Essay On American Imperialism

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Recommended: The reconstruction after the American civil war

The end of the American Civil War saw the country enter a period of isolationism , during which the nation sought to heal itself and regain internal stability. The conflict had left many states ravaged by war and resentment still lingered on both sides. In an effort to reunify the country, Americans chose to concentrate on domestic issues rather than international matters. During this time of reconstruction in America, there arose a small following of persons dedicated to bringing about an American Monarchy. These men became dubbed imperialists, because they sought to turn America into an empire, in the traditions of Caesar’s Roman Empire. While the movement never garnered enough serious support to become viable, it did spur much debate over …show more content…

Some in America continued to decry the policy as being wrong, and bad for America. The supporters of imperialism were quick to point to the drastic increase in America’s economic standing and all but silenced these dissenters. Of course, the anti-imperialists were never truly silenced. Even today we see a Democratic party more concerned with domestic issues and internal stability, while the Republicans seem to continue to embrace their heritage of global influence. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the expansionism was known as new imperialism. The term was a carry-over from European imperialist endeavors, which had surged before dying out years before. These European countries had again turned to imperialism during this time, earning the age the title of new imperialism (Magdoff 117). While America’s imperialist ambitions never really disappeared, they have ebbed and surged. Some would cite the end of the nineteenth century as a unique time for America’s expansions, but it does not appear that imperialism has changed very much throughout human history. Even today, America cannot resist the base urge to expand its influence around the globe. In recent years wars have been fought in Iraq and Afghanistan for the proclaimed purpose of fighting a terrorist threat against America. Following the dismantling of the terror networks, the United States set forth to construct new governments in these countries. The ultimate goal would be the stabilization of the region by nations now sympathetic to American interests. This is much like the case of Cuba and its liberation from Spain. Of course, like Cuba eventually turned on America, it appears that America may be losing control of its interests in the Middle East. History does indeed repeat

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