Why American Foreign Policies Imperialistic around 1900
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Why Was American Foreign Policies Imperialistic around 1900?
American imperialism refers to the cultural, military, and economic influence the United States of America exerted over other nations. The American imperialistic policies began in the 1800s to 1900s (Combs, 2015). The American Imperialistic policies aimed at expanding the United States’ cultural, economic, and political influence across its borders. The American foreign imperialistic policies included subsidization of factions, unequal treaties, gunboat diplomacy, military conquest, and economic penetration via private and public companies (Raico, 2015). Various reasons prompted the United States’ imperialistic foreign policies to expand their rule over territories and other countries.
One of the main motives that informed the American foreign policies between the 1880 and 1900s was economic purposes (Combs, 2015). The United States sought means of maximizing profits through private and public companies. Economic expansion necessitated controlling or accessing the market to purchase or sell products, acquire natural resources like land and minerals, and cheap labor. In line with these, the United States foreign policies were imperial to compete with other imperialistic nations for markets, resources, and trade. The industrial revolution prompted American businesspersons to seek new markets to sell their goods.
Ethnocentric also played a significant role in prompting imperialistic in United States foreign policy. The United States believed its cultural beliefs and values were superior to those of other countries or groups. As such, they believed in an imperial conquest that would spread their successful culture to inferior races. Also, there was an increasing influence of social Darwinism, shaping the belief that the United States was solely responsible for bringing Christianity, democracy, and industry to uncivilized nations and groups(Raico, 2015).
Another compelling reason prompting imperialistic foreign policy in the United States was political motives. With growing imperial power and patriotism, the United States was forced to compete with other nations for supremacy and matters of national security, prestige, and pride. The United States sought strategic territories to access their armies and navies across the globe. The policies aimed at defending and expanding the United States Empire. The political motives that prompted imperialistic foreign policies were catalyzed by perceived threats to the American citizens abroad or threats to prestige or security (Raico, 2015). Religious motives also informed the imperialistic foreign policies in the United States.
Imperialism policies around 1900 were part of the recent development in American history. Imperialism policies enabled the United States to expand its territory power, accumulate wealth, and expand influence through military aggression, soft power, and economic growth. The imperialistic policies enabled the United States to exert economic, social, and political control over nations such as Germany, Cuba, Austria, Japan, and Korea.
The most recent example of imperialistic foreign policies was Hawaii’s annexation in 1898, allowing the United States to control and possess al buildings, ports, harbors, public property, and military equipment that belonged to the Hawaii Island government. The last monarch of Hawaii was deposed in 1893. The deposition was undertaken by American citizens who opposed Queen Liliuokalani’s establishment of a new constitution. Such action ultimately resulted in recent development where Hawaii became the United States’ 50th state.
References
Combs, J. A. (2015). The history of American foreign policy: V.1: To 1920. Routledge.
Raico R. (2015). American foreign policy: The turning point, 1898-1919 | Ralph Raico. The Independent Institute. https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=1345