The Awakening of Imperialism in America

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Imperialism is the policy of a state aiming at establishing control beyond its borders over people unwilling to except such control. Because of this unwillingness imperialist policy always involves the use of power against its victims. It has therefore often been considered morally reprehensive, and the term has been employed in international propaganda to discredit an opponent’s policy. In the Nineteenth Century America, this was conveyed as the awakening of economic and political values. Principally, the goal was to seize the market of raw materials for its cultural gains and to create dominion by appealing to a wide range of people. Even though the import business is an important source of capital and worldwide gain, it also is the main factor in separating classes of people from their moral and traditional values. For this purpose, the Anti-Imperialist was formed in 1899 to neutralize the economic and political views of the Imperialists. Even though Anti-Imperialists are against domination, American Imperialism was widely accepted because imperialists viewed expansionism and foreign trade as the solution to military empowerment, cultural superiority, and the accumulation of new markets.

Throughout the Nineteenth Century, America’s territory had continued to expand toward the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, many American leaders had become intrigue with Europe’s imperialist power and expansionism. Historian Paul Kennedy has called the emergence of the U.S. as player on world stage the most decisive change in late Nineteenth Century. America saw herself with a “special moral endowment” and felt justified in projecting influence beyond her borders. (“Imperialism and War,” n.d.). With Europe’s influence, American citizens adopted...

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...nents often admit that Imperialism may benefit a small, favored group but never the group as a whole. Their reasoning ends in the advocacy of rectification of economic relations so that in fact the benefits might be obtained which American Imperialism claims to but does not actually provide. This mixture of invocation makes it difficult to eliminate imperialism, but easy for nations considering themselves potential victims to suspect policies not intended to be imperialistic.

Works Cited

(Davidson, James-West . Nation of Nations, 6th Edition, Volume II: Since 1865, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing

Imperialism and War: American Foreign Affairs 1865-1920http://www.academicamerican.com/progressive/topics/imperial.html

Modern History Sourcebook:American Anti-Imperialist League, 1899 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1899antiimp.html

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