Nicole Bruno, Victor Chaykowsky, Natalie Kohnfelder, Michael Malinowsky, Rebecca Nauer, Courtney Stinebiser
When one thinks of imperialism they often refer to the concept with very strong feelings. The general population will either agree with it or disagree. There tends to be no middle ground. The best way to look at imperialism is with an impartial mind. If one looks at imperialism with an open mind then they are able to see both the strengths and the weaknesses that it harbors. Throughout history one is most likely able to name several circumstances where imperialism took place and also point out the obvious aftermath of. Imperialism tends to have a greater good behind it, but unfortunately may have been executed poorly.
We, pro-imperialists,
…show more content…
of the United States believe that becoming an imperial power has to be examined when it comes to the political aspect of this movement taking place. There are benefits for the United States as well as the imperialized country from a political standpoint, however, it does not always have a positive lasting effect or relationship between the two. There have been some significant positive forms of imperialism here such as the purchase of Alaska and integration of Hawaii as a U.S state after venturing there to become stronger in the growing sugar market at the time. “Big Stick Diplomacy” which is based off the principle of “Speak softly but carry a big stick” famously penned by Teddy Roosevelt saw the first emergence of the United States as a global power as well (Lecture 9/17). The States even wanted to educate the nations they were imperializing politically by creating elections in territories such as the Philippines and Puerto Rico (Cryan). These don’t always go over well with native people’s who are disagree with the Social Darwinism theory that United States would use to justify their actions. When we first went to imperialize Cuba after using yellow journalism as justification, we were engaged in a small 114 day war which cost 60,000 Cuban lives (Lecture 9/17). It also would use some territories as strategic areas to build military bases and wouldn’t even give them a governing body or education (Cryan). A lot of these nations would be brought into economic turmoil and devastation because we would go in and exploit these nations for their resources and cheap labor, so the lack of government brings the area into an even more severe state of distress and strife. It is also a questionable tactic because it is hypocritical of the principle this country was built upon when fleeing the imperial rule of Europe over the American colonies. However if we do go into these areas, we need to set up a strong political foundation so these nations have the tools to prosper independently even if they are underdeveloped. They provide us surplus and resources so the least we could do is at least use our power and influence as a model for them. The military is a huge part in imperialism. The way the military is part of imperialism is to be the stronger power in another nation. We are supposed to look over those in need and to bring in the military, it’ll help protect these people. However, there are a few down sides to this tactic. It was not only to protect these citizens, but it was to have an upper hand over their nation which would then be a little vulnerable on giving up a certain product. Unlike taking over a whole nation, the U.S. would also help other nations in their own problems, such as the Philippines rebellion against Spain. By helping this rebellion, not only the military, but the U.S. took control of the Philippines. Being able to control this nation, it helped our economy drastically with the access to many materials the Philippines had. This would’ve never been a part in the U.S. if they haven’t stepped in with their military to help the Philippines rebellion. However, having the military be a part of the U.S. imperialism era, there were major disadvantages. Even though we helped the Philippines rebel against Spain, there was a huge scare for us going to war. We went to war due to the destruction of sugarcane by the Spanish in Cuba. Also, by saying we took control of the Philippines, it wasn’t at a good price. We burned villages and tortured men just to get control. By destroying these villages and men, made us look like the bad guy. Having the military can really make us look bad and the things we will do to take control of a place will have a huge price to pay. We shouldn’t take control of a nation by torturing people's lives, that is inhumane. Instead, we should take control of countries without violence and only have the military come in for protection and safety of those who need it. Imperialism isn’t about taking control by violence but just to take control. If we need to use violence, we shouldn’t try to take control of the nation to begin with because there will be many people harmed. American imperialism resulted in rapid immigration in the 20th century leading America to become a diverse melting pot exhibiting a variety of cultural traditions, beliefs, and values. American imperialism provoked an introduction of new languages, religions, lifestyles, and other distinct cultural components. European, Asian, African, and South American cultural patterns have all contributed to popular interests in daily life. This mixture of diverse cultures has formed a complex “society that struggles to achieve tolerance” and creates a casual, personal style unique to Americans alone (Cismas, 2010, p.388). Ralph H. Bowen, author of American Cultural Imperialism Reconsidered, wrote, “American culture – especially popular culture, which by far has had the greatest appeal—has become overwhelmingly dominant on every continent in recent decades.” (Bowen, 1976-2007, p. 182). American music, TV programs, publications, fast-food, and beverages have been marketed to consumers from Los Angeles to Tokyo. People from all over the world, even some of those living in rainforests or jungles, have been exposed to renown American music artists, such as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce. Another example of America’s pop culture domination is the globalization of fast-food chains, such as McDonalds, Subway and Kentucky Fried Chicken. According to Bowen, the American language has infiltrated “the older hegemonic languages to the point where a Goethe, a Dickens, a Tolstoy or a Flaubert would be baffled by perhaps ten percent” of the contemporary text written in his “native tongue” (Bowen, 1976-2007, p. 183). The globalization of America, primarily through the entertainment and technological industries, have influenced other nations to open their markets to U.S. products. The open market is highly beneficial to the United States as their message and products continue to resonate in foreign countries reeling in a profit. The advantages of American imperialism are more beneficial to America than any other country as the pro-imperialist motive is globally profit-driven. “In the 1830s the French political writer Alexis de Tocqueville provided a penetrating portrait of the American democracy and its cultural impact still valid today, ‘Americans are inclined to emphasize the ordinary and easily accessible traits, rather than the unique and complex ones’” (Cismas, 2010, p. 388). America is defined and unified by cultural features that are inclusive to all. The advantages people from foreign countries face within the framework of American imperialism are the experience of freedoms they may not be entitled to in their home country and the ability to discover interests in popular culture they may share with others around the world. Despite the advantages that largely benefit America, American imperialism is viewed by foreign countries as a threat or form of corruption to native cultural traditions, values, and beliefs.
American imperialism has been responsible for eradicating traditional cultures and languages. The Native Americans are an exemplary example of the corruption and destruction imperialism has caused throughout history. From the moment European settlers set foot on North American soil, they deemed the Native Americans, who were indigenous to the land, as “savages” and disregarded respect for their culture and traditions. Europeans brutally attacked and forcefully invaded Native American territories in an attempt of genocide. Tribes were annihilated by diseases brought to North America by the Europeans. On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law, which aimed to remove Native American tribes out of the southern states and move them into western territory. The Indian Removal Act forced Native Americans that refused to leave their homeland to assimilate and obey the laws of the United States. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the goal of the government was to replace native cultures of Native Americans with White American values. Native American converts were expected to learn and adopt English customs, trades, and religious beliefs. Reformers sent many Native American children “to boarding schools to immerse them in White American culture while stripping away their native culture” (Francis Flavin). The aforementioned tactics and practices ultimately assisted in the eradication of a traditional culture and language. Many lives were lost in the battles fought to protect the Native American culture. American imperialism devalued and disrespected other cultures as it aimed to be superior in power, popularity, and
control. The disadvantage of American imperialism is it was detrimental to traditional cultures and languages that have contributed to the knowledge and diversity in the world. American imperialism defies America’s initial intent of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” when it forces others to adopt and practice the American culture. The idea of diversity is counteracted when an entire world is forced to practice one culture. Americans must learn to be open-minded in addition to culturally aware and sensitive to the traditional cultures and languages of foreign countries. It is unethical to force any individual, through means of violence or psychological harm, to immerse themself into a culture they do not consent to practice.
Under the Jackson Administration, the changes made shaped national Indian policy. Morally, Andrew Jackson dismissed prior ideas that natives would gradually assimilate into white culture, and believed that removing Indians from their homes was the best answer for both the natives and Americans. Politically, before Jackson treaties were in place that protected natives until he changed those policies, and broke those treaties, violating the United States Constitution. Under Jackson’s changes, the United States effectively gained an enormous amount of land. The removal of the Indians west of the Mississippi River in the 1830’s changed the national policy in place when Jackson became President as evidenced by the moral, political, constitutional, and practical concerns of the National Indian Policy.
The American Indians were promised change with the American Indian policy, but as time went on no change was seen. “Indian reform” was easy to promise, but it was not an easy promise to keep as many white people were threatened by Indians being given these rights. The Indian people wanted freedom and it was not being given to them. Arthur C. Parker even went as far as to indict the government for its actions. He brought the charges of: robbing a race of men of their intellectual life, of social organization, of native freedom, of economic independence, of moral standards and racial ideals, of his good name, and of definite civic status (Hoxie 97). These are essentially what the American peoples did to the natives, their whole lives and way of life was taken away,
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was an abuse of power exerted on the Indian tribes residing in America by the people of the colonies as well as presidents at the time of their removal. Many Indians affected lost their lives, their loved one’s lives’, and the land they thrived on dates back years to their ancestors. This act would be later named “the trail of tears” because of the monumental loss the Indian tribes had endured during their displacement, and the physical and psychological damages of these people (TOTWSR). Initiated by the colonist’s want to further expand their colonies, their land, and their prosperity, many colonists voiced their want for Indian removal. After many proposals by various American leaders, and crucially Thomas Jefferson’s push (Garrison 13), Andrew Jackson’s presidency would be what finalized and enforced the Indian Removal Act.
People know about the conflict between the Indian's cultures and the settler's cultures during the westward expansion. Many people know the fierce battles and melees between the Indians and the settlers that were born from this cultural conflict. In spite of this, many people may not know about the systematic and deliberate means employed by the U.S. government to permanently rid their new land of the Indians who had lived their own lives peacefully for many years. There are many strong and chilling reasons and causes as to why the settlers started all of this perplexity in the first place. There was also a very strong and threatening impact on the Native Americans through the schooling that stained the past and futures of Native Americans not only with blood but also with emotion. It was all a slow and painful plan of the "white man" to hopefully get rid of the Indian culture, forever. The Native American schools were created in an attempt to destroy the Native American way of life, their culture, beliefs and tradi...
Unfortunately, this great relationship that was built between the natives and the colonists of mutual respect and gain was coming to a screeching halt. In the start of the 1830s, the United States government began to realize it’s newfound strength and stability. It was decided that the nation had new and growing needs and aspirations, one of these being the idea of “Manifest Destiny”. Its continuous growth in population began to require much more resources and ultimately, land. The government started off as simply bargaining and persuading the Indian tribes to push west from their homeland. The Indians began to disagree and peacefully object and fight back. The United States government then felt they had no other option but to use force. In Indian Removal Act was signed by Andrew Jackson on May 18, 1830. This ultimately resulted in the relocation of the Eastern tribes out west, even as far as to the edge of the Great Plains. A copy of this act is laid out for you in the book, Th...
Imperialism is the domination of a weaker country by a stronger country. For instance Britain dominated India and China in the mid 1880s to the beginning of the 20th century. Imperialism has had both a positive and negative effects on the countries involved. Britain was imperialistic for many reasons, it could dominate because it had the technology and power to do so. They also needed land to acquire raw materials for growing markets.
Modern imperialism can be described that is was never good. When a nation took over a smaller nation for economic, political, or social reason, they were imperialistic, creating the oppressors and oppressed system of the mother and colonized nations. As expected they changed the modern world plenty and pretty much made it a harder world to live during that time. It depends on a person’s point of view. Some may think it was positive overall, but it only led to things in this world that were negative. Even though modern imperialism occurred more than 100 years ago, it still affects us on how our nations were broken down.
The removal of Indian tribes was one of the tragic times in America’s history. Native Americans endured hard times when immigrants came to the New World. Their land was stolen, people were treated poorly, tricked, harassed, bullied, and much more. The mistreatment was caused mostly by the white settlers, who wanted the Indians land. The Indians removal was pushed to benefit the settlers, which in turn, caused the Indians to be treated as less than a person and pushed off of their lands. MOREEE
President Jackson singlehandedly led the destruction of the Native Americans with his aggressive actions and hostile decisions. President Jackson shirked his responsibility to protect the Native Americans of the United States by ignoring the Supreme Court’s decision, promoting legislation to bring about the separation of Native Americans and whites, and his decision to involve the United States Armed Forces against Indian Tribes. If it was not for President Jackson’s actions, the future of the Native Americans would have been different, or at least the American settlers wanted Indian land for many reasons. These reasons include geography and terrain, location, resources, and old grudges. First, the geography was perfect for farmers with fertile land.
Although imperialism helped the colonized people by improving the economy and the lives of the people, for the most part imperialism hurt the colonized people because the people were forced to grow cash crops which led to death by starvation.
The Indian Removal Act in the short term shaped the Natives culture and society very notably. The Indian Removal Act caused the destruction of Native American tribes, and lead to a loss of tradition and culture. However, it did allow for the Americans to gain the land needed to build their growing country and meet their economic desires. Desires that President Andrew Jackson had pushed for at Congress in his first inaugural speech, and had made an important policy for his presidency, as he viewed the results as beneficial, to “not only the states immediately concerned, but to the harmony of the union”. The harmony of the union was perceived to be gained at the loss of Native culture, as Jackson represented himself as the man of the people,
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 gave America an immense chance for development. The Indian Removal Act was “an Act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for their removal west of the river Mississippi”(Indian Removal Act of 1830 ). The small nation underwent a great change in many aspects. Forcing Native Americans out by establishing the Indian Removal Act impacted American history by bringing political, economic, and geographical changes. In exchange of thousands of innocent lives, America furthered its power by controlling more land, gaining more valuable resources, and obtaining freedom to expand. America experienced a prodigious amount of political changes with the removal of Indians. Economic changes were also inevitable as there were fields of gold on Indian land. There were greater outcomes geographically with more lands available for use. Although it was a heavy cost to pay, the lives lost were considered a necessary sacrifice for the advancement of American betterment and in result revolutionized the nation.
Imperialism is a political advocate or practice that the main matters of the acquisition of territory by a country and enslave other countries, people in the occupied territories of the country, the establishment of economic and political hegemony, while above the other countries. Imperialism might derivative colonialism, militarism and fascism. With a derogatory term imperialism. Imperialism is generally regarded as negative, because in occupied countries, most people are being exploited, only a handful of people profiting from.
With America breaking free of our Neutrality Proclamation set by Washington, it would seem that another conflict has been started in America. The American Anti-Imperialist League, Established June 15, 1898, says NO to Imperialism. Prominent members of this movement include Andrew Carnegie, Samuel Gompers, and John Sherman. This movement was established in response to America trying to annex the Philippines and opposes imperialism because they think that it goes against everything America was built on. After James E. McCormick published a letter in the Boston Evening Transcript asking people to meet and support his ideas of Anti-Imperialism, the movement seemed to resonate with many americans. Claims
Throughout history, imperialism has led countries to extend their rule over weaker countries and then colonized those countries to expand their own power. Imperialism allows the ruling countries to use the weaker countries for their resources. Colonizing other countries would then lead to growth and a better reputation for the dominating country. There are many examples of imperialism throughout European history. When many European countries “scrambled” for Africa, it seemed as though Africa had no say in anything. During the 19th century, Europe found a way to use Africa for their own growth and power. Using Africa for their resources, the Europeans colonized Africa without a second thought. European imperialism in Africa had a negative impact because of social disarray, cultural loss, and death it caused.