Frederick Jackson Turner Influence American Imperialism

During the latter half of the 1800s, the rapid growth in industrialization created the need for businesses to seek out new international markets in order to continue to grow and sell their goods. During this time there was also the popular belief of American exceptionalism; a belief that America had a special mission to spread liberty and democracy all over the world. Together, these two factors helped thrust America into an era now known as “The Age of Imperialism”. From 1890-1914, the United States pursued the desire to expand their territorial possessions, and did so by using their political, military, and economic influence over other countries. While many were responsible for encouraging this ideology, Frederick Jackson Turner, Alfred

T. Mahan, Herbert Spencer, and John Fiske especially stand out. Though each used slightly different reasoning to support their arguments for American imperialism, together as a whole, they helped encourage America to participate in imperialism.
It is impossible to discuss American imperialism without giving credit to historian Frederick Jackson Turner. Turner was employed at the University of Wisconsin as a professor of American history and became well known after he read his thesis, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” at the 1893 Chicago World Columbian Exposition. After explaining how America’s identity, its democracy, was largely formed by the American frontier and westward expansion, Turner went on to state that since the western frontier no longer exists, America’s energy “will continually demand a wider field for its exercise.” Therefore, Turner was able to articulate the need for a new frontier overseas, so that America’s innovativeness and democratic ideals would not cease to exist. He also accomplished establishing the groundwork for a new kind of foreign policy when he discussed the need for “vigorous foreign policy, for an interoceanic canal, for a revival of our power upon our seas, and for the extension of American influence to outlying islands and adjoining countries.” Such policies would allow Americans to locate new markets. Thanks to Turner, Americans now believed there was more than one good reason that the United States must expand overseas.
A second philosopher who influenced American imperialism was naval captain and president of the naval war college in Newport, Rhode Island, Alfred T. Mahan. He is known for his series of lectures published in an 1890 volume entitled The Influence of Sea Power Upon History 1660-1783. Mahan’s work perfectly complemented Turner’s call for a “vigorous foreign policy”. Mahan expressed his belief that the United States would very soon be unable to consume the massive amounts of goods being produced in America. Thus, in order for the U.S. to experience national economic prosperity and leadership, he argued that America needed to seek new markets overseas. But to accomplish this, the United States would need to secure access to these new international markets, which meant they would need to dominate and control the seas. He urged the U.S. to build a powerful modern navy and merchant fleet system, as well as increase naval bases and colonies around the world. His reasoning and naval strategies did not go unheard and were instrumental in the United States’ move to foreign expansion.
Herbert Spencer is the third philosopher credited with influencing American imperialism.

He is best known for his evolutionary-based sociological theories, which were merged with Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, to form a new sociological theory that became known as Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism reasoned that just like plants and animals, people compete with each other in order to succeed in life. Spencer’s theories thus helped explain how those at the top of the hierarchies proved themselves worthy of this status because they competed against the rest and were obviously the best adapted to their environments in order to succeed. His concept was coined “survival of the fittest,” a now popular, well-known term. Many politicians and wealthy people clung to his theory because for them, it justified their own elite status; it explained why they were meant to be at the top of the social, political, and economic class systems and why the weak should be subjugated by the strong. Spencer’s theories, interwoven in the Social Darwinism theory, supported the idea that the best adapted people, those most successful, would most likely reproduce and pass on their superior adaptations to their own offspring. Upper class Americans and politicians’ who desired to extend their political and economic power internationally used this kind of thinking to also support the imperialism movement and to address how to handle their dealings with other countries. They believed that since America was naturally superior, their control over the other countries would actually be in the best interest of human evolution. In fact, they saw it as America’s responsibility to bring industry, democracy, and even Christianity to lesser-developed nations. The combination of all these beliefs and that Spencer’s theories supported free competition, which was believed to be the most effective route to economic progress, helped justify the United State’s movement towards

imperialism.
Finally, historian and Darwinian lecturer, John Fiske, had an influential impact on American imperialism. Fiske believed Darwin’s “natural selection” ideology could be used to justify imperialism. Fiske also argued that if the Spencer’s ideology of “survival of the fittest” works for plants and animals, then it also should work for humans. Like the elite and politicians, Fiske believed that the American people, namely the Anglo-Saxon race, proved to be the superior race, and thus they had an obvious responsibility to spread their superior institutions, language, culture, and even their religion based on Christianity with the rest of the world. Threads of Manifest Destiny were interwoven in Fiske’s work, as he believed the Anglo-Saxon race was destined to dominate the entire world.
These four philosophers played pivotal roles in encouraging the United States to develop a more imperialist, international perspective. Because of these men, Americans felt that if they were to continue to survive and thrive, then they would need to become leaders in the global market. This meant that they would need to seek new markets and seek territorial expansion. The philosophers also convinced Americans that as the superior race, they had the responsibility and inherent right to expand into foreign nations. Plus, the philosophers inspired Americans to believe that they had the capabilities to compete with and surpass other foreign countries. To accomplish this, they urged Americans to use military force. Globalization could only be possible if America would take to a strong naval, land, and air presence all over the world. For instance, Americans were convinced they needed to secure sea lines for the purposes of communication for both trade and energy needs. These philosophers helped Americans believe that if done correctly, imperialism would help the United States successfully expand its market and spread their superior institutions, ideals of democracy, and religion worldwide.
While the “Age of Imperialism” is said to have occurred between 1890-1914, or over a century ago, remnants of these philosophers’ ideologies and theories still exist today in America. For example, America still proves to other nations that they desire to be the leader in military defense, which is why there are literally over 800 American military bases in more than 70 different countries worldwide, and which is why the Unites Stated has invaded Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Haiti to name just a few. Especially with Iraq and the “War on Terror”, America stocked more in arms, placed more soldiers overseas, and spent twice the money on its military then before to control the situation and prevent further attacks like the September 11, 2001 incident. However, at the same time, this let America show Iraq their military force and ruling capabilities. By trying to take control over a country without taking over its government, America showed imperialist tendencies. America also displays an imperialist-like economic power because of the numerous, large monopoly companies that originate in the United States, but that spread like wildfire all over the world, looking to make a profit everywhere and at any cost. Finally, America also invests a great amount of capital in its borders, and can easily influence other countries – through economic, political, cultural, and military means – to turn in its favor. So, though America does not seek to expand in territory, as in the classic view of imperialism, it still continues to exhibit imperialist tendencies when it seeks foreign resources, foreign markets, and foreign strategic land and sea bases, in order to project its own power worldwide.