The Open Door Theory of American Imperialism - Essay Example

The Open Door Theory of American Imperialism Name: Institution. American imperialism is an old phenomenon in the American history. It dates back from the time of American Revolution (May 1968). Imperialism is way in which developed countries seek to enlarge and take control of the developing people or countries. It is an extension of the values and principles that a state follows into another state. The United States practiced its imperialism to other countries to have access to the raw materials and other things (Healy 2011). The period between is 1870s, and 1910s is the American Imperialism period (Field 1978). The objective of the imperialism was to have control over others in the way they do things and have economic benefits (Herron 2010). American Imperialism also describes the United States of America’s beliefs that it is an empire. The idea that the beliefs follow is that the Military of America has set up various bases in different countries (May 1968). These bases have been taking part in numerous policing actions and other activities. The causes of American Imperialism depend on various issues that encountered the United States. This created various influences and consequences on the Americans and the people in the victim country (Field 1978). There were also notable effects on the economic development of the United States. This context will discuss the various causes and effects of American Imperialism, the alternative ways of understanding of the imperialism period and the Open Door Policy. The relationship between Open Door Policy and the American Imperialism will also be discussed in the following context. The context will get into details of Open Door Policy and its revelation about the United Sates spheres of creating informal empire. As America was developing industrially, she was just a small nation and had little international influence. The influence was limited due to several set downs by President Washington and other presidents (Field 1978). The United States of America was not powerfully formed at that time. The military action and the business level of the Americans in the international places were moderately small (Herron 2010). The rapid growth of industry in America made businesses to search for international markets for the products that they produced. This influence of industrialism was the main cause of American Imperialism (Field 1978). The developing industries required raw materials for continued production and the produced goods required the market to be sold (Healy 2011). This made the United States adopt the Imperialism method to cater for its economic needs (Hamm & Russel 2005). The Americans used the Social Darwinism theory to influence other people and countries (May 1968). This theory describes that the success of animals is determined by their genetic environment. The fittest of the animals described in the theory survives. This theory was meant for animals, but, the Americans applied it on other people (May 1968). The people of America claimed that other were also animals. The Americans were not doing well doing well in their economy, and technologically, therefore, they comprehended that they would be suppressed down by other countries if they did not act (Herron 2010). This made the Americans indulge themselves in Imperialistic principles on other countries for survival (Rooney 1985). Using the Social Darwinism theory, the Americans claimed their destiny was to conquer and control over every country in the world. Missionary work is one method that the Americans used to take control of other people. The missionary work involved moving to other parts of the world to spread the Christianity message. Missionaries moved into different countries with a motive to spread the good news of Christianity to save people’s souls (May 1968). They believed that they had a sacred obligation to spread the Christianity message. This was due to the belief that the Americans had a destiny to control all other people in the world. The missionaries were involved in spreading the Christianity message as well as the American ideologies (Rooney 1985). This laid the basis for other American activities such as building schools, churches and hospitals that were run by the Americans. These social facilities were also influencing the people about Imperialism (Hamm & Russel 2005). Another method was the United States Naval Superiority. The Americans understood that for them to control the world, they must have dominant naval power (May 1968). By following the missionaries, the United States Navy built various stations in the countries that the missionaries were located in the sense that they were protecting the missionaries. The Navy built coaling stations that they used to power and fuel their boats (Herron 2010). The indulgence of the United States Navy was done all over the world, and this created a source of control of the Americans to the victim country (Kaplan 1998). This was the method that the Americans used to conquer the Hawaiian territory. Americans wanted to conquer and control of Hawaii because of its arable lands and natural resources (Herron 2010). The American started by building large docks, plantation, stores and banks, which the Hawaiian did not like. The Americans forced economical and political changes in Hawaii (Kaplan 1998). The Queen of Hawaii created a new constitution that aimed at ending America’s influence over the Hawaiians, but, the constitution was rejected by the cabinet due to the political influences of the Americans over the cabinet (Kaplan 1998). This was followed by the Americans taking over the government offices in Hawaii and controlled Hawaii completely. This was an achievement to the America Imperialism, and this made the Americans proceed with the Imperialism Principles to all parts of the world (May 1968). However, the influence of the Americans to other countries caused them to wage wars with other countries such as Spain, which challenged the American influence over other countries (Healy 2011). The Americans had strong beliefs of Imperialism, and they could not retreat until their objective of controlling the world was accomplished (Herron 2010). The American-Spanish war of 1898 brought much enthusiasm to the Americans. The Spanish troops had docked on the Cuban state. The Spaniards treated the Cuban inhumanly and the Americans did not like it (Herron 2010). The American sent a battleship on the Cuban capital, but exploded immediately after docking, which killed more than two hundred and sixty men (May 1968). The Americans were remarkably infuriated by the explosion, which they believed was done by the Spaniards. This led the Americans to wage war against the Spaniards, which they easily won due to their strong troops (Beisner & Hanson 2003). The war lasted only four months, and the Treaty of Paris was signed in August 1898. Spain lost Guam, Cuba, Philippines and Puerto Rico to the United States (Beisner & Hanson 2003). This was a historic turning point of the United States and Spain. Spain started concentrating in its issues within the country and left the overseas for other states (May 1968). The United States was becoming significantly powerful and expanding its territories. The war with Spaniards made the Americans have more interest on expansion of its borders and influence to other countries and strengthen its military (Kaplan 1998). The search for overseas markets was another me method that the Americans used to spread Imperialism to other nations (Kiernan 1978). The Americans farmers were producing surplus goods as well as the manufacturers and miners produced more goods that America could not exhaust (Foss 1907). The government was obliged to look for overseas markets to sell the products produced by the farmers, miners and manufacturers. The Americans spread their products in the outside world together with their imperialistic ideologies to their traders (Kiernan 1978). The sale of American products was way of enticing people to accept Americans to take control of the resources in the victim country and exchange with manufactured and refined products from the Americans (Foss 1907). The American Imperialism had various effects on the economical, social and political status of the Americans and the involved countries (Herron 2010). The overseas countries such as France, Britain and Russia feared the American military for its strength and vigour; therefore, they could not wage way with them. The American spread Imperialistic principles as well as peace treaties, which made the Americans, preach peace to other countries as they exchanged manufactured products with raw materials (Hamm & Russel 2005). The American economy had grown significantly due to the expansion of their territories and the overseas markets (Kiernan 1978). The overseas market created a high demand for American goods. This made the Americans to increase their production to satisfy the demanding markets. The growth of the economy led to increased standards of social life to the Americans and increased reproduction, which led to increase in population (Herron 2010). The increase in population created increased interests for the expansion of the American boundaries. The popularity of Americans in satisfying the overseas markets made America the world’s leader in industrial and agricultural development (Kiernan 1978). The Open Door Policy of 1899 was a statement that contained principles that the United States initiated to protect China and its territorial and administrative integrity. The policy was issued in the mode of circular notes from John Hay, the United States Secretary of State, to Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, Russia and Japan (Hu 1995). The policy was accepted with a universal approval in the United States, and this was a cornerstone of American Foreign Policy for over forty years. The reason why the United States wanted to protect China was because China was extremely weakened by the defeat of the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-1895 (Anderson 1986). The cause of the war was because China resisted modernization and reforms (Herron 2010). Therefore, China was weak to prevent the Japanese and European’s spheres of influence out of its territory. According to the policy, it was intended to ensure equal chances for all nations to trade with China, which was recognized as a precious source of economic growth (Anderson 1986). The involvement of American Imperialism had spread wide in the Asian continent. The Open Door Policy was an involvement to attract China to be in American economic control (Hu 1995). However, there were various states such as Russia, Japan, Germany and Britain, which were interested in investing in China. The United States followed diplomatic moves to acquire a share in the East Asian state; China (Varg 1968). The foreign countries, which controlled China, were enjoying special privileges after the establishment of the quasi- colonial units, which they called the Spheres of Influence. The Americans had to find a way of getting involved into China before their trade suffers (Herron 2010). The Open Door Notes provided equal shares in the investment of China and the allow Chinese to collect their tariffs by themselves (Young 1969). All the other states involved in the policy seemed not to accept the policy, but none of them openly rejected it. The Secretary of State of the United States, John Hay, took the responses as final and definitive (Herron 2010). Eventually, America had succeeded in the struggle for investment in China. However, in 1900, there were some internal events that challenged the Idea of Open Door (Hu 1995). The Boxer Rebellion was anti- foreign movement that attacked the foreign missionaries and the Chinese converted to Christianity. The Rebellion was led by the martial artists in China, who gathered strength to resist the foreign invasion. The backing of Empress Dowager Cixi and the imperial army, the Rebellion turned to be violent (Hu 1995). Thousands of Chinese nationals and hundreds of foreign missionaries were killed in the violence. The Boxers descended into Beijing city, and this made the foreign nationals and embassy staffs call for assistance from their home states (Herron 2010). The Rebels continued to cause havoc in China until multinational troops invaded them and stopped the rebellion. The Multinational troops composed of United States, Britain, Germany, Japan, France and Russia (Beisner & Hanson 2003). China was obliged to pay a compensation of three hundred and thirty dollars to the foreign allies. However, the United States remitted eighteen million dollars to China when it found that the indemnity was excessive (Herron 2010). The calming of this Boxer Rebellion was the first time the Americans were fighting an Asian continent state with no motive of acquiring the territory. This showed that the Open Door Policy was strongly meant for fair trade in China (Beisner & Hanson 2003). The Americans had been involved in China for the market of their products and source of raw materials of their industries (Herron 2010). The Chinese government found out that the Americans were involved in its territory for the better; thus it set a fund aside to educate group Chinese students in the United States as a way of showing goodwill (Herron 2010). In 1900, the United States announced that the Open Door Policy would incorporate the protection the Chinese territorial integrity as well as the commercial treaty. This move by the American did not seek any formal acceptances from other foreign allies, and this prevented China from partition by other allies (Hu 1995). The move by Americans was a way of promoting their Imperialistic ideologies to the Chinese people. These ideologies led the Americans to create an informal territory in China (Healy 2011). The Sino- Japanese war of 1937 and the Manchurian crisis led the United States to set tough stands favouring the Open Door Policy. The stands included cutting off supplies to Japan (Hu 1995). The defeat of Japan in the Second World War led the Americans to end the special privileges of foreigners into China. This move made the Open Door Policy have no meaning, therefore, the United States took full control of China (Healy 2011). Initially, the United States had explored into Asia and discovered that it contained various valuable resources of raw materials that could be used in industries (Bell 2002). This led to the spread of the American Imperialism in the various parts of Asia such as Philippines, Panama and Puerto Rico. The involvement of Japan and other European countries into China made America realise that their market into Asia, especially China, would freeze (Varg 1968). The United States had to act fast before the nations partitioned China into spheres of influence. China had been discovered by the other countries that it was a home of valuable resources for the industries (Kiernan 1978). This is when America drafted the Open Door Policy, which aimed at peaceful collaboration in investing into China. The Open Door Policy revealed that the United States found out that the Imperial powers were out to partition Asia into spheres of Influence, which could limit the Americans’ involvement in the spread of American Imperialism (Young 1969). The policy came as a surprise to the imperial powers, and due to the Americans well developed military and economic growth the foreign allies had no other option than accept the policy (Herron 2010). The imperial were using force to spread their imperialistic ideas and were aiming at dividing China into partition so that the foreign countries had their zones of influence, which they would control (Tomimas 1976). This brute force used by the foreign allies caused the rebellion by the Chinese nationalists who referred themselves as the Fists of Righteous Harmony and popularly known as the Boxers in the West (Kiernan 1978). The United States had interests in China for trading and exchange of raw materials. The materials were required by several foreign allies who had camped in China (Wei 1993). The Americans produced surplus cotton and sugar that they wanted to export into China. The influence of the foreign allies reduced the quantity of exports that America exported into China (Healy 2011). This caused the decrease of production of cotton and sugar due to lack of the market and hence the United States had to act to create a market for the surplus products (Beisner & Hanson 2003). The Americans were engaged into negotiations with the involved parties. This led the United States to provide protection of China on its commercial and territorial integrity (Tomimas 1976). The best way of protecting the Chinese territories was by preventing the partitioning of the country and protection from foreign invasion that could lead China to lose its shape (Wei 1993). The Chinese and the Americans benefitted significantly from the agreement. The Chinese were protected from partitioning and any indulgence of foreign invasion. Chinese students had a chance to study in the United States (Wei 1993). This led to a strong mutual relationship between the two states. On the other hand, the United States had a chance to spread its imperialistic ideologies to the Chinese people and promote their economy (Wei 1993). Trade between the two countries was enhanced. In the World War II, China was spared and protected from invasion by America. This made China survive the severe damages from the bomb explosions of the World War. Japan waged war against China, on seeing the relationship China had with the Americans (Tomimas 1976). The United States helped China to win the Sino- Japanese war. This created rivalry between the Japanese and the Americans (Tomimas 1976). This is the reason why Japan was involved in the World War II and attacked the United States, but, eventually the Japanese were severely hit by the Americans, and the effects are still seen to date. The Open Door Statement was a crucial document in the history of China and the United States (Young 1969). The unity of Chinese people would have been torn apart by the European countries who had invaded the country in a forceful way (Anderson 1986). The prosperity that China gained was influenced by the involvement of United States in China. The United States developed the Open Door Policy to help the American economy, but it ended up improving the economy of China significantly (Kiernan 1978). The Policy alienated China from colonization which made the United States to trading rights in the whole of China without violating the Open Door requirements (Young 1969). The equality brought about by the Policy was a significant turn point for China to collect their taxes from the trading that took place in their territory (Wei 1993). The effect of industrialization caused countries and states to explore in other parts of the world to look for raw materials for their industries (Bell 2002). America was not the first to get industrialized, but the European states such as Germany, France and Britain were the first countries to lead in the industrial revolution (Beisner & Hanson 2003). The resources in the countries were limited, and this forced them to seek other sources of raw materials. On realizing the effect of industrialization, the United States started to expand, and the urge to more expansion led the Americans into Asia (Bell 2002). Being the largest continent, Asia had lots of underlying resources that were unused (Beisner & Hanson 2003). This is the reason why the European states and Americans had gone to acquire raw materials and find market for their surplus manufactured products. The development of United States had taken place at an extremely high rate because it did not allow any European states to acquire resources from the American continent (Bell 2002). United States had created their own empire in American continent; therefore, its development had grown beyond the European states. The development of a superior Navy and military made the United States strong in conquering other territories (Kiernan 1978). United States started as a very small territory (Healy 2011). The expansion of its borders and the effect of industrialization made it spread its Imperialistic ideologies to other states and continents. The production of large quantity of products made United States a world power in exporting agricultural and industrial products (Kiernan 1978). The United States made an exemplary move by using diplomatic method to gain access to territories in the Asian continent (Anderson 1986). It protected its territories from invasion by foreign states. The spread of American Imperialism was peaceful starting from the involvement of missionaries to processes of trading and acquiring raw materials (Beisner & Hanson 2003). The Open Door Policy was the document that handled negotiations with diplomatic methods to avoid crisis among the European states and the United States (Beisner & Hanson 2003). The document is one of the historic and upheld achievements of United States that tried to avoid wars, even if the American had strong and superior military. This was the first American foreign policy to share a territory with other states (Beisner & Hanson 2003). From the spread of American Imperialistic ideologies to other parts of the world, it has been observed that Americans expanded their territories and promoted their image to the world (Hamm & Russel 2005). The Imperialistic ideologies aimed at enlightening the people that the Americans are the only ones who are able to lead the world by providing sufficient products to satisfaction (Kiernan 1978). Diplomatic moves that the Americans used were one of the methods to promote their Imperialism to the world (Anderson 1986). These moves demonstrated to the world that the United States promotes peace in its endeavours and maintains control of goods to its territories. The beliefs that the Americans had about their destiny were accomplished. In the World War II, United States deployed their superior troops and brought the war to an end (Anderson 1986). This made the United States rule over the countries of the world (Beisner & Hanson 2003). China was the country that significantly benefitted from the diplomatic and peaceful negotiations of United States with the European states (Beisner & Hanson 2003). Many achievements have been accomplished from the spread of American Imperialism. The beliefs that one believes in are the objectives that one sets to achieve in life. The Americans believed in ruling the world, and they did it. References: Foss, E. N. 1907, American Manufacturers and Foreign Markets, Annals of the American Academy and Political Science, Sage Publications: New York, 29, 75-81. Young, B. M. 1969, The Rhetoric of Empire: The American China policy, 1895-1901, The Pacific Historical Review, University of California Press: California, 38(4), 501-502. Varg, P. A. 1968, The Myth of the China Market, 1890-1914, The American Historical Review, The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 73(3), 742-758. Field, J. A. 1978, [American Imperialism: The Worst Chapter in Almost any Book]: Reply, The American Historical Review, The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 83(3), 679- 683. Rooney, C. J. 1985, Dreams and Visions: A Study of American Utopias, 1865-1917, Green Wood Publishing: Westport, Pg 209. Hu, S. 1995, Stanley K. Hornbeck and the Open Door Policy, 1919-1937, Greenwood Publishing: Westport. Wei, S. 1993, Open Door Policy and China’s Rapid Growth : Evidence form City Level Data, National Bureau of Economic Research: New York. Tomimas, S. 1976, The Open Door Policy and the Territorial Integrity of China, University of Publications of America: New York. May, E. R. 1968, American Imperialism: A speculative Essay, Athenaeum: Hartford. Herron, G. D. 2010, American Imperialism, Biblio Bazaar; South Carolina. Kiernan, V. G. 1978, America, the New Imperialism: From White Settlement to World Hegemony, Verso: New York. Beisner, R. & Hanson, K. 2003, American Foreign Relations Since 1600: A Guide to the Literature, 2nd ed, ABC-CLIO: New York. Hamm, B. & Russel, C. 2005, Cultural Imperialism: Essays on the Political Economy of Cultural Domination, University of Toronto Press: Toronto. Kaplan, E. 1998, U.S. Imperialism in Latin America: Bryan’s Challenges and contributions, 1900-1920, Greenwood Publishing: Westport. Anderson, D. 1986, Imperialism and Idealism: American Diplomats in China, 1861-1898, Indiana University Press: Bloomington. Healy, D. 2011, US Expansionism: The Imperialist Urge in the 1980s, University of Wisconsin Press: Madison. Bell, J. A. 2002, Industrialization and Imperialism, 1800-1914: A Bibliographical Dictionary, Greenwood Publishing: Westport. (Bell 2002) Read More