American Imperialism - Report Example

American Imperialism The American imperialism was motivated by political, territorial and economic expansion desires, even though the events occurred at different times. Before the Spanish-American war, America was plagued by the challenges of political and social unrest of the 1890s, which arose due to depressed economic activity characterized by increasing unemployment and low firm income since America had established itself as an agricultural hub and industrial state. America adopted imperialism in the late 1890s or precisely 1898 during the Spanish-American war. The move has been a contentious issue for many historians exploring the American imperialism behavior. The Spanish-America War of April 24 1898 marked the start of the American imperialism behavior and the end of the Spanish dominance in the Americas, resulting in the extension and annexation of the Latin America and Western Pacific territories by the U.S. (Slideshow 8:36). The war started because of the U.S.’s intervention in the Cuban state’s struggle for independence after the Spanish started instituting repressive measures to combat rebels that were calling and fighting for independence in the Cuban state. However, with a mystery sinking of the USS Maine battleship in Havana, which was protecting the property and lives of U.S. people after intense anti-Spanish riots broke out in the Havana city (Slideshow 8:36). After these events, the U.S. declared that Cuba had a right to independence and not the limited governmental powers that were granted by the Spanish rulers. Thus, this prompted the Congress to resolve that the President uses force to end the Spanish rule and drive out its army from Cuba but that Cuba gains independence and no annexation to take place. This prompted the Spanish to declare war on the U.S., which the U.S. won and ended the Spanish rule in the Cuba (Slideshow 8:36). However, the war did not end there, the U.S. naval and army generals led by Shafter, Roosevelt, and Calvary attacked the Spanish Caribbean fleet in Manila, Philippian and captured Santiago after heavy gunfire, which prompted them to surrender. This events marked the end of the Spanish rule, forcing them to retract and concentrate on domestic affairs, but marked the start of imperialism in America. Manifest of Destiny Manifest destiny was a phrase of the 19th century that invoked the concept that the U.S. would not stop expanding territorially from coast to coast and occupy the whole continent of North America since this was a God ordained destiny. This Christian idea was achieved by the westward migration of the American people, the acquisition of the Texas from the Mexicans through non-peaceful means (slideshow 8:6); victorious military campaigns and conquests against the Native Americans (Indians), the control and reign of the Islands of Philippines during the Spanish-American War of 1898, the missionary activities of the Christian ministers and finally, the expansionism of economic development (Slideshow 8:7). The westward expansion of the U.S. was a significant manifestation of the manifest destiny of the U.S. To achieve the ultimate goal of the phrase of the phrase coined by John O’Sullivan, the U.S. first went into war with Mexico in 1946-1948 to expand its territorial boundaries across the entire continent. Thus, because of the might power of the Naval, and the desire to expand economically, President Polk annexed Texas purposely because of its viability for agricultural purpose to enable the U.S. become an agricultural hub for the production of cotton, which was a valuable commodity at the time (Slide 8:12). Moreover, due to the desire to expand to the Coast, the U.S. was not determined to stop at Texas. As many historians and other scholars argue, President Polk was determined to annex California so that the U.S. would gain possession of the harbors on the Pacific, which would enable the U.S. become a continental empire, in addition to, to enabling it connect to the Pacific from the Atlantic by railroad, which was the U.S.’s big dream (Slide 8:12).For this reason, the U.S. had to conquer Mexico and annex the Arizona, new Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Therefore, the U.S. –Mexico ensued and resulted to the Mexico losing about half of its territory but fulfilled John O’Sullivan’s assertions of expansionism from coast to coast (the Atlantic to the Pacific) about the creation of a continental empire, the United States of America. Some of the reasons that significantly led to the annexation of the above territories and the westwards expansion includes the following. The first and most important factor was the power of the of the U.S. military build-up, which encompassed the regular army and militia army, which had been sanctioned by the Congress to protect and pursue the interests of the U.S. (Slide 8:14). The second reason, was economic expansion. The U.S. wanted to establish itself an economic hub and thus to find raw materials for its developing industries. This would have also contributed immensely to the annexation of Texas for its viability in agriculture. Moreover, the transatlantic trade would have fueled the possession of territories that were a gateway from the Atlantic to the pacific to facilitate movement of goods and raw materials. Thirdly, was the idea of Anglo-Saxon superiority, which advocated racial ideologies and created a perception in the minds of Americans that Mexicans like the Indians were lazy and easily conquered and would surrender (Slide 8:14). For this reason, many inferior races felt they were weak because of these ideologies and thus failed to use their land productively. Therefore, on the basis of the protestant work ethic, the Americans believed these races deserved to surrender their lands to the American people for productive use. However, the principle of manifest destiny even though received criticism later, the principle also articulated democracy, religion and freedom of the United States was ordained by God for the purpose of liberating other people from oppressive measures such the case of Cuban from the Spanish rule, although the state was not annexed to be part of the North America. Moreover, the acceptance of United States’ aggression by a number of people of other territories such as the California and Louisiana was a good confirmation that the doctrine of the manifest destiny was a real and accurate principle. In addition, the idea of concept manifest destiny was revealed in the later years of the U.S.’s history during the terms of President Carter and Regan who tried to extend religious freedoms, economic developments, individual rights and democracies to other world states. Therefore, the doctrine of manifest destiny although it received criticism from opponents, it was manifested in a couple of ways, signs that are evident to date in the U.S.’ leading to the establishment of one super nation the U.S. of America. Debate over Imperialism The debating on imperialism in the U.S. was occasioned by the war of the United States and Philippines (Slideshow 8:18). During the debate, there were proponents who supported the war and opponents who criticized the need of the U.S. engaging in the war from both the democrats and republicans. One of the major supports of the war was Senator Albert Beveridge, who strongly supported the American empire. For instance, he stated during the debate “Mr. President . . . The Philippines are our forever; and just beyond the Philippines are China’s [unlimited] markets” (Reading 25: 1) goes ahead o state “We will not retreat from either; we will not [turn our backs on] our duty in the archipelago; We will not abandon our opportunity on the Orient; We will not [give up] our part in the mission of our race, [trusted by God to civilize] the world” ” (Reading 25: 1). From the sentiments of Senator Albert Beveridge, it was evident the imperialists were not ready to stop at nothing, but to further the United States’ economic influence towards the East and Asia to open markets for the U.S.’s products. Moreover, Beveridge’s argument that the declaration of independence for the Philippines was a mistake because they were Orientals and Malays incapable of ruling themselves was suppressive and aimed at justifying the annexation of Philippines by the U.S. For instance he stated “The Declaration applies only to people capable of self-government; How dare any man [twist] this expression of the [very best] of self-governing peoples to a race of Malay children” (Reading 25: 2). These sentiments were a clear manifestation of imperialism tendencies of the U.S. to gain economic influence over the East and Asia, especially in Japan and China. On the other hand, the opponents of the war were majorly democrats and republican business leaders such as Carnegie; philosophers like William James; and renowned scholars such as Graham Summer among others (Bancroft 123). These great people joined the League of anti- imperialist formed in Boston 1898 with the aim of opposing the American-Philippine war and the annexation of Philippine islands, which they almost achieved through the Paris treat, which was later ratified and adopted by the Congress in 1899 (Bancroft 123). Some of the reasons they opposed the war as stated by Bancroft was that they considered the policy of imperialism hostile to freedom and that the policy advocated for military action (123). These tendencies of the U.S. manifested the imperialist nature of the U.S. resulting to its opposition from within the state itself because it was hostile to liberty. The ant imperialists, moreover, argued that the policy of imperialism was hostile and promoted militarization. They further went ahead to state the policy tends to limit liberty and freedom of the people. For instance, Bancroft states “We insist the subjugation of any people is ‘criminal aggression’ and open disloyalty to the distinctive principles of our government” (123). Therefore, to demonstrate how they were determined to opposing the policy of imperialism, they likened the intention of war against the Filipinos by the U.S. to the Spanish aggression, terming it as a continuation of the principles of the Spanish, which the Americans were fighting to liberate and create a peaceful world. Thus, they termed the sacrifice of the U.S. soldiers in Philippines uncalled for and a betrayal to the American constitution, because it subjected the people of Philippines to unnecessary horror and torture, which was a shame to the Americans institutions (123-124). Ultimately, the above events marked an signified the adoption of the behavior of imperialism in the United States, which has been manifested to date by various presidents during their terms in office such as President Carter and Regan who tried to extend religious freedoms, economic developments, individual rights and democracies to other world states. Part 2 Territorial Expansion According to the Slideshow 8, territorial expansion was a clear manifestation of the U.S.’s an imperialist state during the 19th and 20thcentury. The U.S. expanded territorially both through peaceful and non-peaceful means. For instance, the annexation of the Texas, and Mexican-American war that were non-peaceful; Gadsden Purchase of Arizona and New Mexico by peaceful means; and attempts to annex into Central America and Maritime Pacific expansion through both ways (Slideshow 8:6). Other territorial expansions and annexations included those of California, Hawaii, Philippines and Spanish-American War 1898. For instance, after the Spanish-American War in 1898, U.S. naval and army generals led by Shafter, Roosevelt and Calvary attacked the Spanish Caribbean fleet in Manila, Philippine where they annexed the Philippine islands after buying them from the Spanish. These annexations of other states were a clear manifestation of the imperialist nature of the U.S. with the desire to create a superb empire in the world. Moreover, the annexation of the Texas and California for economic gains, was a clear manifestation of the U.S.’s desire to influence economic activities and trade, especially the trans-Atlantic trade with the intent of controlling the world economic activities. Economic Expansion After the adoption of the imperialism behavior, the U.S. continued to manifest the adopted behavior in the world through economic expansion in the 19th century into the 20th century in a number of ways. Some of the notable manifestations include the enforcing of commercial contracts in the continent of South America in the 20th century a case study of the United Fruit Co & Colombian banana planters, which discouraged local initiatives, and set contracts terms that gave it advantage (Bucheli 1). The United Fruit multi-Corporation arrived in Magdalena on the shore of the sea of Caribbean in 1899 and developed infrastructure systems that enabled it to export bananas to the U.S. According to Bucheli, the company exploited workers on the shores and imposed contracts terms that favored it, ultimately setting standards for all exporters in the Highland (1). This was a clear manifestation of imperialism by the U.S. business lords, which were meant to benefit the U.S. and give it economic advantage in the world of business. The corporation was cited as one of the representatives the imperialism behavior of the U.S.’s history. For instance, Bucheli states that the “United Fruit has been considered the quintessential representative of American imperialism in Latin America, holding the local governments in its pocket, controlling the local economy of the host countries, and harshly exploiting the plantation workers” (182). Moreover, the monopolization of the banana market through subcontracting and manipulation of contract terms with the intent eliminating competition was an imperialist behavior of the company’s management and the famous business leaders of the U.S. (189). Moreover, the presence of the stores of Woolworth operating in England even in the 20th century was an implication that the U.S.’s imperialist behavior remained evident in the 20th century (Slideshow 8:37-39). For instance, the Slideshow 8:34, advertisement of the Woolworth store Museum in the Oxford is a clear impression of the U.S. influence in the world of business, together with other stores in different parts of the globe such as Japan, Mexico, Canada, Germany among others. Conversely, the advertisement on Slideshow 8:40 that shows a Woolworth store with priced commodities before the great depression in England and the Slideshow 8:39 store next to the post office in England demonstrates the influence the U.S. in the world of economic activities in the global arena a clear show of its economic imperialist nature and desire to control business activities. Diplomatic Influence Woodrow Wilson led the American people into World War 1 with an objective of not only winning the war but also to be able to find peace for the world. Wilson believed that because the America’s economy was anchored on business, there was need to create peace and settle territorial disputes through diplomatic ways rather than war, which caused innocent people suffering. For this reason, Wilson embarked, on a mission, to create orderly relations for the world’s super-powers and addressed these objectives through his 14 points address to the Congress in 1918 (Wilson 101). For instance, through Wilson’s 14 points, the League of the Nations was conceived and formed the foundation on which the basic principles of making peace were established (101). Moreover, through his 14 points such as the “Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view;” “Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants” (106). Some of these points were significant as they led to the establishment of diplomatic relations and led to the establishment of territorial water peace agreements. Conversely, Wilson argues that the 14 points formed the basis for the long fighting of Germany in the 1st World War than they would have otherwise (104). This assertion can be justified by Wilsons assertion that “...They have again attempted to acquaint the world with their objects in the war and have again challenged their adversaries to say what their objects are and what sort of settlement they would deem just and satisfactory” (104). Thus, this brings out the impression the 14 points by Wilson had in the word and the creation of the present global states after the Great War. A critical examination of Wilsons’ point IV, “Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety” is a clear demonstration of the present world’s regulations, which articulates and limits nations from developing deadly nuclear weapons that contravenes the UN’s regulations for which the U.S. has been in the far front advocating. Therefore, Wilson’s points are a clear manifestations of the U.S.’s influence and imperials behavior even in the 20th and 21st century. Moreover, point XIV that states “A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike” (107) is another imperialist behavior of the U.S., for instance, that led to the establishment of the League of Nations and now the UN, which pursues international interests of all states globally. Therefore, the imperialist behavior of the U.S. manifests itself in different facets of diplomatic ties between the world nations. Conclusion It is evident from the above articulations that the U.S. manifested imperialism in the 19th and 20th century in a couple of ways ranging from economic expansion, diplomatic influence, territorial annexation among other different ways. However, it is important to note that in some instances, the imperialist nature of the U.S. was significant to the establishment of the domestic and world economy, even though, there were opposition to the imperialist behavior in the U.S. during the 19th century. Read More