Reasons For Imperialism

Many Americans thought occupying foreign countries, like the Philippines after the Spanish American War, was a bad idea because it contradicts the American values of equality found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. (Doc D) However, a majority of America sided with people like Senator Albert J. Beveridge who believed people were chosen by God to expand into China and the Philippines to open more Asian markets. (Doc E) This was a continuation of past expansionism because acquiring land for money Manifest Destiny have been motives for expansionism for

How do you think manifest destiny set the stage for American imperialism at the end of the century? – Manifest destiny set the stage for American imperialism because in believing that expansion of the United States was justified and inevitable, we believed that whatever we did to expand was justified. Even if it meant using force to take more land. What were the motivations for manifest destiny?

From buying Alaska from Russia, to annexing territories and taking over Hawaii and making Hawaii and Alaska states of the United States. The United States used imperialism. The United States wanted to as stated to expand further than the forty-eight states at the time. As the artist illustrates in the picture of America conquering land (American Imperialism). During the American Spanish war.

During this time the United States set in place islands that were never intended to be more than colonies in the first place. There was so much interest placed in areas further than the boundaries of the United States. Americans believed it was quite necessary to expand outwards, allowing them to give Natives guidance. The United States persuaded an expansionist foreign policy shortly after the Civil War.

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.

Economically the U.S. had made advances in technology and began to get oversea territories. Culturally they had used the

The United States Of Imperialism by Mary Stoelting Google defines imperialism as “a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force”. Judging by this definition, U.S. imperialism definitely exists. There are many examples of both imperialism through diplomacy, and imperialism through military force, in history. Whether or not intentional, it still happened and is still happening today. One example of imperialism through military forces of the U.S. would be the annexation of Hawaii.

Why Imperialism Was Not Justified Many Americans and Europeans believe that there was many good reasons for imperialism. These people think this because they were the ones that benefited from it. In imperialism, the stronger countries took over the weaker countries and used them for their resources which improved their economy. Most also claim that they helped the countries they were imperializing, but the Europeans were actually hurting them. This led to the natives rebelling which arguably led to World War 1 later on.

In the subsequent years following the end of the Spanish-American war of 1898, the United States of America found itself disseminated across the Pacific Ocean. Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and—in every practical sense—Cuba were under American dominion. The main purpose of acquiring these lands: to open the doors for economic expansion—to make money. Market saturation in the U.S. was the was the principal catalyst for the decision to take on colonies; moreover, had domestic markets in the U.S had not been a problem, the U.S. would have chosen not to take up new colonies. To understand why the market saturation in the U.S. was the main catalyst, it must be understood how the markets became saturated.

Imperialism is so widespread due to individuals believing that they have superiority over opposing religious, economical, and political ideals. All humans across the world seem to have one thing in common despite those ideals: greed. The leaders of this greed created a false belief of superiority among the populations of other ethnic groups in other countries. The leaders summoned soldiers out to do their dirty work, convincing others that certain individuals were the enemies. With the help of propaganda and brainwashing, it is easy to convince a group of individuals that they are better than others and eventually push them into committing murder-

Imperialism means that one country controls all political, economic, or cultural life in another country or region. Europe successfully did this in the Americas and established colonies in South Asia, Africa, and China. Although this would seem like a substantial amount of power, Europe did not gain much influence until later on. Once Europe recognized their own growing control, they embarked on what is now called the “New Imperialism”. Many components played into this seemingly rapid success, but one significant reason was that of the

“Our claim to be left in the unmolested enjoyment of vast and splendid possessions, mainly acquired by violence, largely maintained by force, often seems less reasonable to others than to us” (Darwin). This statement symbolized imperialism among Westerners from the 19th to the early 20th century. As such, this period revealed the extent that several world powers underwent for even greater power and influence. Therefore, the destruction of other societies, the deterioration of their traditions, and the exploitation of their citizens were commodities. The primary causes of imperialism were the social attitude, the economic interest, and the strategic reasoning.

This little involvement in the world changed when imperialism came the nation. The United States foreign policy was focused on expanding. The continuation of Manifest Destiney expanded US control to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines with Cuba as ‘independent’. The foreign policy of imperialism was different greatly over three presidencies. Roosevelt’s Big Stick policy justified imperialism with the aspect of defense of the country, Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy justified imperialism with the improving of the other nation’s economy, and Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy justified imperialism with protecting the other nations since it is the right thing to do.

Even though it has been over sixty years since Myanmar was imperialized, remnants of the outcome of imperialism can still be well observed. The language, the clothing, the infrastructures all have been affected by imperialism. These effects may deceive people into thinking that imperialism was all sunshine and rainbows but in reality, imperialism brutally destroyed the different aspects of a country. Imperialism impacted societies in countless negative ways. It led to slave trade which then led to social discrimination around the world.

“I beg your majesty to defend me against everyone as I don't know what European kings will say about this let others know that this region is ours” said Menelik II, the leader of Ethiopia who managed to keep it free from Italian Imperialism. In the 16-19th centuries european slave traders could not get into inland Africa due to Malaria and the dense forest. In 1840 David Livingston started his 30 year trek into interior Africa, but by then slavery had become illegal all over Europe.