There are many different views of the U.S. overseas expansion that could have been shaped by the understanding of our national identity in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The U.S. wanted to find its identity in the world among all the other nations. As America began to expand overseas they realized it could unite them as a country, they could spread democracy and christianity, and they were spreading the army to thin.
Expanding overseas gave America a chance to unite as a country. In this time period racism had divided the country putting the two races against each other. In document 1 an African American says it might “cement the races into a more compact brotherhood through perfect unity of purpose and patriotic affinity [where white people will]... unloose themselves from the bondage of racial prejudice”(Document 1). This document is saying that working together to achieve the same goal, overseas expansion, could unite the two races and create a brotherhood. Also this …show more content…
This view was influenced by American Exceptionalism, that America’s form of government and religion was the best and most effective. In document 3 President William McKinley talks about the Philippines and how he wants to “christianize them and by god’s grace do the very best we could”(Document 3). America saw this an opportunity to spread christianity in the Philippines. In document 5, Theodore Roosevelt also talks about the Philippines saying “many of their people are utterly unfit for self-government, and show no signs of becoming fit”(Document 5). Roosevelt acts as though the philippines can not govern themselves and uses this to spread democracy. This can be connected to when Britain colonized America and influenced the colonies with their own form of government and religion. American Exceptionalism shaped and influenced their views on expansion especially for spreading christianity and
Expanding overseas gave America a chance to unite as a country. In this time period racism had divided the country putting the two races against each other. In document 1 an African American says it might “cement the races into a more compact brotherhood through perfect unity of purpose and patriotic affinity [where white people will]... unloose themselves from the bondage of racial prejudice”(Document 1). This document is saying that working together to achieve the same goal, overseas expansion, could unite the two races and create a brotherhood. Also this …show more content…
This view was influenced by American Exceptionalism, that America’s form of government and religion was the best and most effective. In document 3 President William McKinley talks about the Philippines and how he wants to “christianize them and by god’s grace do the very best we could”(Document 3). America saw this an opportunity to spread christianity in the Philippines. In document 5, Theodore Roosevelt also talks about the Philippines saying “many of their people are utterly unfit for self-government, and show no signs of becoming fit”(Document 5). Roosevelt acts as though the philippines can not govern themselves and uses this to spread democracy. This can be connected to when Britain colonized America and influenced the colonies with their own form of government and religion. American Exceptionalism shaped and influenced their views on expansion especially for spreading christianity and