To What Extent Were The Motives Of American Imperialism

During the 1890s, the United States was expanding its territory and power internationally in the pacific and in Latin America. We slowly rose up economically as we made business alliances with other markets, and we rode up politically as we have been successful in battles and wars. Our motives for invading and expanding are examined as we examine our successes throughout the New Era and the World Wars.
America had wanted to expand outward and was imperializing surrounding countries for economic and political domination. There were three major terms of U.S. foreign relations. The first is the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which expanded hemispheric relations and created an agreement of not invading European countries as long as they don’t invade
us. It was enforced by the British navy in Latin America. The second is the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in 1904. This states that only the United States can control and decide on Latin American conflicts because it is in our territory. The aggressive expansionist motives meant that the U.S. ran the Dominican government, and it was beneficial to the U.S. because we gained more foreign markets, we induced religious conversion, and we spread our “superior” nationalist ideas abroad. The third is an open door policy, which created an equal and impartial trade between all areas taken over by other imperial powers. This allowed the U.S. to trade with China without having to invade or spend a lot of money. These three regulations benefitted the U.S. without getting involved in conflict with other powerful countries and it also improved us economically and politically. Leading into World War I, the United States was neutral until somebody needed assistance.
We decided not to join the League of Nations because we did not desire to join something that made us chose sides and we did not want to get involved in a European war. We intervened frequently to protect U.S. interests. In 1917, Wilson decided to invade the Soviet Union as an attempt to prevent German invasion of Russia. The U.S. tried to make it appear as aiding Russia, however, Wilson just wanted their economy to end so we could be the dominant country economically. We also intervened in Central America and the Caribbean because of suspected Soviet involvement in U.S. foreign policy. Eventually in the end, the U.S. allied with the Soviets because they protected our business alliances. With our rising power came competition. Japan wanted to be the best power politically and economically, starting World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. only got involved due to its own well being and desires to succeed economically and politically. When put in extreme circumstances, we would get involved in battles and alliances only if we benefitted from it afterwards. In my opinion, it seems pretty selfish that we responded in that
way. To conclude, being involved with so many market alliances through the open door policy allowed our economy to succeed greatly. In the Roaring 20s, the American lifestyle was at its best as there was money to be spent on luxuries and jobs to be filled with needy workers. During wartime, it gave women and immigrant workers an opportunity to expand in their jobs outside of the home. When we look back at the World Wars, we are grateful that there was no fighting on our land and that there was significantly less amount of American deaths compared to European and Asian deaths. Our actions have advanced us to be one of the greatest world powers today, and it proves how not being involved directly in conflicts can sometimes benefit you in the long run.