Introduction
The late 19th century was characterized by a new wave of imperialism. Many countries, including the United States of America, went on a path of expanding their global influence through the acquisition of land overseas. The imperialistic movement in the United States of America began with the Spanish-American War and the subsequent annexation of former Spanish colonies of Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico (The National Archives, 2020). The imperialistic expansion of the U.S. can be viewed as advantageous for the nations involved, as it brings various economic, cultural, and security benefits. Meanwhile, the anti-imperialist arguments are focused on violating the fundamental principle of the consent of the governed as well as the potential harm to the colonized countries and the continuation of racial disparities. Notably, the political cartoons of the time reflected both pro-imperialist and anti-imperialist opinions. Overall, the American expansion of political and economic power was a highly controversial development that divided the country and substantially impacted native customs and industries.
Discussion
The pro-imperialist arguments focused on American imperialism as a new model that would benefit both the colonized countries and the United States as a new type of colonialist. Acquisition of the former Spanish territories following the Spanish-American War of 1898 was argued to be missionary in nature (Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, 2022). Thus, the U.S. government argued that the ultimate goal of the annexation of former Spanish territories was political and financial aid. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the agreement was both mutually beneficial and consensual, with the colonized nations free to either seek independence or become a formal state in the Union (Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, 2022). In addition, the commercial and strategic advantages of annexing the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico were promoted (Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, 2022). Thus, the colonized territories could benefit from the United States’ purchasing of products and materials. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy would develop further and benefit from the labor and resources in the colonies costing less than in the United States. Overall, the pro-imperialist views revolved around developing a new form of imperialism that would further the colonized nations.
The imperialistic aspirations of the United States were not accepted by all members of American society. The government was divided on the issue, with many Representatives and Senators opposing the annexation of the former Spanish territories. Senator George F. Hoar heavily criticized expansion in the Philippines, arguing that it undermined the principle of equality and consent of the governed on which the nation was built (The National Archives, 2020). The Senator argued that the emergent independencies of the former colonies should be supported by the United States rather than taken advantage of (The National Archives, 2020). The political and economic intervention of the U.S. in other nations gave rise to the potential for political feuds and further armed conflict. Imperialism is a process characterized by a forced exchange of cultures and traditions and, therefore, can erase the native cultures of the colonized territories. According to Go (2020), imperialism created systemic structures of inequality in different societies and among different races and ethnicities documented in the sociological and other sciences. Thus, the arguments against American imperialism focus on the political independence of the colonized nations, ensuring equality, and preserving cultural uniqueness.
In the late 19th century, political cartoons became exceedingly popular, expressing the opinions of the citizens on the decisions made by the government and the political life of the country as a whole. The imperialistic ambitions of the United States were not an exception, with the annexation of the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico being widely discussed by cartoonists. It should be stated that most political sketches expressed anti-imperialist views, highlighting the previous experiences of the country being colonies of the British Empire. For example, the cartoon Uncle Sam’s Temptation, published by the Washington Post in 1898, depicts the United States being seduced into colonial expansion by the British Empire (The National Archives, 2020). Another political cartoon, Cannot Roll it Back, illustrates territorial expansion as a burden on the country and a potential risk to its beliefs and values (The National Archives, 2020). Numerous sketches focused on the division in American society caused by the country’s territorial and political expansion, with the cartoon Whither showing Uncle Sam standing at the crossroads, unable to make a decision (The National Archives, 2020). Overall, political cartoons accurately reflected the country’s tensions regarding imperialism.
Conclusion
In summary, in the late 19th century, the United States, the former colony of the British Empire, became the colonizer with the annexation of Spanish territories. Thoroughly reflected in political cartoons, American imperialism was widely debated in society, with the pro-imperialism supporters focusing on its economic benefits. Meanwhile, the opposition appealed to the expansion going against fundamental American values and propagating racial disparities among communities.
References
Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy. (2022). The imperialism debate and exceptionalism. Web.
Go, J. (2020). Race, empire, and epistemic exclusion: Or the structures of sociological thought. Sociological Theory, 38(2), 79–100. Web.
The National Archives. (2020). America and the world: Foreign affairs in political cartoons, 1898–1940. Web.