American Imperialism Dbq

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Recommended: Territorial expansion in the 1800s

Like previous American expansion, American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was motivated by desire for new economic gains and improvements. However, the social justification, diplomatic and military approach and geographical aspect of imperialist expansionism varied greatly from previous American growth. Therefore, American expansionism underwent more change in this period than continuity. For many year, the American boundaries expanded as people moved, at the governments urging, westward for new economic opportunities and later imperialist expansion was no different. While many factors contributed, economic possibility was a driving factor in the expansionist aspirations. The U.S., along with countries like Britain This idea justified the stealing of land from the native people and unfair practices of expansion. As Americans turned overseas for expansion, they came up with a different defense: the white man’s burden. The theory of the white man’s burden argued that the white, civilized men of the world have a moral obligation to rule non-white, uncivilized men through colonization. This theory was popularized when the western frontier was completely settled and Americans were looking for more land and opportunity and it stressed the superiority of the Anglo-Saxon race as proof for its existence (Document B). One of the first examples of white man’s burdens use as a justification was during the refusal of U.S. to allow the Philippines to become independent. The U.S. government had promised the Filipinos their freedom after the Spanish American War, but eventually refused it based on the idea that they were not civilized enough to rule themselves. Not limited to acquired territories, the white man’s burden to Teddy Roosevelt could be used to interfere in any sovereign government if he deemed it inefficient or indecent (Document F). With this idea, the inhabitant of these “uncivilized nations” were completely subjected to unlawful American rule and were Native Americans were forcibly removed from their lands or killed on many cases during American westward expansion. However, with the late 19th century and early 20th century expansion, the government took a more diplomatic approach to settlement and world affairs. Obviously, military force and strength was still necessary and widely used by Americans (Document C). However, the emergence of the United States in world diplomacy was evident at this time. One example being the fact that Teddy Roosevelt negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth to end the Russo-Japanese War, which the U.S. was not even involved in. Roosevelt was able to spread his influence into conflict involving other world powers during this, signifying more respect for American power. Another way this was apparent was in the Open Door Policy in China. Around this time, China was largely controlled by other countries that held spheres of influence in the country. These spheres of influence meant that the countries that controlled them practically had control of all trade and economic activity in the area. When the United States was attempting to grow and expand its influence, President McKinley wanted to be included in Chinese trade, but it was a competitive area. To even out the balance of power, Secretary of State John

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