Moderator: This debate will be focused on the topic of imperialism by the United States. Joining us tonight is author Mark Twain and President Theodore Roosevelt. Each speaker will receive the same question and will state his opinion. Afterwards there will be an open discussion, until the next question is asked. Starting with you, Mark Twain, do you support or oppose imperialism? Twain: I will begin by blatantly stating that I am opposed to all imperialism that has been done and will be done by the United States. I believe it is wrong and I have done countless things to show this. I have done numerous speeches and published many articles and essays in order make my opinion clear. I was a part of the Anti-Imperialist League and support everything …show more content…
Twain. It is your turn to respond President Roosevelt. Do you support or oppose imperialism? Roosevelt: I believe that the United States needs to have a commanding influence around the world. In order to do this, we have to use our military to extend the power of the United States to new places. Mr. Twain wrongly believes that imperialism is wrong, but it has accomplished many things. The United States was able to end Spanish rule of Cuba and the Philippines. I was able to help Panama become a separate country from Columbia, which allowed us to have the Panama Cannel built. Doing this has more benefits than just expanding the power of the United States though. It also allows us to improve the conditions of the countries we occupy. Therefore, I am a supporter of imperialism. Moderator: It is now time for our next question. This question is yours Mr. Twain. Do you believe that the United States should conquer and civilize other countries? Twain: As I said earlier, I am opposed to imperialism. This means that I am opposed to all attempts for the United States to conquer another country. I am also opposed to the United States trying to civilize another …show more content…
Mr. Twain. What would you say to people who support imperialism to change their mind? Twain: They need to look at what actually happens because of imperialism. President Roosevelt says that imperialism allows the United States to civilize other countries. This is wrong. People in the Philippines were denied freedom by the United States and many were killed. The United States only helped the Philippines get independence from Spain so the United States itself could get control of it. When the American people see the truth, they will renounce their support for imperialism. Moderator: President Roosevelt, what would you say to people who oppose imperialism to change their mind? Roosevelt: The American people have to look at the good things that happened only because of imperialism. There is a Panama Cannel, the Philippines and Cubans are independent from Spain, and the people in those countries are more civilized with more advanced technology. If those who do not support imperialism see the great things that come from it, they will change their minds. Moderator: That is going to do it for us. This debate on imperialism has concluded. I thank both the speakers for debating and the people in the audience for coming
Imperialism in third world countries was a very good thing that impacted the world in a very positive way. The countries that we have today would not be here without the hard working civilized America and Great Brittan. True that they benefited; but we owe our gratitude for our world today to them. Civilizing the uncivilized is no easy feat.
Imperialism was a controversial idea that a nation can extend its power outward through means of diplomatic or military force. This often results in a shift of power from one major force currently in control to another. The people of that nation under control conflict may also experience wars, rebellions, or cultural destruction. Looking at some of these events, we see some positives and negatives of imperialistic action taken by the United States, and how it affected the nations imperialized by the United States. For starters, let’s look at Hawaii’s annexation.
There were other anti-imperialists, like Jane Addams, who believed that imperialism lead to militarism. Addams was one of the few people who actually argued that the Spanish-American War caused more problems at home because of how people started to openly hate Spaniards and wanted them dead. This was something that the United States could not stand for in the eyes of her. William Bryan Jennings argued and believed a similar idea to this (Doc. 6). In his beliefs, he thought that the government of the United States could not accurately represent the desires of both citizens and the foreigners equally.
One of the main ideas that Imperialists believed in with the expansion of the US would strengthen the country. President William McKinley, once said, “That we could not give them back to Spain-that would be cowardly and dishonorable… That we could not turn them over to France or Germany, our commercial rivals in the Orient-that would be bad business and discreditable” (Document 3). He is saying that expanding overseas would strengthen the power of the US and make the US seem not cowardly or weak. Though if an anti-imperialists were to of given an opinion of what expanding overseas would do to the strength of they would say that it would weaken the US.
In the speech “Imperialism”, the speaker, William Jennings Bryan, expresses his distaste towards imperialism. He says America should not spread anymore, because it isn’t an empire. He also says that in the past, America was never imperialist and now it should stay as the past presidents and the founding fathers created it. Taft would disagree with most of the ideas expressed in the speech.
He believes that only the strenuous life can play great role in the prosperity and welfare of the individuals and nation as well. Practically, Roosevelt was an ardent supporter of imperialism and wanted America to play integral role in world affairs and politics. This speech also depicts his policy of interventionism and imperialism. Roosevelt defends American imperialism by taking America’s national interests into consideration. However, his imperialist approach in foreign policies raises many questions for the audience sitting outside the borders of America.
During the Imperialism era, America acted as a World Leader. The Imperialism era was an era that America started to act as its own country and this era was when America really started to influence the world. The begging of this era was with our found father George Washington as he made a farewell address, in that address he basically stated that America should be an isolated country and that they the people should not interfere with wars with other countries, and that the trade between countries should be equal. This is proof that America was a World Leader during Imperialism.
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Throughout history, there have been many examples of costs and benefits of imperialism. These have lead to both positive and negative outcomes. I believe that imperialism is very beneficial to the people that are receiving help from these Imperialist countries. I believe that imperialism was beneficial for the people that had their countries interrogated, and expanded.
Why Imperialism Was Not Justified Many Americans and Europeans believe that there was many good reasons for imperialism. These people think this because they were the ones that benefited from it. In imperialism, the stronger countries took over the weaker countries and used them for their resources which improved their economy. Most also claim that they helped the countries they were imperializing, but the Europeans were actually hurting them. This led to the natives rebelling which arguably led to World War 1 later on.
American imperialism is economically, socially, and politically damaging to countries, as well as costly for America. Furthermore, it infringes upon national sovereignty and the right to self-governance. Historical cases have shown the detrimental repercussions America has repeatedly caused. The few cases of success should not undermine the calamitous effects American neo-imperialism has caused. The United States should cede its colonies and stop intervening in the affairs of other nations.
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. It is a great way to strengthen the economy and gain power and territory for countries that practice it, though it often failed and resulted in war and the deaths of innocents. Four intellectuals that played a big part in influencing American imperialism were Frederick Jackson Turner, Alfred T. Mahan, Herbert Spencer and John Fisk. All of these influencers had different ideologies and came together to justify American imperialism. They believed America needed to expand power and gain territories.
We wouldn’t be America if it wasn’t for Britain taxing our fore fathers to the point of revolution. In conclusion, Imperialism is still not as good as other options for foreign policy. Though the failures are numerous, Imperialism has just as many benefits. Learn from Britain’s mistakes and maybe your Imperialistic foreign policy might actually work out.
Between the era of Mahan Beveridge, Schurz, and Bryan, there have been many outlooks and opinions about whether or not imperialism is good or bad; some similar, some different. One is the speech by Obama being similar to Bryan’s opinions in relations to them both believing that imperialism is pointless, and overall not a good decision since there can be other ways to solve the problems they may have for imperializing in the first place. They both saw the same effects that can come out of imperializing; the consequence being an unnecessary war that can be avoided in the first place. Webb’s is also similar to both Bryan and Obama’s opinion because he also believes that it is an unnecessary thing to do in order for us to get what we want. They
Colonialism and Imperialism affected our world both positively and negatively. On one hand, Imperialism has often been linked with racial segregation, manipulation, and hardship. On the other, it has been said that many colonial powers contributed much in terms of schools, roads, railways, and much more. Whether this time period was constructive or harmful, it has played a large part in shaping our lives today. European Imperialism started long before the 1800’s.
In being an anti-imperialist the worrisome is not that one opposes the idea of expansion of religion, commercial, and constitutional. It’s that with the annexing of these tropical islands would come to a result of the American system of self government would be that America might abandon this idea that makes America that nation it is to this point. Three reasons why the U.S should avoid imperialism is because it fails to follow that criteria of the constitution, could lead to tyrants like behavior, and could lead to conflict One argument that can’t be missed is the fact that the constitutions sets forth a principle that states “consent of the governed” after further research this means that to imperialize and annex other islands would violate