National Expansion In The Late 19th And Early Twentieth Century

Evaluate the extent to which differing ideas of national identity shaped views of United States overseas expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the United States began to prosper domestically and internationally due to America’s second Industrial revolution and their advancement towards becoming a World Power. America’s emergence as a World Power brought about ambitious ideas of imperialism as opportunities for America dwindled within their grasp. The idea of America being associated with imperialistic desires caused conflicting ideas about America’s national identity. America was divided between Republicans and Democrats on the issue of expansion due to questions of founding beliefs, viable opportunities, and the effect on American morale. Republicans were proponents for imperialism and advocated an aggressive approach to foreign affairs, while Democrats were opponents for imperialism and advocated focusing on domestic issues and maintaining the status-quo of tradition identity. Contrasting views about American expansion were linked to different notions of the “US mission.” For the first time in over a century, America had to evaluate the foundation that their founding fathers laid down and determine if that foundation
The war did not require American intervention but America joined the war in personal interest. Yellow Journalism, the “fake news” of the nineteenth century, and an accusation that Spain attacked an American ship lead to America’s intervention in the war. As a result, America acquired many new colonies, arousing questions about the future of said colonies, and the question of America’s future, in