Relationship Between Imperialism Then And Now

Imperialism Then and Now

Imperialism is a policy of extending a countries power and influence through diplomacy or military force, in other words, when a strong nation takes over a weaker one and begins to dominate their political, economic, and cultural life. Imperialism was part of daily life and soon American’s felt the need to use it because of their industrial expansion and constant need of new raw resources. Scholars often make the connection between imperialism and the Mexican – American war, claiming that it helped expand imperial efforts. Americans managed to dehumanize certain racial groups until they were able to control their nations, imperializing places such as Hawaii, Cuba, The Philippines, China. They categorized them
The U.S. used Ethnocentrism to dehumanize large groups of people making them vulnerable to Imperialism. Ethnocentrism was used as a way to compare many groups of people such as the Chinese, to Americans, making them feel as less than those of white descent. Chinese were greatly affected during this time, due to that imperialism was at its best. “By 1882 anti-Chinese sentiment had grown so great that congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act” [The Gilded Age, Racism, 40]. Many of Americans began to believe that not as many jobs were longer available because of Chinese settlement, their acts of racism and racial profiling were justified through this act, excluding the Chinese. The thought of America was significantly different from a Chinese man’s point of view. America held itself as being immensely advanced with economical as well as industrial power while believed racism was still one of its biggest flaws. “Because of the hatred of the Chinese, also other Asiatic, like the Japanese, being confused are likewise disliked by the ignorant Americans” [Encountering the U.S. Empire, 86]. Other Asian groups such as Japanese were accused of being Chinese and were targeted for the way they looked, the government played a big role with
Ethnocentrism is currently being used today by the new President, through his speeches given racism another chance, he has managed to liberally allow those who believe they are superior (white) attack those who are believed to be inferior. He has repeatedly spoken about women, people of color, and religion in a form of his own personal beliefs not allowing any other beliefs to stand correct by his. He has used fear and has allowed those superior, once again, racialize and profile as well as cause fear of deportation and assault in women through his speeches. He has used force to deport even those who are citizens out of the country because “they look like terrorists” or “rapists”, he has made it clear that it is no longer based on who one is on the inside but what one looks like or talks like or who what stereotypes fall under one’s