Causes Of American Expansion

In an attempt to increase trade and prove itself as an economic and military superpower, the US began to expand overseas and increase its military size; the US believed in International Darwinism and saw these actions as an expansion of Manifest Destiny which led to imperialism. People like William H. Seward pushed to annex Midway Island and purchased Alaska to expand the size of the US. However, imperialism became a controversial debate among the American people throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Expansionists and Jingoists like Theodore Roosevelt wanted to protect and gain control of other nations including Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam, whereas anti-imperialists such as William Jennings Bryan, Mark Twain, and Jane Addams were against entangling the US in unneeded conflicts overseas and depriving other nations of their rights. Thus, while advocates of expansionism wanted to civilize other nations, become a superpower, and improve US unity, oppositions wanted the US to improve domestic conflicts instead of involving itself in foreign affairs and should not force America’s ideals on other nations.

Andrew Jackson’s Speech to Congress on Indian Removal was given at a time of westward expansion, which was greatly influenced by the idea of Manifest destiny (Bentley 695). Manifest destiny also greatly influenced the national sentiment of the time, which can be found in Jackson’s speech. Jackson uses nationalist and colonialist rhetoric in this speech, particularly when he discusses his idea of progress. At the time of this speech, nationalism and colonialism greatly impacted both racial and economic policies in the United States, and the preceding Indian Removal Act of 1830 was also reflective of both the United States’ racial and economic policies, and greatly impacted the racial makeup and economy of the country for the rest of the nineteenth century and beyond.

United States of America has gone through many economic, political, development stages, from its creation up to modern times. An important political movement happened in America after the urbanization period. The technological development and mechanization of work, influenced the country in different ways, according to particular areas. Two parties were created, the Populist Party and the Progressive Party. They both wanted to make radical changes in the states, but their goals, reforms and success, were distinct from each other.

Manifest Destiny, a policy that encouraged americans to spread from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans. There were two perspectives of Manifest Destiny which was either seen as an opportunity to becoming greater or a white man’s greed. Americans were quite fond of themselves, they believed that it was their “destiny” to spread their nation across the globe, that this policy will benefit both sides. Natives were forced to follow under America’s authority. Without full consent they were removed from their homelands to only fulfill selfish idea made from greed.

During the colonial era of America, Great Britain was able to reek the benefits of this royal colony’s success. This was in large part due to the fact that Britain was able to integrate this society into its imperial system. English leaders understood that the American colonies represented a marketplace for goods, a safety valve, and a place in which competition flourished with other leading empires. One of the most important reasons why Great Britain established colonies in America was to create another form of revenue.

A combination of factors, including manifest destiny and a need for raw materials and naval bases, eventually prompted the U.S. to adopt the practice of imperialism (Shi and Tindall 666). American imperialism partially contributed to our involvement in WWI by increasing our

While, imperialistic dynasties in Europe struggled to hold on to their waning empires across the globe due to the rise of ideas like nationalism. America was still able to participate in this same imperial structure, and expand its borders, but also look to other social and political movements for legitimacy . The United States made sure there was a difference between its god given right of expansion versus european imperialism. “The distinction they drew between their own “empire of liberty” and contemporary weren’t always concrete.” This quote further exemplifies that the true identity behind Manifest Destiny as Americanized imperialism.

The war years marked the rise of the United States as having world power. During the war, the federal government intruded in the economy and influenced people’s everyday lives as never before. American leaders believed the nation’s future and prosperity and security depended on other lands and the influences from around the world. Economic bonds also allowed political impacts to be exercised abroad and helped spread the American way of life. Hawaiian Annexation and the Spanish-American war we learn many connections about the U.S. involvement.

Their culture, being greatly different than the natives, was introduced and influenced them so greatly; signs of it can still be seen today. My goal in this paper is to discuss both the good and the bad effects that came of the Europeans exploring and colonizing the America’s. The cultural effects that the Europeans had on Native American’s through their exploration as well as colonization were obviously great, however, it is very hard to make a generalization about this because there were many tribes in the America’s, each differently affected. In the 1570’s,

Adams gave speeches to Americans influencing them to separate from Britain. He spoke of the wrongdoings of Britain one being the trial of Captain Preston. They felt they were wrong “for protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit”. Samuel Adams’ speeches allowed the Americans to become certain on their feelings towards Britain. Not only did the trial of Captain Preston affect the relationship between the Americans and British, but also the Coercive Acts.

In the 19th Century the idea to move westward would present Americans with new opportunities and a chance for possible wealth. Americans were determined to explore the lands from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The term Manifest Destiny in short, is a movement. A movement in which gave Americans the “right” to colonize and civilize west because it’s their calling. Americans believed that expanding throughout the continent would give them new opportunity to share the government, which they believed was so great.

Britain had to find a new way of controlling the Colonies. Before the war, England pursued

In his opinion, the great blessings that America enjoyed were something that every country should experience. Therefore he fought for the ratification of the Treaty as it would support his belief, with one of his strategies being the League of Nations. This was a step away from isolation and neutrality and America would become more involved in the affairs of other

The main economic opportunities that presented themselves were new land, power and monetary benefits, such as trade, exports and imports. In this dissertation an explanation of how exactly the settlers benefitted from migrating to America will be argued. Focusing on three key economical

There was more to consider in adding a huge swath of land to a country than just the profits. Three things were necessary to address in attempting to open the Northwest territory: Legislation for the new land, Natives Americans living in the land, and how to Americanize the new land. Before anything else, the new territory would need laws to protect and govern the people. The laws for this territory are called the Northwest Ordinance. It secured basic rights for the Americans living in the territory, but it has some clauses that are greatly important.