Self-Interest Vs Imperialism

How did the United States expand over the years and why? The expansion of the United States was a vital part of America’s history and greatly affects how we live today. America's early days only started in 13 states and then progressively grew to 50 states in total. The time throughout the 1800’s and what happened throughout that time greatly impacted how America expanded land, resources, opportunity, trade, and money. Two of many main causes that evoked American expansion was the amount of opportunity that America could take, the idea of Manifest destiny, and the amount of power that the US had on other countries.

Toward the end of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the United States was becoming an increasingly powerful nation and world power. The country was competing with other nations also expanding. Their motives for expanding were to gain land and resources. While there was a slight departure from past expansionism, the United States mostly continued as it had been in the previous years. In order to accomplish expansionism, the United States needed to acquire foreign territories to increase their global presence.

The late 18th and early 19th centuries marked developments in the global presence of the United States as it acquired many new territories ranging from Alaska to the Philippines. Through the Roosevelt Corollary and the dollar diplomacy, politics shaped broad relationships between America, Latin America, and the Pacific Ocean. The Guano Islands Act along with the relations with Hawaii and Panama represent the economic impact of foreign relations. Cultural relations stemming from racial superiority and racial uplift are also present in ties with the Philippines, Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Panama. Violent conflicts also existed during this time with Spain and the Philippines in two separate wars.

The period of time after the Civil War and before World War I was a period of tremendous change in America. Although immigration is a major tenet of the United States, due to the changing economy, improvements in transportation, a shifting of the American people to the city, and deepening class divisions, industrialization was the most powerful force shaping the country between 1865 and 1914, followed by urbanization, and finally immigration. The most noticeable effects of industrialization are changes to the economy, alterations in the distribution of wealth, and the rise of organized labor. Overall, the growth of industry raised the standard of living for most people.

Industrialization was the centerpiece of America’s economic development and it helped America to become known as a land

Imperialism established a framework for the conduct of international relations throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries all throughout Europe and then to America. As the Europeans were experience a massive growth in population, it brought the growth of nationwide economies, including the development in shipbuilding and navigation, so that they could compete more effectively in the mercantile trade, which was gaining momentum during the earliest 19th century. As we discussed in class, that the rebirth of commerce also gave a powerful impulse to the forces of centralization and nationalism, it also builds an authoritative new monarchic nations. These monarchic leaders tried to unite their claims by using power, thus encouraging and promoting the economic development of their nations. European nations involved in the trading system with the wealthy nations of Asia, Africa and the New World, wanted better and more effective routes of transportations.

Triangular trade led to world economy growing rapidly as more goods were being made and traded more than ever before. In conclusion both religious factors and economic factors played a huge role in the colonization of America, but in different ways. The British wanted to ensure economic dominance through their powerful monarch. The new settlers came seeking a better life, along with wanting to create a society based on freedom.

My first thoughts about The American Dream had an Impact on my identity and the person that I am today. Knowing that I have a higher chance for success in the United States, helped plan for the future and study more than I usually do. The knowledge of having a higher chances to be successful in the United States more than anywhere in the world, made me value this opportunity a lot. Success is that goal that everybody in world seek, so I am not letting this opportunity slip by. I asked Garrett Gassman about The American Dream, and what it meant to him, and I have got a very interesting answers that I will share later.

But it was the pro-immigrant voices of this era that would be most influential. The Republican platform of 1864 stated, "Foreign immigration which in the past has added so much to the wealth, resources, and increase of power to the nation…should be fostered and encouraged." 1. By the 1880's, Immigrants were mainly moving from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Southern and Eastern Europe, and down from Canada.

The Belgians strongly desired the need for economic expansion because of rise of the industrial revolution. Nations such as the Belgians desired money, land and wanted more of it at a more rapid pace. In order for the Belgians to successfully meet their desires they began to imperialize the Congolese. According to an excerpt from Jules Ferry, “Colonial (Imperialist) policy is the child of the industrial revolution. It is necessary for wealthy countries where capital (money) is plentiful and accumulates (grows) fast, where industry is expanding steadily, where even agriculture must become mechanized in order to survive.

Imperialism played a major role among powerful countries as it served as a method to feed them power they desired. Powerful countries such as the United States and Great Britain had a strong desire for more resources. These additional materials would give them power that could potentially crown one of them as the most powerful country. Thus, the desire to gain more resources and technology, as well as the desire to increase influence and become stronger served as major causes of imperialism in the 1890s to the 1910s. One major cause of imperialism was competition between powerful countries.

What were the main reasons for America turning outward (i.e., becoming an international or global power)? I think the main reason for America turning outward , in 1890s because of in manufacturing capabilities and export. On that time America was also becoming more power generated population growth,wealth and productive capacity. Missionaries also played a big an important role in America turning outward.

Have you ever been too cramped and need more space? The U.S. was once in that position until the great expansion began. During the US expansionism process, The US has become closer to having better opportunity, liberty, and more rights because of the start of American democracy, Mexican war, and the Mormons. These are the three ways that the US has expanded. The first step of the US expansion started with the birth of American democracy.

Some people state that America was justified in going to war with Mexico because of manifest destiny; that it was God’s plan for America to spread to the Pacific Ocean. Depending on your belief system, this may be a valid reason. However, untrue intentions of war, provoking Mexico to start the war, and getting in between a war that should be between Mexico and Texas over rules the one valid reason, manifest destiny. Therefore the United States was not justified in going to war with

Between the 1870s and the 1920s, imperialism increased because of economic, social, and political forces. Economically, many groups were interested in colonizing other countries because of their natural resources. Socially, they wanted to make themselves the highest and they wanted to look the best. Politically, they wanted to make more income and be the richest country. Two groups in particular were the most interested in imperialism.