The_American_Imperialism

American Imperialism American Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century was a time when a nation wanted power. During the American Revolution is where we first heard of American Imperialism, which is a nation of people who want control over other nations. It is known that every time we go into a nation we usually end up having control over that country. In order to shape a better American Imperialism people took on different avenues, there were leaders of business, farmers that farmed for commercial use; missionaries that were Christians decided to join the military for a more active American imperialism. (Davidson) Our freedom for the men fighting for our country no matter what gender or color or race one deserves a right to freedom. (Schurz) William Henry Seward, whom was secretary of the state in the latter part of the 1800’s was trying to come up with way to expand foreign trade, he was noted at stating that “empire has made its way constantly westward while decaying civilizations of the world meet on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.” What Seward wanted was trade, not by going to war or conquering more counties but to do trading. This is when the idea of the railroad came in. Seward enlisted Japan, Korea, and china to trade with the railroad making connections to other ports. In the west until the late 1800’s, the American imperialism enacted small nations, there were characteristics that went from expansion to imperialism, as the United States sought to control trade circumstances in places like Cuba, the Philippines, Panama, Hawaii and others. (Davidson) The Monroe Doctrine which was put in effect in 1823 by President More was said to put an end to the intervention between the north and south. It was intended for governments that were independent in America but not to colonies. The Monroe Doctrine was then changed to he Roosevelt Corollary to changed our policy formally in the Western Hemisphere as interventionist. (Washington) The reasoning for this was to reduce European control of American nations, so it wouldn’t have an effect of replacing European Imperialism with American imperialism. Cuba during the Spanish American War was actions from the United States American Imperialism. Cubans knew the cost was high for aid from the United States to push against the Spanish would decrease the commitment to the cause. The “Teller Amendment” disowned any American claim to Cuba. The president then stated that “to maintain our flag in the Philippines we must raise our flag in Hawaii.” (Davidson). American industry began to over flow in Cuba, so that before long, 80% of economic was centered on American capital. Thus, both economically and politically, Cuba was denied independence by the American occupiers, and they were forced to fight again for their independence. (Davidson) Roosevelt was talking about taking over Panama but then had second thoughts when he heard of independence movement there. The United States, desiring a canal across Panama, sought to get the rights to build it. The Roosevelt administration aided the Panamanians in a bid for independence from Columbia. The new independent Panamanian government eagerly leased the Panama Canal Zone to the United States for 99 years. (Twyman) After this is all said and done that is why the ones against imperialism formed the Anti-Imperialistic League, they were against everything Americans did to the Philippians and “denounced the slaughter of the Filipinos as a needless horror. Imperialism was defined as the “pursuit of un-American ends. (Modern History) People were against Imperialism as philosophically in contrast to the ideals that freedom of the nation was based on. Schurz described imperialism as “criminal aggression” to the principles of our government. In order for there to be peace for everyone we need to follow the rules laid down for us through the constitution of the United States, and liberty for all. As an ending to this essay this is what meant the most to me stated from Abraham Lincoln; “ 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." (Schurz) References Bancroft, F. (ed.) (1913) Platform of the American Anti-¬Imperialist League. Speeches, Correspondence, and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, vol. 6, p. 77, note 1. http://modern-us-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/american_imperialism_in_the_1890s http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/rooseveltcorollary.htm http://www.twyman-whitney.com/history120 121/readings/TheodoreRooseveltandthePanamaCanal.pdf