U.S. Foreign Policy in the Late 19th Century Essay

Upon the United States’ inception as an independent country, the concept of expansion began to slowly root itself as a desirable vision among government officials and common citizens alike. As early as the beginning of the nineteenth century, these initial thoughts and visions of expansion began to cultivate into an achievable reality. With boundless territory to conquer and a growing sense of nationalism, many citizens of the United States felt that it was their duty and obligation to expand from coast to coast. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the United States continued to expand westward across the continent while also shifting focus on expanding its international power and presence by conquering foreign countries

Throughout the history of the United States, America had a desire to expand its boundaries. The United States acquired most of it's land during the nineteenth and early twentieth century with a brief break during the Civil War and Reconstruction. However, the way America went about graining new lands drastically changed from non-aggressive means in the beginning to extremely aggressive means towards the end. This essay will depict the extent to how late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century United States expansionism was a continuation

Throughout the years, the United States government had made drastic changes in its foreign policies. The few decades from 1880 to 1910, which saw five different presidents all with very distinct foreign policies, were no exception. As a country, the United States progressed from being a country only concerned with expanding its territory out west, to being a country on the verge of becoming involved in the First World War.

American foreign policy during the 1890s was based on many factors that each acted as an individual justification for our country’s behavior as a whole. Racism, nationalism, commercialism, and humanitarianism each had its own role in the actions America took against other nations.

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.

Prior to the 1800s, US expansion had been accepted by the government in the thirteen colonies. Despite the government's favor for territorial expansion, the controversy was spread throughout the 13 colonies on the idea of expansion. An American who influenced expansion in America, John O’ Sullivan, conjectured that territorial expansion was destined and it was god’s given right to expand America coast to coast, or in this case into westward territories. This thought was defined as Manifest Destiny and aided the fuel of western settlement, Native American Removal and war with Mexico. Many Americans did, however, oppose expansion and war causing, but their inputs didn’t change the idea of expansion. During the period of 1800-1855, America’s idea to expand territory succeeded in events such as the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Indian Removal Act. These events certainly satisfied proponents of expansion and influenced America's westward expansion. Despite these achievements, opponents of expansions opposed because of events like the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American war. America’s shape today is indeed based on these beliefs of expanding America.

In past U.S. history the major goal throughout the 1800’s is to gain more land, major instances would be the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and Mexican-American war in order to gain territories, such as Arizona and New Mexico. By controlling more and more land it created more power for the United States. This was still true ending the 19th-century and the beginning of the 20th century and many countries knew it. Thomas Nast’s “The World’s Plunderers” (Doc. A) portrays Germany, Britain, and Russia grabbing territories on a globe claiming them as their own.

Imperialism is a policy that has positively impacted nations and their development for centuries. This was especially true during the late 1800s and early 1900s, when many European nations began to expand far beyond their borders. Imperialistic policies were not only good for the development of countries that were expanding, but in many cases, the countries that were being expanded into as well.

During the early years of the new nation, there were a multitude of social problems the United States had to struggle with. The founding fathers and many early settlers felt that if this young new nation was indeed to reach its full potential as a strong world power, the Western lands needed to be established. President Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase of 1803 was an enormous step forward in achieving this vision for the United States, as it gained a massive amount of territories West of the original thirteen colonies (Schlesinger, 1993, p. 148). The issue was, Indians already occupied these lands and had for many generations. The major social policy of the 19th century, known as the manifest destiny, explains that it is “our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” (Schlesinger, 1993, p. 249). This ultimately led white European settlers on an

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.

During the period of time between the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, America was going through major changes. After a revolution in Cuba against the Spanish, and America’s intervening to start the Spanish-American War, the Americans received a lot of land from their defeated opponent. America then started on the path to imperialism, gaining many more territories in a short amount of time. Such an expansion was a continuation of past United States expansionism, while also departing with past expansionism. The United States expansionism of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries was a clear continuation of the social and cultural principles of the nation’s past expansionism; however, it was more of a departure

In the late 1800s the United States in the western hemisphere as a pursuit to contend with European economic, political, and military strategies. Another possibility for imperialism would also have trade between other Countries. The United States was becoming a nation that was yarning for wealth, and seeking the need for advancing their own economy. They United States has corrupted many less fortunate countries for The outset to improve their own lavish.

Through the strong foundation of Isolationism and the policies enacted such as The Monroe Doctrine, the United States played a largely neutral role in foreign affairs. The Monroe Doctrine passed in 1823 was to forbid European nations from colonizing any territory in the Western Hemisphere. Although the United States didn’t have the authority or firepower to back this up, it resulted in almost four decades of compulsory US involvement in any foreign affair. After the Civil War, Isolationistic practices grew stronger as the government had to find a way to re-unite the torn nation. President Grover Cleveland promised to avoid committing the nation to form any alliances with other countries while also opposed to the acquisition of new land. The climate of post Civil War US prevented us from deep involvement in foreign affairs. Our navy was also weakened by the war. Our natural resources were scarce and our diplomatic relations with other countries had been neglected. With the attention of our government focused solely on our nation, we proceeded to develop our interior. One of the biggest reasons for growth in US land mass was the public idea of Manifest

What is the New Imperialism and what were the cause and effects in the World Wars in order to understand what is the “New Imperialism”, we must first learn and define Imperialism: a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world: the effect that a powerful country or group of countries has in changing or influencing the way people live in other, poorer countries. The New Imperialism takes on effects in the late 19th century this is when there is an interest or wanting to gain a imperial territory, Imperialism is also consider to be when there is a desire to control a trading routes and resources in a nation. A perfect example of the New Imperialism is called the "Scramble for Africa", this is when Europe tries to takes control over Africa. In the late 19th century Europe struggle to destabilize and to balance the power that they once had before Italy and Germany became unify.

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