Tashena A. Rochester
After the Civil War America became more concerned with what was happening at home rather than dealing with any foreign affairs. They worked on strengthening their borders, expanding their military and industrializing the West. After a couple of years being an isolationist nation, powerful people in the political and business world thought it was time to, “expand its territory and its democratic values… [they thought] that sustaining rapid industrial development required the acquisition-or conquest of foreign territories in order to gain access to vital raw materials.” (897) It was true that America was expanding in the industrial world and that meant more trading with foreign territories. This began Americas switch from its isolationist tendencies to one of creating an American Empire. However this was not the only reason America wanted to begin expanding their borders, the motivation of greed and trying to spread Christianity became another top reason for Americas change in their view. With the conquering of each new territory American missionaries began converting people to Christianity. …show more content…
With the growth of the industrial world in the West it became apparent that America needed to begin finding new resources. Africa and Asia became Americas go to territories for finding, “new sources of raw materials, and new opportunities for investments.”(898) One of the political motivator for the expansion of American borders was naval Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, who believed that America needed to acquire a more powerful, “navy, a strong merchant marine, foreign commerce, colonies, and naval bases.” (899) He had supporters and that began the plan for America to strengthen their
After the Civil War America became more concerned with what was happening at home rather than dealing with any foreign affairs. They worked on strengthening their borders, expanding their military and industrializing the West. After a couple of years being an isolationist nation, powerful people in the political and business world thought it was time to, “expand its territory and its democratic values… [they thought] that sustaining rapid industrial development required the acquisition-or conquest of foreign territories in order to gain access to vital raw materials.” (897) It was true that America was expanding in the industrial world and that meant more trading with foreign territories. This began Americas switch from its isolationist tendencies to one of creating an American Empire. However this was not the only reason America wanted to begin expanding their borders, the motivation of greed and trying to spread Christianity became another top reason for Americas change in their view. With the conquering of each new territory American missionaries began converting people to Christianity. …show more content…
With the growth of the industrial world in the West it became apparent that America needed to begin finding new resources. Africa and Asia became Americas go to territories for finding, “new sources of raw materials, and new opportunities for investments.”(898) One of the political motivator for the expansion of American borders was naval Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, who believed that America needed to acquire a more powerful, “navy, a strong merchant marine, foreign commerce, colonies, and naval bases.” (899) He had supporters and that began the plan for America to strengthen their