Imperialism Essay

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Imperialism is when strong nations attempt to create empires by dominating weaker nations - economically, politically, culturally or militarily. In America, during the 1800s and 1900s, there was dispute about wether or not we should, as a nation, become imperialists through expansion. American expansion was a decision that could change the US forever in every aspect. It could make or break us, so to speak. Economically, this would mean a growth in industry, an increasing need for natural resources, and the requirement of new markets in which to sell manufactured goods. Nationally, this would create more competition for large empires, a rise in nationalism, and the origin of the belief that the people, ideals and goals not one nation were superior to another. Militarily, this would result in advances in military technology, and growing navies.Finally, socially, new religious goals would arise, as well as a "duty" to spread the blessings of Western civilization, which is an idea that seems to have been coerced by motives similar to those of Manifest Destiny. During the imperialism debate, both imperialists and anti-imperialists would have to keep in mind the importance of their decision and it's relevance to the both the growing power of the US and the nations relationship to other nations.
The imperialists saw only the most positive possible outcome to expansion. They believed that it was high time for the US to take a stance in the worldwide scheme of things. They thought that the imperialist traditions in Great Britain, France, and Russia worked well enough, and that it could only benefit the US. The anti-imperialists thought that expansion was a high-risk course of action. However the imperialists contradicted this belief, usi...

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...n and gave nationalists a sense of a competitive edge. Imperialists saw expansion as a celebration of American traditions and creative spirit. Their new "Great White Fleet" (composed of gleaming white ships) was a display of the benefits of having a powerful navy and the quick gain of power initiated the turning of other nations towards the US for help. Thus, to some degree expansion increased the level of respect given to the US and also the raised the worldwide standing of the nation. However, international involvement proved to increase racial and religious discrimination, create a more intense worldwide competition for superiority and altered the American economy.
In the end, the United States expanded and spent the rest of the century deciding on the best way to reconcile its new and growing power, national interests, and its relationships with other nations.

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