Roosevelt's Imperialistic Big Stick Diplomacy Analysis

From the original thirteen colonies in 1776 to the forty-five states at the turn of the twentieth century, the land that makes up the United States drastically changed through fairly rapid and steady expansion to the west and south. Between 1889 and 1893, six new states entered the Union, which represented the most in any four year period of the country’s history. The history of growth and expansion helped shape American culture and the average American’s viewpoint, which was ready to move beyond the destructive and divisive Civil War. Due to economic problems and little room for growth in the continental United States, governmental officials started to look beyond America’s borders at the islands of Hawaii, Cuba, and the Philippines, with the hopes of moving the country into a solid position of world power and extending its reach into the economic markets of Asia. Many of America’s controversial actions at the turn of the 20th century were questionable because they restricted the civil …show more content…
being responsible for the world’s well-being . In 1890, Congress authorized the building of battleships, based on Roosevelt’s statement as Assistant Secretary of the Navy that, “A massive buildup of the navy was the most effectual way to promote peace” . By the time the decade ended, the U.S. military was closing the gap even with its European counterparts . Using its improved naval presence, a provisional government was created in Hawaii, which gave the U.S. complete control of the region In addition, the U.S. Navy provided physical support during the construction of the Panama Canal, which allowed the U.S. to quickly move goods from its east coast all the way to China. By embracing imperialistic beliefs and expanding the country’s military, the United States was able to protect those areas within its sphere of