Positive And Negative Effects Of American Imperialism

Throughout history, the U.S has proven to have imperialistic tendencies. This could be closely related to the fact that our founding countries have too had a taste for acquiring new territories. With the capturing of these new lands, the country expects that the gains of these new territories will bring positive circumstances as opposed to negative effects. Fortunately, through the acquisition of the Louisiana territory in 1803 and Puerto Rico in 1899, we as a country have greatly benefitted. During the time of the Louisiana Purchase, the United States greatly depended on the movement of goods through the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River was, at the time, part of the French territory. Eventually, the French had to cede its territory …show more content…
Through the victory of America, the Spanish had to relinquish control of Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico for $200 million when they signed the Treaty of Paris. When the U.S gained political influence over Puerto Rico they started to change everything. The currency was changed into dollars, Freedom of speech, assembly, and press were implemented, and an overall new government formed. America was imposing themselves onto Puerto Rico and they did not like this. Eventually, they formed a resistance movement led by Luis Rivera that perpetuated America into granting Puerto Ricans U.S citizenship. They gain American rights yet are not required to pay taxes. The Insular cases, however, determined that citizens in foreign soil do not get the exact same rights as a citizen in a U.S state, which Puerto Rico isn’t. Fortunately, people became benefitted with a better economy, education, and healthcare. For America, the benefit has come in economic terms. With the Jones Act, Puerto Ricans are given the right to travel freely from the mainland to the island. As a result, over half a million Puerto Ricans now live in New York City. This provides for the culture to diffuse and spread their