apush imperialism dbq Essay Example

Throughout the history of the United States, her ideas of expansion were altered. According to certain views, expansionism did not change in the late nineteenth-century to the early twentieth-century while others viewed expansionism to have stayed the same. Foreign countries continued to broaden their horizons and colonize other places, and as the United States grew in power, it began to act likewise. An old concept idealised by the American people was Manifest Destiny. Senator Albert J. Beveridge describes the American people as, “...[God’s] chosen people, henceforth to lead the regeneration of the world...(Document E)” It was believed that it was America’s divine right to rule over the world. We would do this by taking control of the Pacific Ocean which was predicted to be the center of future commerce (Document E). Likewise, Josiah Strong believed that the strongest race, the Anglo-Saxon race, would rule over the rest of the world by the process of “survival of the fittest (Document B).” Considering America was progressing technologically, economically and had previously expanded from the East coast to the West, thoughts of further control were prominent in the minds of Americans at the time. It only seemed fit to expand America’s ideals to others around the globe who were so obviously in need of our attention. Theodore Roosevelt, in a message to Congress, addressed the reasons for America’s participation in foreign affairs. He states the the United States does not wish to take over foreign countries, but to simply lend a helping hand where is needed. Upon a country becoming uncivilized, America will interfere until all disputes are settled and the country can maintain itself without our assistance, also known as “police power (Document F).” The sole purpose of the help given by the United States is to ensure that foreign countries remain stable and prosperous to avoid abuse of the people and catastrophe. On the other hand, not everyone sought it fit for