How Did The Us Imperialize In The Late 19th Century

Looking back at the late 19th century and early 20th century, America engaged in acts of imperialism that left the country forever changed. This imperialism period was made up of nations expanding their influence and power to other countries around the world through diplomacy or military force. Along with other countries, the United States gained a bigger influence and authority in foreign places. The United States wanted to imperialize because the country was threatened by other foreign countries, such as Spain, and America wanted to fight their competitors. America’s intervention and acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone in the 1900s led to economic growth and trade relations, becoming a greater political power, and ruined relationships with
Article XIII in the treaty gave America the ability to import throughout the Panama Canal Zone and any auxiliary lands without customs, duties, imposts, taxes, or other charges (Hay, John and Phillipe Bunau-Varilla). Along with this, America is now allowed to import without any restrictions. Meaning, that the United States was subjected to importing whatever they pleased within the Panama Canal Zone and other surrounding lands. Complimentary to this, Article XVII in the treaty states that any ports in Panama open for commerce, were open to America as a place of refuge for vessels employed in the canal enterprise, or any United States vessels passing through that may be in distress (Hay, John and Phillipe Bunau-Varilla). These two articles would make importing resources to foreign countries easier, opening up the market to other regions of the world. Businesses like factories would be able to import to Latin American countries and other countries, which would expand the economy to the rest of the world. Before the Panama Canal, taxes and restrictions would have prevented companies from importing because it would have been too costly and difficult to pass
This is because if a country is in debt and owes another country money, these countries would be frustrated until they get their money. This would compromise relationships because if a country does not return the money it promised, then other nations would not trust that country. Without this kind of trust, other countries would not want to make promises or become allies. Another way the intervention and acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone greatly affected America was that the country was becoming a greater power. America was not only building a canal in Panama that would open up one side of the world to the other, but America also showed power and authority in this land. Article I of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty states that America guarantees and will maintain the independence of the Republic of Panama. This was the result of promising Panama that America would help the country become independent from Columbia. Hay, John and Phillipe Bunau-Varilla. Article III states that America has all the rights, power, and authority of the Panama Canal Zone. The Panama Canal consisted of the isthmus of Panama, a 5-mile stretch of land on each side of the isthmus, and four islands in the bay of Panama: Perico, Naos, Culebra, and