Imperialism Essay

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Between the end of the Civil War and the early twentieth century, the United States experienced the most rapid and profound economic revolutions any country has experienced. The geography and abundant natural resources with the flooding of immigrant labor fueled the innovative ideas of Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and in the later years Henry Ford regarded to by many as the Pioneers of Industry and feared by those who branded them as Robber Barron’s. Luck is a fallacy; in essence “Luck” is merely opportunity meeting preparation. The opportunity for growth and prosperity presented the tools for success while the Pioneers of Industry were prepared to use them with self serving interests that would create a positive externality for the country in its infancy. The growth of the economy and national interests would be supported abroad by the allure of Imperialism. The influx of immigrants between 1870 and 1920 (about 25 million) brought with them new ideas and inventions. One of the largest contributors was Thomas Edison whose inventions lead to the creation of new industries that transformed Public entertainment, private life, and economic activity. His inventions include the phonograph, lightbulb, motion picture and system for generating and distributing electric power such as the first electric generating station in Manhattan which was placed into service in 1882 to provide power to private homes, factories, and street cars. The invention of the lightbulb alone meant factories could be open and running for 24 hours to satisfy the increased demand for material goods. The expansion of businesses and factories enabled the building of highways and canals which in turn offered the citizens an increased standard of living and ... ... middle of paper ... ...men to have easy access to Pacific markets combined in the late 1890s to convince the president, Congress, and a vast majority of Americans that a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was vital to national security and prosperity. The potential involvement of Spain in the destruction of the battleship “Maine” was the push that redirected America’s focus expansion abroad and overseas. This brought American imperialism to influence political and military contention creating a strong naval force, economic competition with other industrial nations, such as Great Britain Belgium, & France. Although the advancement of industrialization brought forth the advent of technology that contributed to most facets of growth within the United States, Imperialism secured the channels which allowed the sustained growth of the power house we refer to as the United States.

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