Introduction
Imperialism represents a combination of political frameworks and ideological doctrines that were broadly accepted among a large number of countries during the 19th century. Imperialistic countries rely significantly on their military strength and view expansion as the primary objective of foreign policy. The Revolution and the War of 1812 ensured the independence of Americans from foreign intervention. As the ideas of nationalism emerged and strengthened, the United States demanded new territories and spheres of influence. Therefore, the concepts of imperialism quickly spread among the American people and shaped the fundamental principles of foreign and domestic policies for the next decades. However, in some cases, imperialistic views led to ethical dilemmas, which caused significant transformations in American society. Although the expansionist pathway followed by the United States during the 19th century served as an opportunity to consolidate its leadership positions on the mainland, it was fraught with pitfalls and challenges.
Indian Lands
Relationships between the representatives of Native populations and the United States were complicated and controversial. The ways in which the U.S. government treated the Indian people may serve as a prime example of the imperialistic approach. In many cases, tribal members tried to adopt the characteristics of the white American society, including market economy, social relationships, and agriculture. Such transformations could mitigate the differences between, for instance, the Cherokee society and the United States. Nonetheless, the U.S. government proceeded with expansionist policies according to their imperialistic views. For example, Hahn states that in 1828 the new government “rejected the idea of Indian tribal sovereignty.” Consequently, the territory west of the Mississippi was annexed by the United States, and the native populations were removed from the region. The U. S. government relied significantly on military strength, which corresponds with the principles of imperialism.
Ethics and Moral
The ideology of imperialism is closely related to the ideas of nationalism. In many cases, the expansionist views are justified by the idea that one nation is genuinely more important and valuable than the other. Such an idea may be brought to an extreme, leading to such horrible things as slavery. Therefore, the topics of extreme inequality and nationalism may reflect the imperialist vision of the United States in the 19th century. These issues raise a number of vital ethical and moral dilemmas that influence and transform society. According to Hahn, the first noticeable attempts to fight slavery were conducted in the 1930s. More and more people viewed slavery as brutal and inappropriate treatment demanding its prohibition. These ethical and moral issues represented an essential challenge to the prevailing imperialistic ideology. Social perception of the expansionist pathway of the United States was changing, and its core principles had been questioned.
Conclusion
Imperialist vision played a considerable role in both domestic and foreign policies of the United States in the early nineteenth century. It formed the ways in which the U.S. government approached issues in a wide variety of fields. The government frequently adopted decisions that led to the acquisition of territory by military force or relatively peacefully. On the domestic level, imperialism was related to nationalism and the concepts of racial superiority. Even though the emerging imperial paradigm faced a large number of challenges, it marked the beginning of American imperialism. Nonetheless, these challenges were essential to the formation of the expansionist pathway in the United States.
Reference
Hahn, Steven. A Nation without Borders: The United States and Its World in an Age of Civil Wars, 1830-1910. Penguin Books, 2017.