1800s American Imperialism

The United States had a desire to find new markets, increase trade, and build a powerful navy in the late 1800s. This caused America to become more involved in international affairs. A desire for world markets and belief in the superiority of Anglo-Saxon culture led the United States to assert itself as a world power. Economic and military competition from other nations rose, as well as cultural superiority growing. New Imperialism was a new development for European nations expanding overseas. This influenced Americans that the United States should become a world power. Imperialism is the economic and political domination of a strong nation over weaker ones. Europeans expanded their power overseas for many reasons. Additionally, factories and companies relied on raw materials from all over the world. Tariffs were used by most industrialized countries in the late 1800s. They were intended to protect a nation’s industries from foreign competition. Also, the tariffs reduced trade between industrialized countries, forcing companies to look for other markets overseas. Europeans began looking overseas to increase their investment opportunities. They began to invest in industries located in other countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. American imperialism had three main causes and one was the belief in the superiority of American

In 1888, the country risked war to prevent Germany from taking control of Samoa in the South Pacific. Three years later, when a mob in Chile attacked American sailors in the port of Valparaiso, the United States threatened to initiate war unless Chile paid reparations. Following this in 1895, the United States supported Venezuela against Great Britain in a border dispute with British Guiana. These three crises were settled peacefully but they demonstrated the country’s approach with international