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The real nature of imperialism
The real nature of imperialism
The real nature of imperialism
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First of all, I would like to state that I know slim to nothing about what I am writing about but here’s my best shot. Manifest Destiny and Imperialism were major concepts in the 19th century. Both of them helped the United States expand and bring in new cultures, and nationalities but mainly, new lands. They are similar yet different and both embrace that the idea of America expanding into a larger territory. The two put together, helped expand the country to what it looks like today.
Now here are the similarities between the two concepts of the 19th century. Manifest Destiny, the belief that expanding America throughout to the Pacific Ocean was justified and Imperialism is the concept that a nation should pursue to dominate other territories. In both ideas, the genuine point was to capture new territories and gain power by fighting aggressive enemies, as well as filling the new land with resources. To expand the continent regardless of the desires of the natives. Some examples are Spain, Mexico and France. There was racial and cultural reasoning with
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destructive engagements to those who got in the way. They were also driven by competition of desire for power and wealth. Most of the power grew from drawn conflicts and then it went down from there. Manifest Destiny also connects to Imperialism by being the root to it. If it weren’t for the expansion of the west, imperialism wouldn’t have gotten that push and it wouldn’t have been as strong as it was. As far as differences goes, Imperialism was crueler than Manifest Destiny.
It is the imposing of economic and political control over another weaker area. If you were living on the territories that they wanted to obtain, then you were eliminated. Indians, or whoever were living there, were to be killed or pushed off the land. Imperialism had no purpose to take them in the new civilization. As for they would also deny you the right of citizenship and the land that America was imposing on. Imperialism also had the upper hand, considering they used the military to gain power. On the other hand, you have Manifest Destiny. Which was the concept that God wanted them to take possession of new lands and colonize them. This concept was also the idea of driving religious practices away, in order to make them convert. Overall, Imperialism was more in the abusive position, rather than Manifest Destiny which was more
respectable. In conclusion, Manifest Destiny and Imperialism were both concepts that had sought for new territories. They equally wanted to expand worldwide and strive for the lead in the so like competition. Although, one was more aggressive than the other due to it being for a religious push. Manifest Destiny and Imperialism combined has resulted in America mistreating its power, but also creating the nation that we have today.
The interpretation of Manifest Destiny I see as the most obvious is that Manifest Destiny was a cover for many of people’s greed for the future prospects they were able to gain from those western lands. If it was true that people truly wanted to expand in the name of religion then why did the Indian Removal Act occur. The real answer I believe is because they were rapacious for prime bountiful land. With the acquisition of the west, they were able to gain valuable resources. By acquiring the west via The Treaty of Hidalgo, people could then move out west to hunt furs, they could mine for precious metals and start up their own farms or plantations. I don’t think there’s anything pertaining to spread of religion and culture Manifest Destiny in there, only the underlying motive of self success and the government’s thought of strengthening it’s own economy and might through land addition. The Mexican-American war was not of religion, but of the sole purpose of acquiring land. America was then able to rapidly increase in population and
During the 19th century, America had an expanding idea of Manifest Destiny, where they would claim land all the way to the east coast. While the government and the citizens were focused on exploring new land, they were able to acquire much of the new land, introducing new people and ideas. Many of these people and ideas were vastly different than the original in the thirteen colonies, which frustrated many people. When these different people and beliefs collided, many disputes and disagreements were born, which intensified the results of sectionalism, unfortunately leading up the Civil War, having a huge impact on the country.
The United States of America was founded on the basis that we should be a free and independent country from Great Britain and its empire. Rather than simply being a part of its empire, America wanted to become its own country to fend for itself. Great Britain, after the American Revolution, realized that maybe it was the best idea to let America set off and accomplish their own endeavors. After America gained its independence from Great Britain, the Manifest Destiny became a popular idea to follow; it was God’s will for America to expand their land to the West Coast. However, after this was accomplished, Imperialism came about a short time period later. Imperialism is much like the Manifest Destiny, but in a more greedy way. Imperialism is most definitely glorified to seem like a favor America is doing—by becoming an empire—and taking these smaller nations and countries ‘under their wing’ to nurture them and teach them the ways of being a ‘civilized’ person. However, what is the reason for Imperialism being brought about? After claiming from the East to West coast in America, why would they need to expand their area further—other than ‘teaching’ right from wrong to the ‘uncivilized’ people of the world? America’s Manifest Destiny era and America’s Imperialism era definitely have similarities, such as their apparent motives or rewards, but they also have their differences, like their underlying motives and purposes.
Imperialism is a policy by which a country gains power over the world or other countries. It begun in 1865 and it caused US to expand. America had “Thirst for New Market”. The business in The United States was developing rapidly so it needed more supplies (trade) from other countries. The United States used different methods such as Jingoism/Racism, Economic Expansion and American superiority over Europe, but however, economic expansion contributed most for the US Imperialism. This meant more money and power compare to other countries.
The term “Manifest Destiny” was never actually used until 1845, but the idea was always implied from the Doctrine of Discovery. Without understanding the Doctrine, it is impossible to understand the reasons and fundamentals behind why Manifest Destiny began.This Doctrine was a set of ten steps and rules that European nations followed in order to avoid conflict over land holdings, created in the early 1400s. The first few steps give the discovering country full rights to buy the land from the native peoples. This is important, since it gave the discovering country the power of preemption. Conquered Indian peoples lose sovereign powers and the rights to free trade and diplomatic relations, and the land they occupy is said to be vacant. Religion played a massive role in the regulations of the Doctrine, since “non-Christian people were not deemed to have the same rights to land, sovereignty, and self determination as Christians”(Miller 4). These rules were all meant to favor the ethnocentric, with full understanding of the repercussions on those who lived in the places being conquered.
United States expansionism in the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century is both a continuation and a departure of past United States expansionism. Expansionism in the United States has occurred for many reasons. Power (from land), religion, economics, and the ideas of imperialism and manifest destiny are just a few reasons why the U.S. decided to expand time and again throughout the course of its 231 year history. Expansionism has evolved throughout the years as the inhabitants of the country have progressed both socially (the Second Great Awakening, the women's suffrage movement, the populist party and the early 19th and 20th century social reformers) and economically (factories, better farms, more jobs, etc.) Expansion changed from non-interference policies to the democratic control of the government as the United States grew in both size and population. Through the use of the documents and events during two major-expansion time periods (1776-1880) and 1880-1914), I will display both the continuation and departure trends of United States expansionism.
In the 1830’s America was highly influenced by the Manifest Destiny Ideal. Manifest Destiny was the motivating force behind the rapid expansion of America into the West. This ideal was highly sponsored by posters, newspapers, and various other methods of communication. Propaganda was and is still an incredibly common way to spread an idea to the masses. Though Manifest Destiny was not an official government policy, it led to the passing of the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act gave applicants freehold titles of undeveloped land outside of the original thirteen colonies. It encouraged Westward colonization and territorial acquisition. The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. To America, Manifest Destiny was the idea that America was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic, to the Pacific Ocean. Throughout this time Native Americans were seen as obstacles because they occupied land that the United States needed to conquer to continue with their Manifest Destiny Ideal. Many wars were fought between the A...
Expansionism in America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century shared many similarities and differences to that of previous American expansionist ideals. In both cases of American expansionism, the Americans believed that we must expand our borders in order to keep the country running upright. Also, the Americans believed that the United States was the strongest of nations, and that they could take any land they pleased. This is shown in the "manifest destiny" of the 1840's and the "Darwinism" of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Apart from the similarities, there were also several differences that included the American attempt to stretch their empire across the seas and into other parts of the world.
The 19th century set the stage for different policies that lead to the extending of America’s power, which is defined as imperialism. Imperialism started for different reasons like the Americans wanting the U.S. to expand or explore the unknown land, or even some feared existing resources in U.S. might eventually dry up. The reason imperialism started doesn’t really matter, but more of what it caused. Imperialism lead to Cuban assistance, the addition of Hawaii and Alaska to America, and Yellow Journalism.
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 years, 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.
During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the United States saw many problems come and go. Some problems were more important than others, however all led to further division of American politics. The most divisive issue in American politics during this time frame was the idea of Manifest Destiny, or territorial expansion.
Imperialism is when a mother nation takes over another nation and become its colony for political, social, and economical reasons. Imperialism is a progressive force for both the oppressors (mother country) and the oppressed (colony), majorly occurring during the late 19th and early 20th century. It had more negative effects than positive effects due to its domination to other nations.
Throughout most of the nineteenth century, the United States expanded its territory westward through purchase and annexation. At the end of the century, however, expansion became imperialism, as America acquired several territories overseas. This policy shift from expansionism to imperialism came about as a result of American's experience in the Spanish American War and the Congressional debates that followed the American victory.
One of the largest and most wealthy countries in the world, the United States of America, has gone through many changes in its long history. From winning its independence from Great Britain to present day, America has changed dramatically and continues to change. A term first coined in the 1840s, "Manifest Destiny" helped push America into the next century and make the country part of what it is today. The ideas behind Manifest Destiny played an important role in the development of the United States by allowing the territorial expansion of the 1800s. Without the expansion of the era, America would not have most of the western part of the country it does now.
Throughout history, many great nations have amassed an immense empire through expansionism, which is a nation's practice or policy of territorial or economic expansion. The United States expansionism was present since it became an independent nation itself. Manifest Destiny, which is the belief that the expansion of the U.S. throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable played a big role in expansionism in the mid 1800’s.