Imperialism In The United States

United States imperialism is the practice employed by its government and people to expand and maintain control and influences of other nations. The triggers of imperialism are national superiority, economic benefits and military strength. “There's a debate going on in Washington about whether the United States has become an imperialist power since the cold war ended little more than a decade ago” (Holt). The ending of the cold war signifies a turning point for many but According to Holts this is a pointless debate “The United States has been imperialist since the days of Thomas Jefferson”. The way people see and experience imperialism has changed since its inception, but one thing is clear, the United States of America has always been an imperialistic
nation. To begin with, after the Civil War the United States began reconstruction to restore the nation, and at the same time it started to grow its industrial economy.
To ensure its economic stability and military power the United States needed to control more territory across the Pacific Ocean. So, when Cuba started to fight for its independence from Spain, the United States were more than happy to offer help. This conflict is known as the Spanish-American war, and the main results of this war were Cuba’s Independence, and Spain handing over the rest of his colonies in America and Asia. These were Puerto Rico, Filipina and Guam. Meanwhile Captain Alfred T. Mahan was asking the United States government to consider colonizing in the Western Hemisphere. He is arguing this was the perfect time. First, this would result in the United States’ control of the main straights of the Caribbean, and then in the opening and control of a channel between both oceans, as well as the control of naval stations in the Pacific Ocean, preferably in seas near China. Having control of this will ensure the United States’ interests both in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the far East. This opened their eyes to a new way of expanding and importing goods to Asia and the pacific. As “ships crossed the vast ocean to trade in Asia, islands in the Pacific became important stops for coal, provisions, and repairs. In the South Pacific, the American navy negotiated with awestruck natives for the rights to
build bases on the islands of Midway and Samoa” (“The Age of”). However, the Hawaiian Islands, had always been an important stop, and they lay closest to the mainland. Missionaries and plantation owners had already moved to Hawaii and started colonizing it and taking advantage of this land rich in sugar and other natural recourses. When the wealthy and powerful pressured the King to limit the voting rights to the rich and powerful, disputes between Kanaka and foreigners started to increase. Some were calling for the foreigners to leave, and others “called for the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. Annexation would eliminate the recent trade restrictions on sugar and revive the island's faltering economy” (“The Age of”). The rich and powerful plantation owners lead by Sanford B. Dole took over Hawaii, Dole was its first President, and in June 4, of 1894, The Republic of Hawaii was officially established. This proves the United States was always ready to take advantage of new opportunities, as long they receive benefits from it, so when Latin American broke their ties with Europe the Unites States was ready to step in. With Latin America no longer receiving as many good from Europe their dependency in trading with the United states increased. Allowing the United States to set high prices, not content with only trade and worry of a European invasion, Theodore Roosevelt took a page from the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, and in December 1904 the Roosevelt Corollary was created. It “stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that other nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors” (“Roosevelt Corollary to”). Although it looks like the United States was doing this to protect Latin America, this will have allowed them un-checked military intervention in Latin America. To many it looks like Latin America and their people were nothing but puppets in the hands of the United States government. Proof of this was The Platt Amendment where the United States took temporary military control of Cuba when their people tried to rebel against its elected government since many believed was controlled by the United States government. “Cuba’s propinquity and its highly strategic position in the Caribbean have inevitably produced an unusually intimate connection with the United States” (“Cuba and the”). With the Platt Amendment in place, the United States gained a strategic military advance, Guantanamo Bay. But lets not forget the United States also wanted to make trade easier, so they set their eyes on the creation of the Panama Canal. To do this the United States government had to get around the Colombian government since at the time they had control of Panama. Colombia was not willing to grant access for the creation of the canal. Therefor the United States supported the movement for Panama’s independence. This culminated with Panama’s declaration of independence in 1903. In compensation, for the United States’ support, the “treaty of 1903 was signed which gave the United States the rights to act as though we were the sovereign- for purposes of building, maintaining, defending and operating the Panama Canal project” (Veysey 331). This has been a big gamble for the United States since by helping Panama the United States had built bad relations with Colombia and lost the trust of Latin America. But the Canal had a positive side, to begin with. The French had already started it, and having the Canal would facilitate both military transportation, and trade.
Consequently, the United States of America was viewed as a nation of extreme power.
By the 19th century the United States had figured out how to keep control of their newly acquired territory. They had naval bases across the ocean, facilitating trade and the military defense of their territory. At the outbreak of the war in Europe President Wilson proclaimed formally the neutrality of the United States:
Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers.
(Washington)
To avoid food, ammunition and other supplies from reaching Britain, Germany declared the waters surrounding Britain and Ireland as a war zone, and ordered their submarines to sink all the enemy ships. In May 1915, a German submarine torpedoed, without prior notice, a passenger ship. The Lusitania 1,198 people died, of whom 128 were Americans. The German authorities claimed that the Lusitania was carrying ammunition to Great Britain.as a result American public opinion pressured the State Department to get a promise from Germany to take precautions to ensure the life of civilians (“German Submarine Sink”). New attacks of submarines on neutral ships and the discovery of a plan of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to which Germany, Japan and Mexico would be United against the United States if this country entered the war, made Wilson ask Congress to declare war on Germany. The United States entered WWI one year before it ended it, and only did it after they discovered the war was going to affect their economy. As people, can see the Unites States will only enter a conflict if is going to benefit them or affect them socially, military or economically that is why there was no surprise that when WWII started the United States did not enter. It was only after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 that the United States entered the war. President Roosevelt asked the congress to declare war:
The Senate and House of Representatives approved the war declaration unanimously except for one vote - Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin became the first member of Congress to vote "no" on both the declaration of war on Germany during World War I and the declaration of war on Japan in 1941 (“December 8, 1941”).
The war went on for four years, and the United Stated was an active participant fighting against the Japanese and Germans. The United States helped France, and with the help of their allies expelled the Germans from North Africa. This lead to getting the Germans to surrender. They also triggered Japan to surrender by throwing two atomic bombs. Without a doubt, they prevented Russia and England from succumbing to the Nazis, as they would also send supplies and provisions to them. Finally, we may look at imperialism differently now, but one thing is for sure, the Unites States will only act if is in its own interest. And that is the basic definition of an imperialistic nation. “Modern Imperialism takes the form of aggressive foreign policy, spreading democracy, and expanding corporations throughout the world in a process called Americanization” (McEwen). We can describe the United States as always, being hungry, hungry for power, hungry to influence other nations’ economics and politics. The United States wants to spread democracy to undeveloped countries if it benefits them. Just to name a few, Ronal Reagan encouraged democracy in Latin America and East Asia for strategic reasons. President Bush “declared a new approach to foreign policy in response to 9/11, Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated” (George W. Bush). He also raised democratization efforts in the Middle East. More currently, President Obama sends American troops to Africa. He used the American military to help smaller North African Countries gain independence. Obama’s African policy is an example that even now the United States has imperialistic efforts to control and manipulate the native people. The United States currently has six territories throughout the world. Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, North Marina Islands, Midway Islands, all except Midway, are commonwealths. Another way the United States has imperialized the world is by the large corporations expanding throughout the world. Presently you can find fast food restaurants like McDonalds, in all parts of the world, from Latin America to China. Other big corporations people can find are Apple, Nike, Microsoft just to name a few. To conclude, imperialism has many faces, The United States of America are referred by many as an imperialist country because it has great social, economic, and military influence around the world. It all started with the United States hunger for new territory, trade markets, and political influence. Not much has changed since its inception in the 1900 to present day. The United States still have that white superiority complex, and keep influencing the economy of our neighbors across the globe.