Imperialism : A Vital Goal And Factor

In the first Chapter 1 of Face of Imperialism by Dr. Michael Parenti, The author shows us how we are made to think a certain way about a situation due to view points of others and see how they can be beneficial in different situations since it allows us to take a second look a the information presented so we can show people the real facts of what is happening instead of simply disregarding it. We are forced to believe the small amount of info given as reliable and we have never started to question the other side of the issue so we are only focused on accepting the one side of the story we are given as a complete fact. People have had issues with this in many ways like the unanswered questions of 9/11, President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

In 1899, U.S. Senator George F. Hoar said “… under the Declaration of Independence you cannot govern a foreign territory, a foreign people, another people than your own…”4 There was a lot of arguing and contemplation about whether it was okay or not to govern another nation and I agree that it isn’t right. Abraham Lincoln said, “no man is good enough to govern another man without their consent.”5 In my opinion I think that imperialism failed because it was wrong for them to do it in the first place and it created tension between America and other

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 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

Imperialism is when a larger, more powerful nation takes control of smaller, weaker nations. The American idea is for freedom. As a nation the United States promotes the freedom of itself and other countries. America once fought for the freedom from a larger, more powerful nation, so why would the government want to go back on what this country was started on, which was freedom.

What were some of the political, economic, social, intellectual, and military factors that explained the sudden increase in the pace and importance of European imperialism in the late 19c? The essential impetus was the Industrial Revolution which led to a search for (and control of) sources of raw materials and captive markets to sell manufactured goods, and become a world power with the most colonies and most money.

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 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.

Imperialism appears to be a vital goal and factor in the U.S during the late 1800s. Americans yearn to gain more control and soon rise to become a world power, similar to the conduct of our forefathers. However, this philosophy is counter to the origins of our country. We believed in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, yet Americans were being hypocritical of this conviction. They took the action of colonizing other countries and tyrannizing them without their consent. With this in mind, it is clear this goes against American beliefs, owing to the fact we fought and struggled immensely to win our independence from England. In the end, are Americans still being mindful and empathetic of the other nations whether they are weaker or not fully developed? Or, are they only conscious of what they 'll get for themselves? Overall, retaining control of other countries without a settled agreement or negotiation and denouncing them of their liberty is truly un-American and goes against The Declaration of Independence.

The late nineteenth and early twentieth century was a period of oversea expansion on colonization for the United States, an interesting new turn for the Americans that were arguably becoming more like their oppressive European counterparts that they had fought so diligently before against. Besides the cultural benefits, American believed that they were working in the greater good taking control over smaller countries that were much more disorganized, idea that we’re the ‘hero's’ (doc 7). Example going back to when United States was pushing to grow from coast to coast under the idea of "Manifest Destiny", the term used throughout the 1840s to describe Americans’ belief that they were destined by God to spread their beliefs across the continent. That idea died in name, but not in spirit, coming back under the title of imperialism; first starting with the annexation of Alaska in in the mid 1800’s, shortly after the end of slavery. The annexation of Alaska and following territories while physical land would also be followed by laws and policies that would change the National economy.

American imperialism is embedded in the idea that America has the right to play the policing role of maintaining democracy across the world. America’s view of acquiring overseas territory to maintain and promote American national interest can be traced back in the 1800s. I believe that American imperialism is not justified because Americans are more concerned about acquiring wealth at the expense of others.

Imperialism has been one of the most powerful forces in human history, serving to set the foundation of our modern world. While this has led to the formation of a global society where cultures, ideas, and innovations are spread across countries, imperialism has also left a history of exploitation, racism, and violence that is still affecting the world today. Imperial relationships are always imbalanced when it comes to power and influence; that is, one group (known as the metropole) maintains authority and control over another group (known as the periphery) with economic, political, and cultural dominance (Spiegel 2012). There are many reasons why one group chooses to dominate the other, such as expanding territory, extracting raw resources to fuel economic development, or to spread their beliefs (i.e. religion) (Spiegel 2012). In spite of these varied reasons, one of the main motivators for imperialism began with competition between empires.

As seen through Progressivism, the corruptions of large industries were exposed to the Commonwealth. Progressivisms brought out a true change to how America began to function, and through this purification, the United States began to focus on one main objective: international affairs. As the U.S. began to take over weaker nations in a plan to extend its own power through a military force, imperialism began to spread. This meant that other nations, along with the U.S, began to demonstrate their immense powers, and America wanted to become prominently dominant. A principal justification for America’s imperialism was the policy of Social Darwinism. It stated that the powerful nations, such as America, was destined to help less powerful nations because we were a dominant force, and we must provide aid. Through this process, both self-interest and idealism were important driving forces in American foreign policy from 1895 to 1920. Starting in 1895, President William McKinley showed the aspect of self-interest through his actions. On the other hand, in 1913, President Woodrow Wilson used idealism.

“Imperialism is the creation and maintenance of an unequal cultural, economic, and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination. Imperialism functions by subordinating groups of people and territories and extracting everything of value from the colonized people and territories” - unsetting Americans. (https://unsettlingamerica.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/cultural-appreciation-or-cultural-appropriation/) They are talking about being harmful and unequal but they are just the same. They are talking about how their ancestors killed some people but they have no fault in it. History is the past and the generation now has nothing to do with

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