Essay, Research Paper: American Imperialism
American History
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The United States became an imperialist nation at the end of the 19th
century because Americans wanted to expand over seas with their belief in
manifest destiny. The three factors that started American imperialism were
political and military competition including the creation of a strong naval
force, economic competition among industrial nations and a belief in the racial
and cultural superiority of people of Anglo-Saxon decent. The Spanish American
War marked the emergence of the United States as a world power. This brief war
lasted less than four months from April 25 to August 12, 1898. A number of
factors contributed to the United States decision to go to war against Spain.
These included the Cuban struggle for independence, American imperialism and the
sinking of the United States warship “Maine”. As a result of the war Spain
ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United
States in turn, paid Spain $20,000,000 for public property in the Philippine
Islands. The United States gained colonies on both sides of the Pacific
including Hawaii. On August 12, 1898 Congress took control and proclaimed Hawaii
American territory, and issued the open door policy, which were messages that
president John Hay sent to Germany, France, Russia, Britain, Italy and Japan
asking the countries not to interfere with the United States trading rights in
China. The United States had long been interested in a Central American canal to
link its east and west coasts, expand trade and for military interest. In 1902
President Theodore Roosevelt decided on Panama over Nicaragua and negotiated a
treaty with Columbia giving the United States permission for the canal project.
The Panamanians had authorized Philippe Bunau-Varilla an official of the French
Canal Company to negotiate the terms and sign the agreement. The treaty also
gave the United States the right to control the Canal Zone as if it were United
States territory, and to annex more land if necessary for the Canal. The United
States agreed to grant Panama’s independence and pay $10 million, plus an
annual fee of $250,000 per year. The total cost of the construction of the Canal
was nearly $400 million dollars. On August 15, 1914 the Canal opened for
business. Control of the Panama Canal enhanced the power of the United States,
however the way the canal was built damaged United States-Latin American
relations. Imperialism has proven both destructive and creative, for better or
for worse, it has destroyed traditional institutions and ways of thinking and
has replaced them with the habits and mentality of the Western world
century because Americans wanted to expand over seas with their belief in
manifest destiny. The three factors that started American imperialism were
political and military competition including the creation of a strong naval
force, economic competition among industrial nations and a belief in the racial
and cultural superiority of people of Anglo-Saxon decent. The Spanish American
War marked the emergence of the United States as a world power. This brief war
lasted less than four months from April 25 to August 12, 1898. A number of
factors contributed to the United States decision to go to war against Spain.
These included the Cuban struggle for independence, American imperialism and the
sinking of the United States warship “Maine”. As a result of the war Spain
ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United
States in turn, paid Spain $20,000,000 for public property in the Philippine
Islands. The United States gained colonies on both sides of the Pacific
including Hawaii. On August 12, 1898 Congress took control and proclaimed Hawaii
American territory, and issued the open door policy, which were messages that
president John Hay sent to Germany, France, Russia, Britain, Italy and Japan
asking the countries not to interfere with the United States trading rights in
China. The United States had long been interested in a Central American canal to
link its east and west coasts, expand trade and for military interest. In 1902
President Theodore Roosevelt decided on Panama over Nicaragua and negotiated a
treaty with Columbia giving the United States permission for the canal project.
The Panamanians had authorized Philippe Bunau-Varilla an official of the French
Canal Company to negotiate the terms and sign the agreement. The treaty also
gave the United States the right to control the Canal Zone as if it were United
States territory, and to annex more land if necessary for the Canal. The United
States agreed to grant Panama’s independence and pay $10 million, plus an
annual fee of $250,000 per year. The total cost of the construction of the Canal
was nearly $400 million dollars. On August 15, 1914 the Canal opened for
business. Control of the Panama Canal enhanced the power of the United States,
however the way the canal was built damaged United States-Latin American
relations. Imperialism has proven both destructive and creative, for better or
for worse, it has destroyed traditional institutions and ways of thinking and
has replaced them with the habits and mentality of the Western world
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