American History

Since the American revolutions, American imperialism has been part of the American history. The term emerged in the second half of the 19th century due to the increased influence of the American culture in the world. American imperialism, otherwise known as the American empire, refers to influence of the United States, politically, economically, culturally and militarily that emerged in the second half of the 19th century. However, American imperialism became more visible and popular in the 1890s after the defeat of the Spaniard during the Spanish American war. The age of American imperialism is therefore considered as a period in history between the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century when the United States used both aggressive and democratic policies to expand and extend its influence politically and economically to different parts of the world. This period is therefore an important and a pivotal period in the American history.

American imperialism pinnacle in the 1890s was inspired by several factors. The same factors that motivated the British imperialism are also considered to have inspired the American imperialism. The principle motivator of the American imperialism was the increased demands for the creation of new markets for American produce. The need for increased profit in the wave of mass production and industrialization created an inevitable need for new markets overseas. The frontier mentality was also an event in the United States which resulted into a great urge to expand. There was also a need for America to establish its standing on the world in order to remain politically and economically significant.

Due to the increased agricultural and industrial production in the late 19th century, the American economy was producing more than the American could consume. Creation of foreign markets had the potential of increasing the Americans prosperity. This economic motivation created other problems such as the need to protect the rapidly growing commerce. This led to the establishment of the Navy bases and coaling stations in the Pacific Ocean and other trade routes such as the Caribbean. The defeat of Spain by the United States in the Spanish-American War also inspired American imperialism. The end of the war in the late 1898 meant that the United States had full possession and control over islands previously owned by Spain. The three islands, Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rica were the greatest prices worn gains the Spaniard by the Americans. Cuba together with Hawaii which had previously been acquired by America had dominated the interests of business corporations and powerful individuals in America even before the start of the war.

Large American corporation had coveted the rich natural resources in Cuba and played an important role in expanding American influence in the Caribbean. On the other hand, Hawaii provided an excellent site for a sea port in the Pacific Ocean together with other islands such as Samoa. These port provided access to international markets especially to the Asian countries such as China. After the United States had secured these access points, it extended its political imperialism to the European countries. The then secretary of state indirectly forced the European economic powers to ease their economic and commercial limitations against China. This political and economic imperialism was aimed at reducing the trade limitations that the European powers had blocked the effective commercial interaction between China and United States.

The wide spread support of the American imperialism by the members of the public was inspired by the need to spread Christianity. The Christians in America considered themselves the God chosen people. For this reason, they were responsible for spreading Christianity to the heathen nations. The Christians were therefore convinced that American imperialism was a tool of spreading the gospel. The Americans also considered it their duty to spread civilization across the world and uplift the lives of the masses. These views of American imperialism led to establishment of numerous missions in different parts of the world funded by the church in America which coincided with the political and economic imperialism.

Despite the positive prospects by American imperialists, it received a lot of criticism. Some prominent individuals from the business world, government and the civil societies opposed American imperialism. The occupation of Philippines after the end of the Spanish American War was largely criticized due to the large number of Filipinos who died in its occupation. Leaders in the workers unions accused the American imperialism for having negative effects on the labor markets due to the introduction of cheap labor from overseas. Some Americans argued that imperialism was against the principles of democracy and contrary to the ideologies of the United States as a nation. The opponents of American imperialisms formed the American Anti Imperialism League which condemned all the imperialistic policies terming them as hostile acts of subjugation. The league appealed to all Americans to rise up against imperialists and remain loyal to the principles of democracy and the Declaration of Independence.