U.S. History
Social Studies
Unit: 04 Lesson: 01
Quotes on Imperialism
Use the following quotes with Handout: Geography of Expansionism to summarize
arguments for and against imperialism.
Alfred T. Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
“This protection in time of war must be extended by armed shipping. The necessity of a
navy, in the restricted sense of the word, springs, therefore, from the existence of a
peaceful shipping, and disappears with it, except in the case of a nation which has
aggressive tendencies, and keeps up a navy merely as a branch of the military
establishment. As the United States has at present no aggressive purposes, and as its
merchant service has disappeared, the dwindling of the armed fleet and general lack of
interest in it are strictly logical consequences. When for any reason sea trade is again
found to pay, a large enough shipping interest will reappear to compel the revival of the
war fleet. It is possible that when a canal route through the Central-American Isthmus is
seen to be a near certainty, the aggressive impulse may be strong enough to lead to the
same result. This is doubtful, however, because a peaceful, gain-loving nation is not farsighted, and far-sightedness is needed for adequate military preparation, especially in
these days.”
George Washington, Farewell Address 1796
“Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace
and prosperity in the toils of European Ambition, Rivalship, Interest, Humour or
Caprice? 'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of
the foreign World--So far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it--for let me not be
understood as capable of patronising infidility to existing engagements, (I hold the
maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best
policy)--I repeat it therefore, Let those engagements. be observed in their genuine
sense. But in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them. Taking
care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectably defensive
posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and
interest. But even our Commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand:
neither seeking nor granting exclusive favours or preferences; consulting the natural
course of things; diffusing & deversifying by gentle means the streams of Commerce,
but forcing nothing; establishing with Powers so disposed--in order to give to trade a
stable course, to define the rights of our Merchants, and to enable the Government to
support them--conventional rules of intercourse…”
Theodore Roosevelt’s Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1905)
"Chronic wrongdoing . . . may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention
by some civilized nation," he announced in his annual message to Congress in
December 1904, "and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to
the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases
of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power."
©2012, TESCCC
08/13/12
page 1 of 2
U.S. History
Social Studies
Unit: 04 Lesson: 01
Quotes on Imperialism
Jon Van Dyke wrote in Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawaii? about Sanford B.
Dole signing the Land Act of 1895 in Hawaii
“The act explicitly repealed the 1865 Act, thus allowing the Crown Lands to be sold, and
it established a program to encourage homesteading patterned after American family
farming. Lands could be sold in parcels of 1,000 acres or less, with no more than 600
acres available for purchase on an installment plan. General leases on Public Lands
could not be longer than twenty-one years, and they contained a clause allowing the
Government to retake possession of the leased land to promote homesteading
settlement.”
Theodore Roosevelt, 1901
“There is a homely adage which runs, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go
far." If the American nation will speak softly and yet build and keep at a pitch of the
highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.”
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, 1904
“It is not true that the United States feels any land hunger or entertains any projects as
regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare.
All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly and
prosperous....Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening
of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require
intervention...[and] force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of
such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an internal police power.”
Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League
“A self-governing state cannot accept sovereignty over an unwilling people. The United
States cannot act upon the ancient heresy that might makes right.”
Henry Cabot Lodge
“Thus...duty and interest alike, duty of the highest kind and interest of the highest and
best kind, impose upon us the retention of the Philippines, the development of the
islands, and the expansion of our Eastern commerce.”
Josiah Strong, 1885
“The two great needs of mankind, that all men may be lifted into the light of the highest
Christian civilization, are, first, a pure, spiritual Christianity, and, second, civil liberty....It
follows then, that the Anglo-Saxon, as the great representative of these two ideas, the
depository of these two great blessings, sustains peculiar relations to the world's future,
is divinely commissioned to be, in a peculiar sense, his brother's keeper.”
©2012, TESCCC
08/13/12
page 2 of 2