American Expansionism Dbq Analysis

The phrase 54 40 or fight was the grassroots foundation for the American ideals of Manifest Destiny and Expansionism. Throughout the later years of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century, little had changed when it came to Americans seeking to expand their influence; for it was the "white man's burden" to help rid the world of suffering and to convert as many people as possible to follow American ideals. Neither Manifest destiny nor American expansionism had changed by the turn of the 19th century, for the US still sought to influence those and "help" them in as many socioeconomic ways as possible. However, the United States in its newfound power no longer tried to control those within its continental borders, for it strove to assert
For the country to protect its valuable territory, it must build itself from within. By protecting itself, they are keeping their chances of colonization high. The United States sought to obtain some of the new territory so that they may protect themselves not only economically but militarily. Alfred T. Mahan wrote text on how the United States should control many islands in the pacific so that they could be used as â??coaling stationsâ?�(doc C). They saw this strategy as an advantage in battle tactics in case of war. Many economic benefits came with the new territory. The new islands such as Guam and Hawaii were merely an earlier idea on a larger scale. In the early nineteenth-century, the idea of Manifest Destiny caused a large migration to the western half of the country. The thought that new benefits for boosting the economy would come from the new fertile lands. They would also have control of two oceans; a key to economic prosperity. This expansionism and craving to gain the benefitsof new lands to protect their military and economic interests was merely a rise to power that they knew they deserved; this has always been a primary factor in the ideals of the United States.