Question: Compare and contrast views of United States overseas expansion in the late
nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries. Evaluate how understandings of national
identity, at the time, shaped these views.
With the close of the Industrialist Era and emergence of new technological
advancements, providing better transportation, countries began to look for areas to exploit their
power and impose colonialism to further expand their economic ideals. Imperialism, during the
late nineteenth and twentieth century, was heavily influenced by the concept of national identity,
which frequently fluctuated based on the time period. This ideology was the basis for prominent
politicians and diplomats to either coincide with or heavily oppose the expansion of Imperialism
groups. These groups were differentiated by aversion to the idea of “militarism” expansion, due
to, their wanting to stay a democratic state built on the fundamentalist ideals of freedom and
liberty, or wanting to adhere to Imperialistic sympathies for religious reasons, nationalism,
socialism or colonialism.
Anti-Imperialists, were characterized by their opposition to the acquisition of foreign
territory because they believed it violated the republican doctrine of consent of the governed.
The league formed when the United States advocated obtaining the Philippines for their own
colonialism ideals; Anti-Imperialists feared the repression of democracy there that would be
replaced with militarism. William Sumner, an esteemed sociology professor at Yale, was the
Vice President of the Anti-Imperialism league. In his speech, “The conquest of the United States
by Spain” he reveals his Anti-imperialistic ideals by stating that the concept of Imperialism
betrays the principles America was built upon, the state of equals. The intended audience for this
excerpt is the American people who need to realize that Imperialistic ways are transforming
America, a country opposed to domestic dogma, into the militaristic country of Spain.
(Document 2) Next, Jane Addams, a committed social reformer and the founder of the famed
Settlement Houses, gives a speech reared towards awakening the fervor for social reform. The
purpose of this speech is to show the American people that the Imperialistic mindset is shirking
away from social reform and rather counteracting the progress that has been made. She claims
that Imperialism, instead of facilitating peace, has spurred militarism that further subjects the
humane instinct to give way to the barbaric instinct. (Document 4) Ostensibly, William Jennings
Bryan, a renowned populist, delivers a speech to aid his presidential campaign. The politician
claims that Imperialism cultivates a culture of militarism and undermines American ideals of
freedom and democracy. Bryan’s intended audience is the American people because a plethora
are opposed to the emergence of Imperialistic ways and he believes if he can appeal to their
sentiment, then he can win the presidential election. (Document 6) Finally, the satirical magazine
Puck, admonishes President Theodore Roosevelt for his expansionist mindset. The 128th birthday
refers to the anniversary of American independence and the shadows of the eagle represent
territory conquered by the United States. The point of view of the editors is that Roosevelt is
overstretching American bounds and expanding too far. (Document 7)
Imperialism was initiated in the late 16th century spurred by British desire to expand
economically and gain an unprecedented amount of natural resources for manufacturing.
Stemming from British ideals, the concept laid dormant in American culture until the advancing
Spanish empire in 1898 threatened Latin America and the Monroe Doctrine, which America was
heavily resilient on adhering to. War exploded when Thomas Hurst’s yellow journalism acted a
catalyst for American nationalism to grow and Imperialistic mindsets became rampant. E.E.
Cooper, an acclaimed African American journalist, advocated the war with Spain to eradicate the
concept of White Supremacy. His point of view was that when nationalism flourished African
Americans and whites alike would bond together to defeat a common enemy: the Spanish.
Cooper hoped this united front would facilitate a relationship between the two ethnic groups and
diminish any racial tension. (Document 1) Next, President William McKinley appealed to the
Church’s sentiment in a desperate attempt to have the prominent religious officials coincide with
his Imperialist mindset. His intended audience was religious sympathizers who, upon hearing his
speech, would come to the conclusion that it was God’s Divine Will to follow this expansionist
mindset no matter what the repercussions. He stemmed from the concept of Manifest Destiny,
coined in the early 19th century by John O’ Sullivan, which acted as a motivating factor for
domestic expansion. McKinley was attempting to evoke this same sentiment to coincide with his
expansionist ideals and spur the American people to acquiesce the addition of Imperialistic
ventures based on Christian morals. (Document 3) Finally, Theodore Roosevelt appealed to both
sides of the spectrum against Imperialism. First, his intended audience consisted of business
tycoons who were in desperate need of raw materials to further expand the economy. He
implemented the concept of colonialism, which was geared to exploiting a country economically.
Next, he appealed to the emotion of the social reformers by claiming that we needed to guide
these “uncivilized” people and reform their culture to become reared towards democracy.
(Document 5)
Imperialistic ventures have been controversial regarding the well-being of the United
States. With the administration continuously being altered American foreign affairs and
Imperialism fluctuates with the party currently residing in the White House. For example, it
seemed the United States took up arms against Iraq because of the unprecedented fear of their
nuclear weapons and the continuation of building this weaponry. After fighting a tremulous war,
however, it has recently surfaced that the Bush administration did not fight to put an end to their
obtrusive nuclear weapons, but rather to gain some of their coveted oil for the American
economy’s own benefit. Iraq has been deemed to be an excessively oil rich country and these
Imperialistic ventures acted as an exploitation of their economy, in order to, act as a catalyst for
Americas.