Monday, September 27, 2010

American Imperialism

 To what extent is this statement true: 
The primary factor in the United States adopting a policy of imperialism was economic.

17 comments:

  1. The idea of imperialism gave nations more reason to expand their empire. Because of under consumption/overproduction, falling profit rates, and influences to have control over the sea, the US found it necessary to dominate these three factors to help them become a World Power, (Moreland, notes). Some imperialist theories, like Social Darwinism, gave America the thought process that it was okay to take over as a World Power, because we were “superior biologically and morally so it was only natural that we dominated other people,” (Moreland, notes). These thoughts were purely economical, because America had been looking to have control of the seas for their own trade profits. Therefore, America sought to control trade through other nations so that they would be able to become a World Power. Control of these major seas would benefit our wealthy industries, because of cheap trade agreements; The less money we would spend on making our own material, the more profit we make from going overseas to make material. So it seems, Social Darwinism was the reason of imperialism, because it spread the idea of selfishness. The rich men of America only cared for themselves, and how much money they were going to make, instead of looking at the “big picture;” the future that has become so corrupt and unjust to our own people for not having available jobs, just so big businesses could make a profit off of cheap labor.

    - Meghan Post

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  2. When the United Stated adopted the policy of imperialism, it was for the economy. There was no other reason to adopt it. Profit in the United States was falling because of under consumption and over production. This was because everyone had what they needed and no one way buying what was in production. The United States needed new customers to buy their products. The United States the expanded to different countries and sold their products. The United States did want more than a fix on the economic issues; they wanted more power than any other country. This would become possible by imperialism and spreading their products around the world. This would be called Social Darwinism which is simply defined as “The strong Survive”. This is why imperialism was strictly economic. They simply wanted an advantage over every country and needed a way to save the economy.

    Heather Roberts

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  3. The economic factor was only ONE of the primary factors that influenced the United States adopting the policy of imperialism. From and economic standpoint, it was incredibly profitable for the United States to adopt imperialism policy. In this time period there was a surplus of goods due to "under consumption/over production" (Moreland) which, consequently led to "falling profit rates" (Moreland). During this time period there were also countries, especially eastern such as China, that had not experienced western goods. The mentality was that Over production/under consumption of goods plus eastern countries never introduced to western products would equal profit for industrialists and the like.

    Other than the economic factor, however, there were also other factors that contributed to America's adoption of the policy of imperialism. These included factors such as: "The White Man's Burden" to bring civilization to uncivilized people coupled with the idea of Social Darwinism (an idea that said that, just in nature, socially, only the strong survive and the weak do not), Alfred Thayer Mahan's idea that a strong navy would lead to the U.S. becoming a world power in his book "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History"

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  4. Dear Moreland,
    As the 19th century came to a close, and the 20th century rolled in, America regained an ideal aura of expansionism—only, now, in the form of imperialistic domination. Ending up as the “top dog” in the battle between the United States and Mexico in the Mexican American War, the United States grew in unity and power, thus sparking such need for greater world dominance. Although, a definitive reason for American imperialism remains questionable, one can easily conclude that the primary factor in the United States adopting a policy of imperialism was economic.

    Many theories, explaining the reason for American Imperialism, remain relevant. Due to under consumption/ overproduction, falling profit rates (causing capitalists to seek new markets to dominate), and demands for control of the sea--for it was paramount to becoming a world power, America found it essential to expand in power (Moreland). Even so, a social aspect to imperialism was also vibrant. Many Americans sought to expand for religious purposes. Spreading the Word of God and contributing to the Social Gospel Movement, Christians found it to be their duty to teach the “lesser” people of salvation. However, the primary reason still remained that of economics, and Social Darwinism reveals that. Social Darwinism, the idea of survival of the fittest, expresses how America thought of itself as superior biologically and morally, “so it was only natural that they dominated over other nations” (Moreland). In terms of business, industry, and trade, America wanted to climb to the top, economically, no matter who they had to step on. Moreover, while men such as Andrew Carnegie opposed imperialism, Frederick Jackson Turner viewed the stability that it created. America sought power because it would bring them stability as far as raw materials, land, and industry were concerned, and for this, many supported American Imperialism, and in turn, they supported the betterment of American economics.

    Yours Truly,
    Chris Price!

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  5. Although the economic factor did greatly affect the decision of imperialism, it was not the only affecting factor. Of course the economy was a factor. This was a time where the rich were becoming richer and the poor at its poorest. The amount of greed was astonishing. What causes this is the belief of Social Darwinism, the belief that the strong will survive, and the weak will fall behind. It was only destiny that certain people were rich, and they would attempt to fulfill it. Eventually this also influences America to become a world power and travel into the East. Americans would not let other countries gain control of others, eventually only to attempt to take over America. Although it may seems like the economic factor was the leading influence of imperialism, but in conclusion, without Social Darwinism, there would be no economic factors.

    Its Tim, if you couldnt tell.

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  6. The primary factor in the United states adopting a policy of imperialism was not economic, the primary factor was obtaining power. With power comes money, control of others, and the feeling of importance. Everyone had read Alfred Thayer Mahan's book, "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History", with the idea planted in every ones mind that power over seas would gain interest, everyone flocked to obtain the uncivilized countries around them. America would not be left behind on the grab bag of power, they to began to take islands. They began with Cuba, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Porto Rico, but with the control of this islands they also had money coming in. That was one of the perks of obtaining islands, money could come from other places now. But Americans also felt that with this new power they must have some responsibility, thus they took care of the savages, by providing education, medicine, and other necessities to be civilized. Yes, the Americans seemed nice, but they were doing it because they had to, they were fulfilling the “white mans burden”. Even though the Americans helped others they did from their platform, they looked down on the savages now that America had power. Americans believed in something called Social Darwinism, which meant that the strong survive. To Americans that meant that they had a right to control and judge those savages because they had more power. To become an imperial country one must obtain power, and with power comes money, control, and the feeling of importance.
    Sasha Trinidad

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  7. In my opinion, the primary factor to adopt imperialism was economic, but also their factors had other reasons. It terms of economy, the US established the Open Door Policy with the Chinese. This allowed them to start trade in the Far East. In Hawaii, Americans saw the Islands as a place to build railroads, plantations, and resorts. The US also conquered parts of the Caribbeans because of their investments they had down there. Therefore, they had to take the countries from Spain in hopes to save their inverstments. Other reasons that the US wanted to start an imperialism chain, is the fact that if they control more seas, they control more parts of the world. They almost succeeded in controling the Philippines, Hawaii, parts of South America, and the Caribbeans. The main thing that many people today still believe is that, the US attempted to control the world because of their views on the "white man's burden." This was a belief that the countries around the world needed to be taught how to live life as 'correct' individuals and the US felt as though they needed to be the ones to teach them how to.
    http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/splendid.html

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  8. The statement “the primary factor in the United States adopting a policy of imperialism was economic.” is somewhat true. While there were other factors for American's imperialistic policy such as the “White Man's Burden,” Social Darwinism, and various religious reasons; in the end, America's imperialism was largely influenced by economics.

    Global trade comes up when you look at one of the ideas that showed the need for American Imperialism for economic reasons; the idea of overproduction/under-consumption. Many American businessmen had produced useful products, but had no one to purchase them. Gaining access to all these new islands gave the big businessmen a new customer base to sell their products to.

    One of the biggest examples of this would be China and the Open Door Policy. Thanks to the Spanish- American War America was becoming an Eastern Asia power. In fact many of the acquisitions that America gained during said war i.e. Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines were mainly wanted so America could get closer and closer to China.

    However, the United States believed that Europe and Japan were soon going to be divvying up China and America felt it's commercial interests in China were being threatened, so came John Hay's Open Door Notes which allowed all of Europe, Japan, and the United States to trade with China, thus turning America's economy into global one that used these new customer bases, like the Chinese, to generate revenue for the United States.

    Mike Peak

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  9. The reason for America adopting the policy of imperialism was more for just economic reasons. Thanks to social darwinism, we felt that we were better than everyone else and we deserved to take them over. Not only that, but it was our burden to pull them up from the swallows of hell they lived in and make them deceit for our society. Economic improvement from stretching our grasps across the ocean was an added perk that came with controlling these lands. Sure it was important, but keeping out other European nations from the Caribbean was a bigger priority. Being an imperialist nation was a way of showing our stance as a world power.
    It was like their own game of risk; America, Great Britain, and other European countries were the main players. Objective; to take over the world. Their main reason for doing so; Social Dawinism. Economic influences played a part, just not the main part.

    -Doug

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  10. America adopting imperialism happened to come by many reasons. Economics, looking for gold or other raw materials, Religion, spreading christianity and the gospel of christ, alfred mahlan, controlling the sea, the whiteman's burden, spreading modern ideas and building up civiliztions, empire's strength, a nation is seen as truely great when called an empire, yellow journalism, the maine was said to blown up by the spanish. These are the many reasons that america adopted imperialism. Economics played a part but not a majority.

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  11. American would greatly benefit by adopting the policy of imperialism. The primary factor of adopting this policy was for economic reasons. This policy would have expanded our trade and resources. It will also give us more locations to do more trading and making it easier to trade. This reason was for the politics and goverments. Another factor that played in adopting this policy was that President Roosevelt ,at the time, believed in having a strong naval fleet was the best way to rule. He was very focused on having a powerful navy because alot of the wars an battles ,back then, was fought on the seas. Therefore it was an advantage to have a mighty fleet. As for the citizens of America the reason for this policy was to be able to go into other countries having various races and basically train and teach them the white man's way. Many Americans believed in the "Whiteman's Burden" this was that white people was responsibly on educating other weaker races in their ways.
    P.S. This is like the 3rd time i wrote this. Everytime i finish and try to post it my page refreshes lol
    - Brandon Piazza

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  14. America adopting imperialism happened for many reasons, but emconomic reasons weren't the only reason. They played a huge part but imperialism was also adopted in the midst of looking for raw materials (such as gold), controlling the sea to make for a better navy, as well as the spread of yellow journalism , and the white man's burden. As you can see there were many factors that came into play when imperialism was brought about. So economics weren't the only key factor why.


    -Kayleigh Andrews


    *thank you for letting me turn this in late!*

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  15. btw. I wrote this already; it was dope. It refreshed, now I’m O’D sluggish. Imma just be real on here, don’t have time to make it sound pretty. Sorry

    In my opinion, adopting a policy of imperialism did affect economy, at the same time it was wholly about power. Let me break it down, when it came to places America chose to help or work with, it was always a win-win or a win- lose situation and they always won, point blank. In history books, it says Americans felt it was a necessity to overtake the world; social Darwinism. Something else I read is that the men of American, aka the white men believed they had to go to other places to civilize others such as the Philippines and the Hawaiians. The main question, if one asked should be why. Why the Philippines, why the Hawaiian islands in particular. Back to the win-lose, Americans knew in order to get to Asia where they could make major profit, they had to reign in different areas which they could use for ports or resources. This of course is where PH (Philippines) comes into play. They were assisted by Americans when needed to get other foreign people out of their country and when the job was finished America needed something in return, THE LAND THEY JUST HELPED CLEANSE OTHER FOREIGN NATIONS OF. [Win-lose] How can anyone expect America to be any other way? We never (since the beginning of our being), ever gave anything without gaining double if not all. At this point, PH is America’s, which is now used as a port to restock and gas up so we can make a successful trip take over China (not in a war sense). PH was just a pawn. Of course, most don’t see it that way, WHY? “Whiteman’s Burden”, which basically justifies America taking over PH because the “civilize” them. Though, throughout all the evil America did, doing one “good” (depends on perspective), does not right or clear any or all of your wrongs.

    Hawaiian Islands taken by storm (figuratively speaking) without consent or respect because they had something America didn’t have which made them more powerful when attained; sugar. Sugar seems small, meaningless…Until you don’t have it and it’s a Rare Commodity. Everything seems like it points to economy (to the untrained eye) but if you look at it for what it is, you’ll see money doesn’t equal power, in this case, strategically owned land and goods do. What Americans definitely used to justify their imperialistic attitude was Social Darwinism. By heeding to what Darwin believed, many took it upon themselves to overtake whatever they could because they had the right and so other countries didn’t get the upper hand as they once had before America was a Powerful Nation.

    Ps. Though the word imperialism wasn’t said often within this essay, it was deeply implied.
    Pps. Yes I know its Informal

    -B.A.Hopkins

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  16. Imperialism is defined as “the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.”
    During the late 19th through the middle 20th centuries the United States adopted a policy of imperialism. The United States began to see that several nations were expanding outwards, and not only within their countries so there mission was set. The U.S. became motivated to expand globally and adopt the laws and advantages of imperialism for primarily economic reasons.

    The U.S. was producing more then they needed, and to prevent there economy for crashing the U.S. wanted to expand globally. Getting a late start to the race for Africa the U.S. moved extended to the Philippines and China. The goal for doing so was to sell their over produced supplies to people who have not purchased them already. Also, while reaching out to new countries the U.S. could develop a strong relationship with other countries, and buy develop new resources that Americans could have. Overall opportunities for gaining nations were fading, and the U.S. new they had to move quick, and through the whole process there expansion through imperialism became necessary to gain money and resources.

    Victoria Monitzer

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