Preview

Imperialism During the Progressive Era

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
414 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Imperialism During the Progressive Era
Imperialism during the Progressive Era

Imperialism is defined as the policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political domination over other nations. Throughout the time period many people considered Imperialism as another way of reform and Progression. Economics, the military, and the countries nationalism were all ready for the change. This idea of expanding was called the New Manifest Destiny. At this time period, Imperialism was getting very popular, and many began to think that the more land a country annexed, the more powerful it was. Expansionists believed that European countries were already rapidly growing spreading across the globe. Also, they saw that if Americans did not join the imperialism rule, it would end up missing out on power, and may be considered a weaker nation. Imperialism was needed for economic gain and America urgently needed foreign trade, especially with China at this time period. In addition, The United States was considered to be a great empire and by not showing their strength and power they might be envisioned as a weak nation. At the same rate, many Americans also saw that if the United States started to take other countries by force, it would go against the ideals of our own country. If economic growth occurred, we would need to build and protect our new empires, and this could very easily be a problem. Three presidents at this time period were very influential in their progressive views. One of these was Theodore Roosevelt. "Speak softly and carry a big stick", a quote by Roosevelt himself, expresses his "Big-stick" diplomacy, stating that the threat of military force would be used to influence politics in other countries. Next, Taft's dollar diplomacy states that money can influence decision-making and that America should expand and invest out of the country. Finally, Wilson believed that Americans should spread the beliefs of human rights, democracy, and word

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Woodrow Wilson’s address, he expressed two main American interests which were to make the world safe for democracy and to help countries become independent. However, he did not express all of the United States’ wants. One interest that was not expressed was that the U.S. wanted revenge for the people and the property lost. Another interest that wasn’t shown was the fact of America wanting to be “imperialistic” instead of spreading democracy. In reality, America wanted to have authority over other countries and this would have been achieved by winning a war.…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    After the Spanish-American War, the United States is ok with imperialism, therefore increasing the extent that the United States is an imperial power. The depression in the 1890s caused people to think we needed to imperialize because industrial production demanded more resources. Foreign trade was more important as well, so the U.S. thought it would be beneficial to acquire new colonies and expand further. Teddy Roosevelt had a vision of how to turn the world into an imperial power; we needed a two ocean navy. His idea is what led us to building the panama canal because it was too unconventional to sail around the tip of South America. With the US controlling the panama canal, we have control over everyone who goes through it, which encourages our imperialist ideals. After Teddy left office, Taft took over. His policy was called “Dollar Diplomacy”, which also continues Teddy Roosevelt's concepts. The purpose of Dollar Diplomacy was to use our economy as a weapon. We added embargo against other countries and added tariffs to goods, and we granted/denied loans to developing countries. Once the countries are in debt to us, we have control of them, which is another example of how we are an imperialist nation. Carter's presidency also played off Taft's Dollar Diplomacy. IMF and the world bank were the best way to fight off communism because communism was bread in poverty. By the United States taking control over those nations, it is the same thing as imperialism because as we took the other countries under our wing, we took their power away from them and their ability to become a communist nation.…

    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imperialism is a policy. Based on this policy, a country uses diplomacy and military forces to expand its power and influence across the world. This will eventually result in becoming a superpower. When it comes to imperialism, America has a lot to say because it sure was a great imperialist between 1867-1917. Many American believed U.S. had to “expand or explode” because of its fast growing population. When the population grows, industrial production demand for more resources. People start to realize and worry that some of the existing natural resources of the country will eventually dry up. Therefore, economists saw oversea markets a possible safety valve for U.S. internal pressures. As a result, foreign trade was…

    • 380 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Progressive Era also belongs to the age of American imperialism, where the US gained control of many oversea territories and interfered heavily with foreign politics. Progressive presidents employed three different ways to handle foreign politics: Roosevelt employed the aggressive “big stick” diplomacy foreign policy; Taft focused on economic growth with “dollar diplomacy”; while Wilson followed the Monroe Doctrine and intervened in Latin America with “moral diplomacy”.…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the turn of the century, imperialism was a proper and legitimate policy for the United States of America to assume. The economy in the United States flourished as imperialism continued to expand. The United States was also equipped with the top military forces in the entire world, making it easy for them to take over other countries. The U.S also believed imperialism was going hand-in-hand with the idea of Manifest Destiny. Not only did imperialism help the U.S thrive economically, but it helped the entire world thrive.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    American imperialism in the late 1800's was a break in American foreign policy. America has always wanted to expand the country. In the 1880's, many people thought that America should join countries such as England and set up colonies overseas. Imperialism is when a bigger, stronger country wants to control other smaller and weaker territories.At that time, imperialism was a trend around the world. America became an imperialist nation because of economic reasons, militery interests,and cultural superiority.…

    • 941 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the final years of the 1800's, American focus took a unexpected turn from industrial development to the far more risky game of international politics. Previously a primarily isolationist country, America's burst of imperialism appeared almost random. After all, President Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality set the precedent for a non-interventionist country, which the United States as adhering to, more or less. However, considering the extremely popularity of Manifest Destiny, imperialism can only be an obvious result of America's obsession with territorial expansion. Imperialism was Manifest Destiny, albeit on a much larger scale.…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The US was never completely isolated from the rest of the world, therefore engaging in imperialism in the early twentieth century had some justifications. The trade made the US an active member of world affairs. It was during the period of the 1890s that the US foreign policy became influenced by imperialism. During that decade, the US became the most important industrial power in the world. The US military, especially the Navy, was growing and expanding in other areas of the world where we had not had the ability to go in force before. The war with Spain and the presidency of T. Roosevelt also made the US a major economic, military, and imperialistic power.…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The late nineteenth century was known as The Age of Imperialism. The United States and other countries were desperate at this time to expand their Nations. All though the United States didn't have the same strength as other countries they still managed to succeed. The purpose of Imperialism was extend a country's power with force. Without Imperialism the U.S. wouldn't be the way it is today.…

    • 200 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    American Imperialism has been a part of United States history since the American Revolution. Imperialism is practice by powerful nations or people seeking to expand and maintain control or influence over weaker nations. The United States switch to imperialist behavior in 1898 has caused great historical attention. After all, the United States had generally claimed to stand in opposition to the practice of taking colonies, instead being an advocate of freedom, democracy, and self-government for all. However, the United States saw a need for expanding more. The United States embarked on a new wave of expansionism in the late 1800's because of its desire for new markets, America’s aggressive mood, and new military strength.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the late 1800s and early 1900s the majority of American people supported a policy of imperialism. Imperialism is the practice of one country extending its control over the territory, political system, or economic life of another country. Political opposition to this foreign domination is called "anti-imperialism."…

    • 829 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As historians we have to take into account the past in order to see how and why the world is the way it is. For me, I believe the progressive era was the true beginning of what our nation is today. It was a time where social activism and political reform took center stage. People were beginning to reject Social Darwinism. People like Theodore Roosevelt rose to power who believed that the problems that the average American encountered such as; poverty, violence, racism, sexism, and class welfare could be addressed by giving aid in some small sense equal opportunity. Education and safe working conditions being at the forefront. Social activists were making people think about what Democracy really meant, and if America who prided themselves on…

    • 150 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the United States pursued an aggressive policy of expansionism, extending its economic, military and cultural influence around the globe.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In The Interest of America in Sea Power, Alfred T. Mahan expressed the need for America to prevent foreign acquisition of ideal territories that would serve American economic interests. He further mentioned the pressure that other expanding empires were putting upon the United States to acquire crucial territories before other world powers did. This pressure was also illustrated in Thomas Nast’s cartoon, “The World’s Plunderers.” It shows how world powers such as Germany, Britain, and Russia chose the countries they wanted to colonize at will. Theodore Roosevelt answered this demand by supporting the entering into the Spanish-American war, to acquire new territory. As president of the United States, Roosevelt would also be an advocate of America as a world power. He expressed in his Annual Message to Congress the responsibility of the United States to keep social and political stability of all nations in the Western Hemisphere. He compared his nation to an international police force that will dominate the affairs of all Latin American nations. This idea is also expressed in a famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt, “speak softly and carry a big stick.” This political motivation was new to American imperialism, since past expansionism had only extended the country’s borders and maintained its policy of isolationism, as all…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Since the American Revolution, American Imperialism has been a part of the United States since the late Nineteenth century. Imperialism is a practice which powerful nations or people seek to expand or control weaker nations or people. This idea was not supported by all Americans. The Anti-Imperialist league was founded in 1899; they believe that we should not be involved of the affairs of other nations. Most Americans however found that Imperialism is a necessity in order to take over other people’s countries by taken over pieces of their land in order to build a country that would be the power house among nations. The United States role expanded as an imperialistic nation, to derive economic benefits. Overseas provided a cheap labor force, also plenty of raw natural resources which fueled the United States economy. Other nations also sought power and practiced Imperialism. To understand why most Americans believed Imperialism was necessary, we first must understand it and the ideology behind it.…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays