The Rise of American Imperialism

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The Rise of American Imperialism The idea of American Imperialism had both its advocates and its critics. One only needs to look at a map to see which side won. America has greatly expanded since its own phase as a colony of the greatest European Empire of the time. America became her own Empire through the accusation of vast territories through many different mean. "Sometimes she purchases the mighty morsel, sometimes she forms it … by the natural increase of her own people, sometimes she "annexes," and sometimes she conquers it ("Manifest")." The rise of American Empire received support because in many ways it seemed a proper product of past American history and tradition (Healy 47). Several American ideals -- such as: expansionism, progress, mission, and racial inequality -- were some of the main assumptions held of imperialism (Healy 34). The idea of Manifest Destiny had been with Americans long before the term was coined by John L O'Sullivan in 1845 (Sanford 26). American had been an expansionist nation since its earliest days (Brinkley 604). Americans saw themselves as expanding more than just political boundaries. They saw themselves as expanding the frontiers of freedom and carrying forward civilization and Christianity as their mission from God (Healy 35). Americans felt that their building of a new and better society in the heathen lands was the very embodiment of progress (Healy 37). American's concept of their superiority over all other races did not just promote the idea of Empire but justified and mandated imperialism (Healy 39). "It would seem that the White race alone received the divine command, to subdue and replenish the earth! for it is the only race that has obeyed it -- the only one t... ... middle of paper ... ...Bibliography: Works Cited Benton, Thomas Hart. Speech on the Oregon Question: Delivered in the Senate of the United States. Washington, D.C. May 22, 25, and 28, 1846. Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. Volume II, Third Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Healy, David. US Expansionism: The Imperialist Urge in the 1890's. University of Wisconsin Press: Madison, Wisconsin, 1970. Malcolm, G. A. and Kalaw, M. M. "President McKinley Explains His Attitude toward the Philippines, 1900." Philippine Government. Boston, 1932: 63. "Manifest Destiny -- A Rendezvous for Rogues." The Annals of San Francisco. New York, 1855. McKinley and American Imperialism. Sandford, Charles L. Problems in American History: Manifest Destiny and the Imperialism Question. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New York, 1974.

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