Reasons for adopting imperialism
In many instances during the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States engaged other nations while expanding its territory. The annexation of various states took place after identification of regions with potential benefits to the state. Acquisition methods differed for many of the states, with some bought and others taken using force. This includes Texas, which cost the state an estimated 13 780 military officers during the takeover and the subsequent war (Ninkovich, 2001).
Rationalization of imperialism
Imperialism is a concept used widely in reference to cultural, economic, and political advancements of a nation’s influence over other geographical territories. This policy has characterized the American governance system for lengthy periods. Several proposals seeking to explain these tendencies are available, most notably the export of democracy and establishing peace in war-torn regions. Presently, expansionist tendencies occur under the guise of eradicating the menace of terrorism (Ninkovich, 2001).
Major events during this period
American imperialism began when the nation sought to establish itself as an economic powerhouse. This implied the need of resources, industries to process the same, human resource to labor in the industries and a market for the finished products. After consolidating their territory within the North American province, they ventured to other strategically positioned lands, and that had a direct effect on their trading activities.
Communism was also spreading rapidly from the USSR. Their ventures into Asia sought to minimize the authority of communists (Tomlinson, 2001). It is notable, that some imperialist tendencies were justified, for example, the attack targeting the Ottoman domain, which sought to control the massacre of American nationals. Another intervention that falls in this category is the involvement that resulted in the apprehension of William Waker, a slave vendor.
Countries affected by American imperialism
During this period, America’s interaction with other states was inevitable. Among them was Libya, after they seized Tripoli. This was a significant station for them, since it served as a means of ferrying freed slaves to their homes in Africa. Spain was also among these nations. The Spanish realm had dominion over Florida, which was crucial to the American nation. Upon authorization of congress, troops invaded the state in an attempt to weed out pirates and smugglers hidden therein. America assumed exclusive control after the purchase of this state was completed.
Britain was also among these nations. After capturing several British war ships, America fought them in order to eradicate the expansionist interests harbored. In later years, other nations also succumbed, including Puerto Rico, Greece, Sumatra, Peru, Falkland Isles, Argentina, and the Philippine Islands. In most of these instances, the armed forces deployed strived to eradicate smuggling and pirate activities, in addition, to looking out for American interests in the area (Hunt, 2007).
Mexico also counts among the notable inclusions. This is because they unsuccessfully fought America with the intention of protecting Texas. While they were eventual losers, they inflicted weighty losses on the American troops.
View of anti-imperialists
Opponents of this activity also existed, but they became active in 1899. This happened after America had taken over the Philippine islands, Puerto Rico and Cuba. This group came up to protest the proposed capture of the Philippines. It is noteworthy, that their campaigns did not end successfully. They held onto their beliefs due to a plethora of reasons, some of which are evident in this paper.
Foremost, they upheld the inviolability of life. A violation of this occurred due to the predisposition towards military activity depicted by imperialists. They sited the provisions of the American constitutions that entitled life, quest of happiness and other liberties to persons. This made their actions a contravention of the structure they lived by at home. They also noted that the mass murders were a preserve of Spanish expansionists hence deserved exclusion from American expansion methods (Bancroft, 1913).
This group decried the fact that cohorts of imperialism were encouraging despotism. This occurred since the power brokers were keen to do away with the governance systems present in this nation and advance their own. They implored other citizens to disregard calls for support by the government during moments of crisis, because the intervention was a simulated scenario, which came up due to the actions of several interest groups (Bancroft, 1913).
Aftermath of Anti-imperialism in the twentieth century
It is noteworthy that the present day America is industrialized and developed tremendously. This implies a highly civilized society and ruling class. Unfortunately, tendencies of bigotry are still evident upon a keen analysis of their actions. They have carried out invasions repeatedly and ended up profiting from strategic resources available in the countries they have attacked. For example, America had access to essential crude oil reserves in the after effects of the gulf war.
Summarily, sensible values like justice, freedom, and liberties cherished by their founding fathers undergo abolition in their entirety. Further evidence is the millions of persons who suffer continually due to as they recover from the effects of the wars waged against them. Most importantly, entire regions suffer due to demographic, environmental, and fiscal degradation that comes with war. This serves to highlight the magnitude of incivility present in the confines of modern civilization.
References
Bancroft, F. (1913). Platform of the American AntiImperialist League. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Hunt, M. (2007). The American Ascendancy: how the United States gained and wielded global dominance. North Carolina, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.
Ninkovich, F. (2001). The United States and imperialism. Massachusetts, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
Tomlinson, J. (2001). Cultural Imperialism: a critical introduction. New York, NY: Continuum International publishing group.