Imperialism Dbq Analysis

DBQ
Imperialism means a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force. During the turn of the 20th century, the United States used this policy when conquering and controlling countries that they helped win their independence, but then the US would turn and say they weren't ready, so they took them in. They called this the White Man’s Burden where the United States thought it was their duty to take the countries in and protect them and force them to change their culture and way of life. There are many negatives and positives to this policy. Overall though, the United States was right for getting involved or taking over, and helping the other countries get on their feet after we helped these countries

win their independence.
When the United States took over The Philippines, Cuba, Guam in many ways they were helping these countries. If we had given these countries their own self government they would probably be taken over by another country that was not as “nice” as the United States. President McKinley supported this statement and others that go along the lines of the idea of the White Man’s Burden which states that it is our duty to educate the people of these countries. Josiah Strong, a Protestant clergyman was believer in the idea that our race and country was chosen by God to expand and show other people our religion and change them. Here is a quote of McKinley supporting these statements, “We could not leave them themselves-they were unfit for self-government. There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and up life and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them”. This quote also showed Social Darwinism which means when one race thinks they are the absolute best.
Imperialism was good for many reasons. For example, Henry Cabot Lodge, a Republican senator from Massachusetts brought to light how people in the US saw imperialism as a positive. “The taking of the Philippines does not violate the principles of the Declaration of Independence, but will spread them among a people who have never known Liberty, and who in a few years will be as unwilling to leave the shelter of the American flag as those of any other territory we ever brought beneath its folds.” This quote showed a few examples of how imperialism was a good thing. One example was they now had our protection. If they had anyone coming for their country or any enemies, we were able to protect them. Another example was, we were able to expand their education and show them new technology which McKinley also mentioned in his quote.
The United States was able to prosper with the new lands, and the markets were booming. As well as new trade routes were built, most of them are still used to this day by us and many other countries around the world. We were also able to help them win their freedom and independence from the countries that were ruling them. A top U.S. Navy officer, Alfred T. Mahan was quoted saying, “Americans must begin to look outward. The position of the US, between the two Old Worlds and the two great oceans, makes the same claim.” This quote showed how Mahan supported imperialism and how he explained that it was a good thing to expand America’s lands. Albert Beveridge, a Republican senator supported imperialism also. He gave the example of how we now had more trade routes and believed in the idea of social darwinism.
Though, to every positive, there are negatives.

US Senator George F Hoar was one person who chose to see the negative side of imperialism. “Under the Declaration of Independence you cannot govern a foreign territory, a foreign people, other people than your own and govern them against their will, because you think it for their good, when they do not.” This quote showed how others same imperialism. They thought we were taking them over and we were violating the Declaration of Independance. They strongly disagreed with the idea of the White Man’s Burden. Saying it wasn’t their job to say what another person wants and does not want. This also showed how history is repeating itself. An Anti-Imperialist League Platform quoted Abe Lincoln saying that “no man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” People who did not support imperialism were basically saying we were hypocrites for violating our basic beliefs of freedom.
Even though there were a few negatives of imperialism, the positives were greater. The United States getting involved and taking the countries into their own hands was right for doing so. We were able to show the people of these countries how we have evolved and show them how they can to. We were able to give them protection and it helped us, to. More land gave us more area to expand upon and this meant more raw materials and more money in the markets and for our country. Overall, imperialism was good and helped both the countries, and

us.