During the 1820s, America felt they had the God given right to expand westward. Later, they adopted this concept, expanding to nations around the world bringing religion, industry, and technology. This new concept was known as American Imperialism, the economic and cultural influence of the United States on other countries, occurring between 1880 and 1920. During the age of American Imperialism, America annexed Texas and Hawaii. They acquired Florida, Oregon County, Alaska, the Louisiana Purchase, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam. America provided business and industry to colonies, brought civilization and religion, and had a duty to protect nations of the western hemisphere. America’s actions were justified during the age of American Imperialism. …show more content…
In 1900, progressive nations brought to the people of Africa, Latin America, and Asia “the foodstuffs and manufactures they need” to have a successful garden spot producing tropical fruits, like pineapple (Doc 1). Along with the progression of businesses, these progressive nations “built canals, railways, and telegraphs,” improving the ability of the nations to sell to outside their boundaries (Doc 1). In other words, with railways, canals, and telegraphs, trade now becomes an easier task. With trade routes readily available, trade between Hawaii and the United States opened up for pineapple. Trade also opened up between Cuba and America for sugar. Furthermore, America improved the most powerful of all business groups, banks. America allowed banks to “make loans to colonies and backward countries for building railways and steamship lines,” (Doc 3). With the ability to now build railways and steamship lines, the colonies’ trade routes will open up, allowing trade with countries across the ocean for valued goods. This business in banking improved the industry in the colonies as there is an easier and better chance for the nations to collect more revenue with a wider variety to sell to; this wide variety is only possible with railways and steamship lines shipping goods across the world. As America …show more content…
For example, President McKinley went down on his knees and prayed to the Almighty God for light and guidance on his actions regarding the Philippines, only to come to the conclusion that they could not leave Philippines to themselves; they were unfit for self-government. America felt that without their guidance, the Philippines would soon have anarchy and misrule. McKinley had no other choice but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them as our fellow men for whom Christ also died (Doc 4). The Philippines were in desperate need of America’s help. They were in need of the just, humane, civilizing government from America as opposed to the savage, bloody, rule of pillage and extortion from which America has rescued them (Doc 9). Without America’s help, the Philippines would be stuck with an anarchy. America provided civilization and education to colonies. Furthermore, America provided missionaries to colonies full of people described as half devil, half child. The people of these communities were immature with no religion; they needed help. Missionaries went forth to preach a kingdom beyond this world, spreading religion. As other countries needed America’s expertise, America went forth and provided civilization, religion, and education to better the
British imperialism had a negative impact on the economy of india because the British made trade links and because of train tracks that were made for their own benefit. “Both nations benefited from the trade links that were firmly established in the 17th century” (Lalvani). Hand woven fabric exports from bergal to britain fell by half in a 20 year time period (Document 3). This shows that indians did not benefit because the british just sold their fabrics and made people lose jobs because of it. The British built 10,000 miles of railroad track and 136,000 bridges (Lalvani). The railroads, however, were used to extract the crops of india and forced indians to be adulterated (Shaw) goods from england. They might have built the railroads but they
The events that lead to decolonization are numerous and interlinking and vary widely from country to country. Three critical factors played a major role in the process: the people’s want for independence/mass nationalism, colonial peoples large scale participation in World War I and II, which exposed the discrepancy in living conditions, and the ascent of Japan as a significant military and imperial force.
According to the United States, democracy and Christianity were principal elements of a successful society. During the end of the eighteen-hundreds and throughout the beginning of the nineteen-hundreds, America tried to colonize and reform less fortunate nations. Following a social-Darwinist point of view, Americans took their “God-given” superiority to those who were incapable of establishing their own self-government (Doc. H). After much debate, American foreign policy towards the Philippines and Cuba was that it is our duty to rule them until they could rule themselves. We pledged to save the indigenous people from their savage, bloody, and corrupt ways of life. President McKinley’s foreign policy towards the Philippines stated that “they would soon have anarchy and misrule…there was nothing left to do but take them all, educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize them” (Doc. A).
This foreign policy is driven by what’s now known as a Jacksonian form of policy, which represented a policy that is skeptical of others and that the U.S. must take action to defend its interests (Datta). It encouraged assimilation across the continent. This changed the country’s foreign policy to follow the values of expansionism, where the new mission was to spread American influence as a fulfillment of God’s work across the frontier (Datta). Americans believed that they and their institutions were superior and exceptional compared to others. This was their justification for colonization. The small country expanded and colonized the new frontier, which was the key to American egalitarianism and new innovation. However, by the 1890s, the frontier was no more and the United States faced a lack of challenge that potentially reduced the success and dynamics of the American people and culture (Miller). In response, the United States had to find a new source to continue down their path as expansionists. One could argue that the creation of an empire was the next
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
All of the events that happened in the time period of 1899-1902 were all because two countries wanted the same thing (freedom for the Philippines from American Imperialism) but in different ways.Imperialism is the building of empires in other countries by controlling their politics and economics. In the year 1899 the Philippines were under American Imperialism. William McKinley was America's President during this time period and since he did not grant the freedom of the Philippines he started the Philippine-American War. When President Emilio Aguinaldo heard about McKinley's decision he wrote this article explaining how he felt about America's Imperialism. Spread out all over America his article was read by millions American citizens. He did
Imperialism, the policy of expanding a country's power through either diplomatic or military ways, was first seen in mid 17th century. The Monroe Doctrine looked southward into and beyond the Caribbean. This idea of expansion continued through the 17th century covering a wide area from Argentina (1852-1853) to China (1859) to Nicaragua (1894). With this precious experience in the 1890’s when the US the profit system took a toll due to the depression of 1893, it began to look overseas to expand its market. Oversea markets for American goods were seen as a relieve for the underconsumption and prevent further economic crises. The reason for U.S. market involved internationally was due to the
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.
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.
“Imperialism is a negation of God. It does ungodly acts in the name of god.”-Mahatma Gandhi. America was an legitimate policy for the United States to follow at the turn of the 29th century because America had large areas of land, made america strong, and America wanted resources and naval bases. First, America wanted larger areas of land for more territories. Second, having larger areas of land made America strong as a nation. Third, America wanted resources to become more powerful and have naval bases.
The years after the Civil War were the years of great economic expansion in the history of United States. With the increase in production by industries, the demand for resources increased rapidly and because the land under the control of the United States could not fulfill this demand, the only option was to expand the territorial area. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia and in the same year, it annexed Midway Islands. Until 1890s, the expansion was restricted to west and did not go further the nation’s boundaries. But the decade of 1890s, the period between 1893 and1903 was a turning point in the history of United States, marked with the expansion of America for the first time outside its main land. Even though policy
Imperialism relations are also decided by force today, and the Europeans, the Americans and others have to constantly defend their peace-loving community. Every state sees itself threatened by the others, and each claims that it only defends itself against the others. If it were true that all states are merely defending themselves, then they would be able to leave each other alone. The rights which one state ascribes to itself against another state are defended. This is an important point: the interests that states have in each other brings the states into conflict with each other not the desire to be left alone. So one has to explain how a conflict exists in ordinary buying and selling, and it is insufficient to explain the conflict between states by resorting to images from the past. It is true that the Spanish stole the Mayans' gold, that colonialism was a form of robbery. Someone who accuses today's governments of robbery actually accuses them of engaging in conflicts that do not fit the world
In this article you will learn about important ideals and events that occurred during the Imperialism movement. In the 1700s the term imperialism rose up, this means that countries wanted to gain power and influence through diplomacy and forceful military actions. This led to revolting actions such as things as yellow journalism. Yellow journalist included anti-imperialist that wrote exploits about corrupt actions of leaders and officials.
The idea of American Imperialism had both its advocates and its critics. One only needs to look at a map to see which side won. America has greatly expanded since its own phase as a colony of the greatest European Empire of the time. America became her own Empire through the accusation of vast territories through many different mean. "Sometimes she purchases the mighty morsel, sometimes she forms it … by the natural increase of her own people, sometimes she "annexes," and sometimes she conquers it ("Manifest")."
Since the American Revolution, a belief developed among America’s political parties that the United States had a responsibility to spread freedom and democracy to the remaining under developed countries. This belief was called American Exceptionalism. This belief and social Darwinism along with the US industries desire to expand into new markets as well as spread Christianity lead to American imperialism.