American Imperialism Dbq

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Despite imperialism being unconstitutional and undemocratic, American Imperialism was an economic necessity to further commerce. China had all the customers, and for the U.S. to be economically successful they needed to improve their naval power. This need brought on the Panama Canal, as Roosevelt wanted to save both time and money for commercial and military shipping. On top of this, the U.S. also took interest in Cuba -- not for territory, but for the trade and military opportunities that would spring up. From aiding the Cubans, the U.S. gained territory in Puerto Rico (which was useful as a naval base), Guam, and the Philippines. Access to these countries also gave the U.S. access to China. Hawaii became a strategic base for Americans once

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