Imperialism Dbq Essay

Differing ideas of national identity shaped views of United States overseas expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to a great extent due to the presence of segregation amongst the African American population, acquisition of the Philippines, and encouragement of violence as a result of the Spanish-American War. Imperialism is the policy of taking control over countries around the world for political and economic gain. Since its formation, the United States has imperialized several countries, including the Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Imperialism was incorporated during the Spanish-American War, a four-month battle between the United States and Spain. Then, chaos induced after the explosion of the USS Maine in Cuba.

The U.S. was given more land to control, including the Philippine islands, which McKinley found to be a problem because the islands were so far away and expanded over thousands of miles. Eventually, McKinley decided to annex the Philippines, and American support for the foreign policy soon followed. American imperialism was embraced by many because it allowed for the United States to get closer to becoming a major player on the world stage. Some believed it was their duty to “Christianize” the Filipinos; others believed it was a stepping stone for trade with China. Those in opposition of annexing the Philippines, especially the Anti-Imperialist League, believed that it didn’t align with American

Rooted in American exceptionalism, the idea that the United States is different from other countries due to its mission to spread liberty and democracy, America acquired territories like the Philippines. Many Americans accepted the ideology of the white man’s burden; an important factor in the decision to rule, rather than liberate the Philippines after the country was taken from Spain after the Spanish-American War. One of America’s notable examples of American imperialism was the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 which became a state later in 1959. Imperialism greatly effected many nations throughout the late 1800s and 1900s. As countries fought for more power and influence, it became one of the main reasons for WWI in the early 1900s.

Pain. Deception. Hatred. These words are rooted in the minds of the African countries whenever the mention of Imperialism. This practice of extending a government's reign to gain economic control, using missionaries as facades, hurt many African’s during 1750 to 1914.

Since its revolution from Britain, America has been an isolationist country, determined to not get involved in foreign affairs in order to focus on reforming itself. It was not until the world wars that the United States started to depart from its traditional isolist practices and provide aid to nations in need. It was specifically after World War II that the United States started to develop into an internationalist nation. In fact, World War II was a turning point in the United States that helped the country out of the Great Depression, brought about social reform for marginalized groups, and led to the United States' emergence as a global power. It was the U.S changing their familiar ways that guided them to becoming the powerful nation it

Blacks such as E. E. Cooper advocated for the war because black participation in the war would bring about an era of good feeling throughout the country and form a more compact bond between all races (Doc. 1). Others, too, supported the war because of the strong belief that other nations could bloom under American assistance. For instance, Theodore Roosevelt, who was a strong imperialist supported the war and imperialistic ideals. Roosevelt most willingly criticized anyone against the annexation of the Philippines. He thought that people of the Philippines were “utterly unfit for self government,” and the only way they would have ever been saved is if America parented them and helped them gain prosperity (Doc. 5).

Addams gave this speech as a warning and a call back to reality, people really should not be uncovering new problems at the result of Imperialism. Lastly, one of the most Anti-Imperialist men during this time, William Jennings Bryan. During his campaign for presidency, Bryan delivered an amazing speech on the reason why America can not be influenced by Imperialism, “Imperialism is the policy of an empire. And an empire is a nation of different races, living under varying forms of government. A republic cannot be an empire, for a republic rests upon the theory that the government derive their powers from the consent of the governed and colonialism violates this theory.”

He explains how it’s America’s duty from God to spread the country as well as Christianity. His main point is that whites are the master race and they need to control all other races. Though Taft would agree with the promotion of imperialism, he would disagree with the other topics in the document. He believed that native peoples, more specifically Filipinos, were worthy of their own ideals, cultures, and governments. While Beveridge promotes imperialism for mostly social takeover, Taft does it for economic benefits.

Citizens opposed the idea of the Spanish American was and believed America would become a superior empire. Jane Addams an anti also believed supporting imperialism was encouraging militarism in the nation. Murders in the United States were being traced back to the Spanish American War. American citizens believed it was acceptable to make fun of individuals who came from a Spanish culture (Document 4). William Graham Sumner was a man who disliked the idea of the Spanish American War.

Imperialism In American Policy After reading these sections in Voices of Freedom the sense of conquering came to me. Seeming as if the United States was in a state of becoming the strongest and securest country at the time. The United States economy needed foreign markets to other words keep alive and progress as a country. Seemed like the federal government was under pressure to secure its power. Also be a prestige country in the world.

It was their claim that the expansionists were destroying the “America institutions”, the constitution. On these grounds they tried to prevent the further war and bloodshed in the Philippines and other countries that might bear the same fate in the future if America continued to expand. (Docs A, D) The departure from expansionism was relatively small during this time period while its continuation and progression flourished.

Before the 20th century the United States was an isolationist nation but around the late 19th century America decided to convert into an imperialist power. They had numerous reasons to shift into being an imperialist nation. America didn’t want to begin imperializing to settle and live in the nations they were taking over, they already had America for that reason, they wanted to adopt these nations for what they had to offer, which was many things. America saw an opportunity to improving their nation and took it. Even if there were many causes for America to imperialize, three of them stood out the most.

Anti imperialists had the better arguments than imperialists. Imperialism violates the peoples rights to vote/ the declaration of independence. White business leaders forced king kalakaua to amend Hawaii's constitution limiting voting rights to only wealthy land owners. Congress also proclaimed Hawaii as an american territory, although Hawaiians never had the chance to vote. Imperialism goes against ideals of self government for an example the military controlled Puerto Rico until congress decided otherwise.

Jane Addams, the speaker in Document 4, criticized the Spanish-American War and the militarism it encouraged in the United States. This gave many people the idea that maybe imperialism wasn’t such a great idea. They shunned the idea of using violence in order to grow the American Empire. William Graham Sumner, also criticized imperialism (Document 2). He believed that assimilating people to American culture through military force would cause the United States to seem violent like Spain.

Imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a time that refers to expansions. Expansions would be put towards military, political, and economic influences in a time where it was much needed. The United States’ actions of imperialism began to allow the United States to control other nations and territories, especially with the use of foreign policy. The American occupation of the Dominican Republic was guided by foreign policy, as seen within the country being driven by the Roosevelt Corollary, the modernization of the country for American benefit, and failed diplomacy which led to greater oppression of the Dominican people. European countries and the United States were always against each other throughout the times of imperialism.