The Pros And Cons Of American Imperialism

At the turn of the 19th century, America presented the policy of imperialism and there was a ton of debate over the subject. Some say that imperialism would benefit America by increasing trade and help make this country more powerful. Others say that imperialism would be horrible for America because we are taking over countries without their permission and restricting their choice. The United States should adopt the policy of imperialism because it would help grow our country, increase trade, and help the economy.

In the aforementioned warfare, the US not only sent its army to legitimize its sovereignty over Afghanistan and Iraq, but it also conspired to take democratization as an excuse to uncover its real intention of gaining profit. To recapitulate, not only does imperialism exist in Belgian Congo in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, but also in Middle-East in the twenty-first

American Imperialism Imperialism by the book is the policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political or military territories. The time period where the US exampled imperialism was very important for our country because the US was able to grow with the new territories that were gained and the economic gain from the new market that were acquired. The spread of American culture was also a big concept during this time in the countries history. The United States exhibited imperialism between 1890-1920 through military strength, new markets, and cultural superiority.

The United States during the early twentieth-century was a heated debate. Constant changes including World War One, the Spanish-American War, and the idea that the United States would join the League of Nations would lead to major debates determining what role the United States should have taken during the constant changing world. This essay is here to go into detail about what the United States should have done during this time period as well as highlight some of the outcomes from a more progressive nation. Imperialism is defined as “The use of diplomatic or military force to extend a nation’s power and enhance its economic interests, often by acquiring territory or colonies and justifying the behavior with assumptions of racial superiority”

The Spanish American War was a big step towards American War power and influenced foreign countries greatly with trade, naval power, and territory. The Era of the Spanish - American contributed to the advancement in trade for the United States. After the Hay-Pauncefote treaty with Britain was abolished, the U.S. was free to build a canal in Latin America with their help. The canal was set to be built in Panama, this canal was to benefit America to create ports free from tax in this country. This was granted when the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 gave rights over a 51 mile long and 10 mile wide Canal Zone to protect the U.S. With these rights American manufacturing exporting companies without any tariffs for the citizens of the States.

America's imperialistic tendencies reaches it’s peak in the late 19th century where things like cultural superiority, militarism, and the drive for markets all culminated in this time period. These imperialistic motives had the U.S dipping its hands into nations like Cuba, Philippines, Hawaii, and more. The effects of imperialism on these countries range from assimilation to revamped governments. The following documents all are evidence of what led America into the pursuit of imperialism. Militarism was another huge factor in the pursuit in imperialism.

When America, as we know it today, was created, it had just freed itself from an unwanted, suffocating European power. The people wanted nothing to do with foreign affairs and their presidents’ policies reflected that. As America moved forward and established themselves as a world power, they began to want more. At the turn of the twentieth century, this want for more hit its peak and because of other circumstances, more was just within reach. America had always prided themselves in staying out of foreign problems and focusing inward, but now a new age was dawning.

Imperialism was a controversial idea that a nation can extend its power outward through means of diplomatic or military force. This often results in a shift of power from one major force currently in control to another. The people of that nation under control conflict may also experience wars, rebellions, or cultural destruction. Looking at some of these events, we see some positives and negatives of imperialistic action taken by the United States, and how it affected the nations imperialized by the United States. For starters, let’s look at Hawaii’s annexation.

A Change to Imperialism After the civil war, Americans remained surprisingly aloof to the outside world. Because America was struggling with many problems over Reconstruction, such as trying to maintain a steady flow in the economy and settle the West, many Americans weren’t very concerned with foreign affairs. There was a drastic shift, however, that made America change from isolationism to imperialism in the early 20th century. America made this drastic shift because it wanted to expand and gain prestige, convert people into one’s own beliefs (missionary zeal), and indulge itself in foreign affairs to aid its economy and marketing. With the control of the Panama Canal, America was then able to obtain its worldwide power.

Imperialism is the act of colonizing smaller countries and territories. Many countries apply imperialism to their government, to gain power. The power can be economic, political, social, or even military benefits. In the late 1800s, America was also one of the countries that decided to include imperialism in the government, however, unfortunately in America's imperialistic era, land was gained at the cost of trust and values. Imperialism in America cannot be justified due to its contradictions of American Ideals and conflict between other countries.

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.

At the start of the 19th century, America was already expanding its territory. In 1803, the United States of America had bought the Louisiana Territory, it was bought from France which had made the country two times larger. In 1819 Spain had given up their territory of Florida to the United States. President Monroe issued the “Monroe Doctrine” in 1823, its main purpose was to warn the European countries to not enter the Western Hemisphere. In order for America to achieve its goal of becoming an imperialist nation they had conquered other countries economically, culturally, and with a strong military in the late 1800’s.

Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. It is a great way to strengthen the economy and gain power and territory for countries that practice it, though it often failed and resulted in war and the deaths of innocents. Four intellectuals that played a big part in influencing American imperialism were Frederick Jackson Turner, Alfred T. Mahan, Herbert Spencer and John Fisk. All of these influencers had different ideologies and came together to justify American imperialism. They believed America needed to expand power and gain territories.

Imperialism can impact a nation in many ways; some of the changes may be good for a nation, and some of them may be bad. However, why did Americans and Europeans seek to imperialize Africa and Asia? How was the age of Imperialism depicted? And how did Americans and Europeans react to their nation’s imperial actions? Americans and Europeans believed it was their “white man’s duty” to civilize and educate the people of Africa and Asia, who were beneath them and not as civilized as them.

Colonialism and Imperialism affected our world both positively and negatively. On one hand, Imperialism has often been linked with racial segregation, manipulation, and hardship. On the other, it has been said that many colonial powers contributed much in terms of schools, roads, railways, and much more. Whether this time period was constructive or harmful, it has played a large part in shaping our lives today. European Imperialism started long before the 1800’s.