ruled makes us the exact people that we declared our independence from. This is just one example from their different views on American Imperialism.
An empire, by definition, is a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority. But why have a vast empire of land that is hard to govern? As Beveridge puts it, we can exploit lands such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the Philippines of their natural resources. Natural resources such as lumber and iron are great sources of income as developed nations need them to fuel industrialization. What Beveridge proposes is that these
Everyone might have different opinion on rather imperialism is good for America or not but here are the reasons why it is good. Imperialism would be a great thing for America because imperialism has a lot of benefits and opportunities for a better lifestyle, because the expanding of nations can grow meaning more markets and businesses are being created that equals more money! Imperialism allows bigger countries to help smaller countries become successful. The ability to solve problems in counties near your own is great for making allies. A great example of trying to make allies is ideological imperialism which is a country’s ideas or views shared to other countries. Mainly to build each other up and exchange goods or raw materials. Imperialism can have economic forms which is the expansion of forms or acquire raw materials. The expanding of land and resources increases and the economic and political views are advanced. Transportation would be faster and easier due to the Panama Canal and we can get raw materials and the goods needed for our country. The Panama Canal is probably one of the greatest contrustion ever built, it has improved the United States for the better. New lands can be discovered and be turned into a great state like Hawaii and Alaska for example. A lot of people thought Alaska was just a cold and frozen place to be, but William Seward's bought it for 7.2 million dollars and now it’s a 49th state in America. Imperialism can improve your daily life as
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
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.
Many people have their ideas and opinions on the topic of imperialism of the different continents like Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Imperialism had different effects that came from the and different reasons for which it was done. There have been poems, essays, and short stories about the good and bad of imperialism. Those who read some of these works interpret them in different ways that can change the message the author originally had planned. Imperialism shed light upon that not everything is how it seems.
A simple policy that any country can follow that can transform it from nothing; to the world's most powerfulest nation, yet should it be done? Imperialism is a policy in which a country or nation follows imperialistic views in which they spread their influence through diplomacy or military force throughout an area, yet continue on pushing their influence when self-sufficient. Yet Imperialism was a policy that many nations did not follow as they were sufficient already, yet the few that had continued exceeded and became worldly powers. Should a country, such as America, follow in such footsteps or is it already following the policy right now?
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.
A famous campaign speech, “The March of the Flag” was addressed by Albert J. Beveridge, a politician and historian. Beveridge is known as one of the great American imperialists. He expressed his views concerning about the US imperialism. He felt our land should not be taken for granted and is well worth fighting for. Beveridge states a lot of positive aspects about it in his speech. He even opens with a powerful attention grabbing statement "It is a noble land that god has given us land that can feed and clothe the world, a land whose coastlines would enclose half the countries of Europe", he gives the audience all these positive images of our land and America and raises the question if they can govern different land why can 't America. Beveridge was hopeful for an appointment to the U.S. Senate by the Indiana legislature, and the issue of expansionism was of importance to the nation. His remarks suggest a special destiny for America, a destiny built upon superior racial qualities and a responsibility to give to others our economic,
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
George F. Hoar, a senator for Massachusetts, and Albert Beveridge, who was a Republican senator representing Indiana, present two contrary ideas over the subject of American Imperialism. Senator Hoar was greatly opposed to imperialism and made a speech concerning the annexation of the Philippines. Conversely, Senator Beveridge supported Imperialism and the provided quote is from a speech he made in the Senate in 1900. Senator Hoar’s argument consists of questioning whether it is right or not to govern a foreign nation without their consent. Senator Beveridge cites that it is America’s duty to spread itself as the people of America are God’s chosen people. Hoar gives justification to his argument by stating that it is not just a moral decision, as the Declaration of Independence states that America cannot govern a foreign territory. He continues by stating that it doesn’t matter if it is being done with good intentions of spreading culture, since America has no right in imposing what they think is right due to it being completely subjective. What America believes is right is not automatically correct and an absolute truth, as morality is subjective, so to think that it is automatically correct and to forcibly enforce America’s
Imperialism wasn’t necessary, in the view point of what it did to the places that were taken over by America. American imperialism can be described as ironic when you think about it; it had the same principal as England just switched around to where America had control over the people. American viewpoints were pushed onto the different groups of people that were taken over, and it caused rivalry amongst the different countries. American imperialism forever changed the way people viewed themselves and others.
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
The competition the the advantage economically and politically was fierce. They were all trying to gain control of the New World. Each group would do it for the trading routes and the economic advancement to get ahead of the other nations. Whoever had the most land at anytime would be the one to winning in this rat race we call imperialism.
Since the beginning of time various groups across the globe have fought for their freedom, and territory. Some groups failed and found little fortune while others prospered giving way to powerful nations capable of seizing land from the less fortunate for their own benefit. This is what modern day historians refer to as imperialism. Throughout history these powerful nations have used imperialism to their advantage. In simple terms imperialism is a powerful tool used by powerful nations in order to spread their influence into other smaller less powerful nations, whether it be through religion, pop-culture, technology, or military force. Which eventually results in total domination over the area in which the powerful nation has spread its
The United States experienced a period of growth and maturation during the twentieth century. Now, this is not to say that this was the only period of growth, but it was a significant time during which the United States began to establish its military force at an international level. By establishing itself during the twentieth century as one of the world’s largest superpowers, America grew to be respected by most of the world’s nations. America also grew to become much more active in foreign affairs, even in ones that had no relation to the nation. The United States began to look for chances to expand their country, as well as opportunities to benefit financially from these territories. Imperialism is the word that best describes the foreign
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