The period of American Imperialism between 1891 and 1916 improved not only American industrial growth, but the location of lands we acquired (such as Hawaii) gave us an advantage in world wars that proved to be critical. Many of the justifications given for this period of American Imperialism were reasonable and some were not. The idea of raw materials and new markets for American manufactured goods was an unrelenting force that took America out of its isolationist state, and for good reason. For example, when the United States was in an economic depression in 1893, these new markets, like the islands of Hawaii, proved to be invaluable. Although the history of the pacific island and the pressure that was required to acquire the territory
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There were a few different justifications for this: the closing of the frontier, our need for raw materials, and social Darwinism. In Frederick Turner’s essay “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” he tells how important the west was in shaping American life, and that without a new frontier to conquer, Americans would lose what makes them unique. Much of America’s public agreed with Turner and pushed for America to being imperializing. In addition, much of the raw materials that were once in the western frontier were depleting, and an economic depression led to an oversupply of manufactured goods. New lands under the United States’ influence could provide these new raw materials and a new market for the manufactured goods. Finally, many Americans supported the idea of social Darwinism and claimed economic competition would show that America was “the fittest” country in the world. These reasons led to America taking a break from isolationism, and spreading American influence to independent places like …show more content…
Teddy Roosevelt saw America’s military and economic power as a reason to exert power and imperialize places. This idea of wielding a “big stick” and Roosevelt’s interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine as a way to “exercise international power” was called the Roosevelt Corollary. The Roosevelt Corollary may have been threatening and at times dangerous, but his policy achieved the building of the Panama Canal, an accomplishment for not only America but also the world. President Taft used business deals to extend America’s sphere of influence in his Dollar Diplomacy, and this diplomacy started occupying Nicaragua in 1912, where the US army remained for 21 years. President Wilson saw that Roosevelt and Taft’s ways were not exactly the most fair, and he worked to fix that. He saw his duty of expanding American economic influence as a duty to the world. Even though he was not always as forceful as Roosevelt or Taft in order to further his own wants, he worked to achieve peace throughout the world, and used the US’s influence to do that. All of these administrations assisted in America’s imperialism, gaining territory and influence along with
There were a few different justifications for this: the closing of the frontier, our need for raw materials, and social Darwinism. In Frederick Turner’s essay “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” he tells how important the west was in shaping American life, and that without a new frontier to conquer, Americans would lose what makes them unique. Much of America’s public agreed with Turner and pushed for America to being imperializing. In addition, much of the raw materials that were once in the western frontier were depleting, and an economic depression led to an oversupply of manufactured goods. New lands under the United States’ influence could provide these new raw materials and a new market for the manufactured goods. Finally, many Americans supported the idea of social Darwinism and claimed economic competition would show that America was “the fittest” country in the world. These reasons led to America taking a break from isolationism, and spreading American influence to independent places like …show more content…
Teddy Roosevelt saw America’s military and economic power as a reason to exert power and imperialize places. This idea of wielding a “big stick” and Roosevelt’s interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine as a way to “exercise international power” was called the Roosevelt Corollary. The Roosevelt Corollary may have been threatening and at times dangerous, but his policy achieved the building of the Panama Canal, an accomplishment for not only America but also the world. President Taft used business deals to extend America’s sphere of influence in his Dollar Diplomacy, and this diplomacy started occupying Nicaragua in 1912, where the US army remained for 21 years. President Wilson saw that Roosevelt and Taft’s ways were not exactly the most fair, and he worked to fix that. He saw his duty of expanding American economic influence as a duty to the world. Even though he was not always as forceful as Roosevelt or Taft in order to further his own wants, he worked to achieve peace throughout the world, and used the US’s influence to do that. All of these administrations assisted in America’s imperialism, gaining territory and influence along with