Pros And Cons Of Imperialism

In order to examine the pro- and anti-imperialism arguments, there were several reasons why America must re-brand itself as an imperial country. America strongly believed in cultural supremacy which ranged from race to economics. America’s goal was to civilize the world through ethnocentrism means (PowerPoint class lecture). Imperialism was desired nationally because of industrialization, especially with overproduction at home. Industrialization has caused anxiety for the economy. They needed to increase in productivity to ensure their economic power which means they must gain “…new markets to expand into” (p. 656). The United States took on the role as an imperialistic nation to expand and strengthen economic benefits. Different parts overseas

provided a cheap labor force and plenty of raw natural resources to fuel the economy. These were few of America’s main reasons for imperialism.
The issues at home has caused the political leaders to agree that imperialism is needed overseas. They felt that “new markets would secure the nation’s position as the world’s greatest industrial power and guarantee peace domestically” (p. 656). In order to secure this position, they must modernize their defense, especially the U.S. Navy, and formulate different techniques to become the global power through militarism. Alfred Mahan contended, “…history proved that a powerful navy was the key to national greatness and international power, to expand commerce, and to ensure national security” (p. 657). Mahan strongly believed the planning and development of foreign policies and defense in colonies will prove to be beneficial especially in future conflicts globally. With that said, this became the ultimate test for Americans to “prove their manhood and to reinvigorate the nation” (p. 657) and has participated in several wars to claim imperialism (Latin America, Hawaii, and Spain/Cuba).
Social Darwinism was a prominent theory that applied “survival of the fittest” to both individuals and nations (p.

655). This became America’s “powerful rationale for empire” (p. 655) United States “…pursued a commercial empire with great success, followed its European rivals in creating formal colonies” (p. 653). One way America did to impose imperialism is by religion. Religion played a huge role in imperialism. Congregational minister, Josiah Strong, challenged Americans to take the lead in imperialism by fulfilling their God-ordained mission. He strongly believed the imperialism will assist them in “…converting heathen peoples to Christianity in Africa, Asia and the Middle East” (p. 655). By participating in this kind of method, they have become very invaluable to America’s government. Missionaries generally became businessmen in order to impose imperialism in other countries especially Hawaii.

Americans who were against the imperialism felt that it goes against their Christian beliefs by forcing people to “follow suit”. Most Americans were Christians at that time while many other countries practices Catholicism and other religions that are not accepted or supported by Christianity. Imperialism is un-democratic as “…the anti-imperialists rejected colonization as un-American and inconsistent with the nation’s ideals” (p. 666). They felt that colonize other countries should not be America’s goal and in doing so, America’s desire to colonize contradicts its own ideological

goals.
The anti-imperialists claimed that “…governing and defending a colony 7,000 miles from California would drain the nation economically” mainly because of developing and modernizing the defense means would be very costly. They felt that America does not have the military capabilities to protect an overseas empire therefore they rejected the idea of colonization. However; people who supported colonization counterclaimed that “…visions of riches derived from new Asian markets” would not drain the economy.
When it comes to race, people, especially the southern political leaders, who were against imperialism felt that doing so would bring more people of color to America because they did not want the people of color to have voting rights. The imperialists stressed that they could do the same thing they did for the Indians by “…annexing without granting them voting rights” (p. 667). The anti-imperialists criticized America for attempting to expand democracy to the Philippines while denying it to the people of color. They felt that it was not a democratic move on America’s part.
These were few examples of pro and anti-imperialism arguments of Americans in the late 19th century. The imperialism outcomes ranged from Europeanization of America and its colonies to militarism. They came at a price. The devising of Imperialism in other countries indirectly caused the major powers including America to be drawn into the devastating war called World War I.