American Imperialism Overview

American Imperialism

• Originated as an isolationist nation, prioritizing non-involvement in foreign affairs (George Washington's leadership).
• Traditional imperialism involved powerful nations controlling weaker ones through various means.
• Pre-American imperialism includes Great Britain, France, Russia, and Spain.
• Post-Civil War (1865), the U.S. sought global power and presence, driven by military modernization (Alfred Thayer Mahan).

Methods of American Imperialism

• Economic influence on foreign economies.
• Military intervention and intimidation of other countries.
• Cultural and religious influence over other cultures and societies.

Reasons for American Imperialism

• Post-Civil War reconstruction and economic growth (Gilded Age) led to the seeking of outside markets.
• Social Darwinism (Charles Darwin's philosophy implying survival of the fittest) and justification of dominance.
• Manifest Destiny: Belief in the right to land from the Atlantic to Pacific. Further expansion via territorial acquisition.
• The Cold War (1945-1991): Competition with the USSR for global influence.

Manifest Destiny

• Driven by the desire to expand to the Pacific.
• Expansion across the continent (1800s).
• Territories like Alaska, Cuba, and Hawaii were seen as potential targets.
• Cuba was initially sought by 1865 but political concerns about free/slave states prevented its acquisition.

Cold War

• Global conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (1945-1991).
• Proxy wars like Korea (1950-1953) and Vietnam (1954-1973) showcased rival ideological assertions.
• U.S. sought to spread democracy and capitalism, which was a form of influencing smaller countries.

U.S. Territories

• Alaska: Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million.
• Hawaii: Annexed in 1897 after an American coup in 1893, following the economic interests of American sugar growers. Initial opposition from President Cleveland, but ultimately annexed.

American "Diplomacy"

• Theodore Roosevelt: "Big Stick Diplomacy" – military might & intimidation. U.S. Panama Canal, military buildup.
• William Howard Taft: "Dollar Diplomacy" – economic investment to dominate foreign economies. U.S. investment in foreign countries, protection of American interests.
• Woodrow Wilson: "Moral Diplomacy" – diplomacy to grow democracy & capitalism by diplomatic means, despite frequent military intervention. Intervention in Mexican Revolution, Haiti, and elsewhere.

Indigenous Wars

• Indigenous people faced consistent displacement and removal (Treaty of Greeneville, the Indian Removal Act of 1830).
• Violence and resistance were often met with force, frequently leading to loss of culture and control.

American Imperialism Today

• Modern involvement in the Middle East (Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan) is used as an example of contemporary American influence.
• Debates regarding success and criticisms of this practice.