American_Imperialism

19th Century American Imperialism Sarah Schwingel HIS 204 Prof. Stefanie Campbell March 31, 2010 American Imperialism was a huge event in the history. It all started with the adoption of imperialism. How it was justified was also very important, because that is what used to convince people it was the right thing to do at the time. During the Era of American Imperialism, there were several major events that took place; such as: the sinking of the USS Maine, the Spanish War, the Teller Amendment, Treaty of Paris, Hawaii was formerly annexed, and the Anti-Imperialist League was established. Also, due foreign policy, the United States became involved with a few new countries. Even though this adopted policy was popular amongst many, there were people who disagreed with it. They are known as Anti-Imperialists, and they have their own league against the policy. Finally, is the outcome the American Imperialism had on the 20th century. American Imperialism was a major event in US History that will never be forgotten, or duplicated. According to our text, Nation of nations (2006), the policy of imperialism was adopted because “the technology of arms and the networks of communication, transportation, and commerce brought the prospect of effective, truly global empires within much closer reach” (pg. 599). “Americans preferred a more indirect imperialism: one that exported products, ideas, and influence. To them, this American imperialism seemed somehow purer, for they could portray Americans as bearers of long-cherished values: democracy, free enterprise capitalism, and Protestant Christianity. While Americans tried to justify imperial control in the name of such values, social, economic, and political forces were drawing them rapidly into the imperial race. The growth of industrial networks linked them to international markets as never before, whether they were Arkansas share-croppers dependent on world cotton prices or Pittsburgh steelworkers whose jobs were made possible by orders for Singer sewing machines for Europe, China, and the Hawaiian Islands. As economic systems became more tightly knit and political systems more responsive to industrialists and financiers, a rush for markets and distant lands was perhaps unavoidable” (2006, pg. 599). To the best of my knowledge, I would say the American Imperialism was rationalized using the Social Darwinism theory. Also according to our text, “scholars, academics, and scientists came racial theories to justify European and American expansion. Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) had popularized the notion that among animal species, the fittest survived through a process of natural selection. Social Darwinists argued that the same laws of survival governed the social order. When applied aggressively, social Darwinism was used to justify theories of white supremacy as well as the slaughter and enslavement of nonwhite native populations that resisted conquest. When combined with the somewhat more humane ‘White Man’s Burden’ of Christian missionaries, conquest included uplifting natives by spreading Western ideas, religion, and government” (2006, pg. 601). A few major events that occurred during the time of American Imperialism were the sinking of the USS Maine – the ship exploded while at anchor in the Havana harbor. “Most Americans inflamed by hysterical news accounts, concluded that Spanish agents had sabotaged the ship. McKinley sought a diplomatic solution but also a $50 million appropriation ‘to get ready for war’” (2006, pg. 605). The Spanish War, and the Teller Amendment – “in a flush of idealism, Congress also adopted the Teller Amendment, renouncing any aim to annex Cuba. Certainly both idealism and moral outrage led many Americans down the path to war. But in the end, the ‘splendid little war’ came as a result of less lofty ambitions: empire, trade, glory” (2006, pg. 605). The Treaty of Paris which ultimately ended the Spanish war, Hawaii was formerly annexed, and the Anti-Imperialist League was established. After reading our text, I came to the conclusion that the US became involved in the world countries of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. I chose these countries due to the statement “in it Spain surrendered title to Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and in return for $20 million turned over the Philippines as well” (2006, pg. 609). I do not think we became involved in Spain because we fought them in war, we did not have anything else to do with them. I gathered the view of the Anti-Imperialists was strong. They believed that mixing races, especially Asian, was a bad idea. They felt that Asian workers would flood the American labor market. They also did not think that dark-skinned people would ever have the capacity to be self-governed. According to Paul Halsall, Modern History Sourcebook (1997), “We hold that the policy known as imperialism is hostile to liberty and tends toward militarism, an evil from which it has been our glory to be free. We regret that it has become necessary in the land of Washington and Lincoln to reaffirm that all men, of whatever race or color, are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We maintain that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. We insist that the subjugation of any people is ‘criminal aggression’ and open disloyalty to the distinctive principles of our Government. Imperialists assume that with the destruction of self-government in the Philippines by American hands, all opposition here will cease. This is a grievous error. Much as we abhor the war of ‘criminal aggression’ in the Philippines, greatly as we regret that the blood of the Filipinos is on American hands, we more deeply resent the betrayal of American institutions at home. The real firing line is not in the suburbs of Manila. The foe is of our own household. The attempt of 1861 was to divide the country. That of 1899 is to destroy its fundamental principles and noblest ideals. We hold, with Abraham Lincoln, that ‘no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. When the white man governs himself that is self-government, but when he governs himself and also governs another man that is more than self-government-that is despotism.’ ‘Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men in all lands. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and under a just God cannot long retain it.’” (Halsall, p. 2-10). Julia Wallace, a writer for Associated Content (2008) says, “at the end of the 19th century, the United States began to realize the potential they had as a world power. They were the leading producers of wheat and cotton, they had developed as an industrial nation, and they had been successful in the past with producing international treaties favorable to their desires. The leaders of the United States saw no reason that they should not try to expand and become an imperial power, and it was necessary for them to begin immediately before Europe had complete colonial control over the world. With an ever expanding economy, the United States was looking to build trading posts around the world so they could take advantage of the wealth of other nations. In the 1890's, it seemed silly for the United States to remain isolationist, so they decided to change that and take their place as one of the world powers” (2008, p. 1). In the end, as I said before, the American Imperialism Era was a time in US History that will never be duplicated, or forgotten. It is very important for one to know what happened throughout history to have a better understanding of why our country and our government are they way they are today. I truly enjoyed researching the Era of American Imperialism, and I will definitely recommend others do the same. References Davidson, J., Gienapp, W., Heyrman, C., Lytle, M., & Stoff, M. (2006). Nations of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American Republic, 4th Ed (4th Edition ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. Halsall, P. (n.d.). Modern History Sourcebook: American Anti-Imperialist League 1899. FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1899antiimp.html Wallace, J. (2008, July 29). American Imperialism in the 20th Century: Turning from Isolationism. Associated Content. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/903909/american_imperialism_in_the_20th_century.html