Historians have looked at the imperialist era (McKinley - Wilson) in different lights.
1. This age is a blooper in foreign policy whereby America made several poor choices at a time of misled passion.
2. This is an age that continues and develops the previous eras. This is just Manifest Destiny dressed up in a new outfit.
Which do you think is more accurate?
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I think that the imperialist era, also known as the manifest destiny era, continues to develop from the previous eras because it still is the concept of manifest destiny. All "new imperialism" means is expanding the U.S. foreign involvement by conquering other countries because it needed more markets for its growing industrial and agricultural surpluses and sources of raw materials for manufacturing. Instead of just owning the north American continent, the imperialist era focuses on overseas continents: Asia.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Catherine. During this era, America has a foreign policy of trying to expand around the world. Mckinley's "new imperialism" policy is just the U.S. trying to acquire territory or gain control over the political or economic life of other countries. There were Americans who believed that Manifest Destiny did not just mean spreading from coast to coast, but expanding across North America, South America, and maybe around the world. The other presidents during this era, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, all had foreign policies that sought to expand American influence, thought they tried to acheieve it in different ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Catherine. During this era, America is just trying to expand because it needed worldwide markets for its economy to grow. McKinley's "new imperialism" policy just means that the U.S. is trying to acquire territory or gain control over the political or economic life of other countries. Many Americans believed that America's Manifest Destiny not only stood for expanding from coast to coast, but also spreading across the continent, the Western Hemisphere, and maybe even around the world. The idea of "international darwinism" further developed the idea that it was necessary for America to demonstrate its strength religiously, militarily and politically.
ReplyDelete2. This is an age that continues and develops the previous eras. This is just Manifest Destiny dressed up in a new outfit.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has been wanting to expand even more since the Louisiana Purchase and since the idea of Manifest Destiny came into play. I agree with Catherine about the need for more markets. They wanted to expand and have more economic gain along with their surpluses The Manifest Destiny called for expanding the North American continent, but in this age America wants to do even more. They even go to Asia and the Pacific. Also, with the emerging popularity of Evangelism, some wanted to extend their religion to others outside of the NA continent.
I believe number two is the most accurate. America felt like it was more than their right but their duty to go spread democracy. They felt as though they need to save other countries from unfair governments. America spread out and helped other countries economically, politically, and socially. As mentioned in many of the above comments, it was more than spreading democracy, but also spreading Christianity. They wanted more countries to be like them to make the world a safer and better place. It is kind of like the treatment some of the Native Americans in the sense that they made many of them Christians and pushed them into our society even though they didn't really ask. The Americans thought they were making things better.
ReplyDelete-Caroline Worthy
2. This is an age that continues and develops the previous eras. This is just Manifest Destiny dressed up in a new outfit.
ReplyDeleteAmerica during this time expanded the influence in many other parts in the world. The US played roles in protecting smaller nations in the Asia and North and South America. They helped these smaller nations economically as well as introducing democracy to these nations. During this era, the US expanded to have more economic presence.
-Sagar Patel
i think the imperialist era is just like manifest destiny on a global scale. i do believe that the imperialist era had the same expansionist spirit. Although some plans and attempts at expansions were not a sucess we channeled that into a way to help other less fortunate nations therefore inceasing our power and influence.
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