US Expansion: The Fastest Growing Country in the World

In the history of the United States, there has always been a search for more. For decades, explorers have continuously pushed the boundaries of both the physical land, and the American mind. The quest for more has prompted Americans to innovate and improve, but more importantly, to expand. The evolution of our expansionism has changed dramatically from its conception in the American West to its full expression on an international scale. Although the United States expansionism may have been a major success internally in the West, it certainly wasn’t nearly as successful on an international scale. The costs far outweighed the benefits. Because the United States followed its Manifest Destiny throughout its expansion, internally, America became the fastest growing country in the world, yet when these principles were applied on international scale, they failed, and late nineteenth century America suffered as a result of this.

Throughout our history, America has thought of itself as being the best country in the world, and deserving of only the best; that it is our god-given right to stand upon the world and snatch up all the land that has been so pleasantly presented to us on a silver platter. This idea originated in a document known as the Manifest Destiny, which stated that god himself sent the task to America to conquer the world, and during the time it was written, specifically the West. For example, in Senator Albert J. Bridge’s speech to the 56th Congress he says: “We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world. And we will move forward to our work...with gratitude...and thanksgiving to Almighty God that He has marked us as His chosen people, henceforth to lead in ...

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...to try to conquer other nations when one’s own nation is very much still in it’s infancy. Although the majority backed Mr. Roosevelt in his decisions, his big stick approach was not very widely supported, and thought of as unnecessary. Because late nineteenth century expansion did little to help America internally, it was largely a failure when compared to the Western expansion that happened only a few decades ago.

Overall, the new expansionism was far less effective than the past expansionism. From all the foreign conquest that Roosevelt accomplished, very few were actually able to benefit from this. Internally, America remained unchanged, while during the Western expansion, America grew into a superpower. The Manifest Destiny only extends so far, yet the Americans abused it; an excuse for international greed that America developed; which was effectively useless.