Benefits Of American Imperialism

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American Imperialism Imperialism is the advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas. This is how America came to be the most powerful nation, by eliminating racial discrimination. In the late Nineteenth Century, interests, ideology, and strategic interests encouraged American imperialism. Economic interests in other countries are what helped America improve their economic status. Making more trading routes around the world will increase trade with other countries. A base in Hawaii increased trade with other countries since Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines help set up eastern…show more content…
This is the most significant reason for our aggressive policy of expansion with political, economic, and military control as major objectives. We were looking for markets, which is the easiest way to colonize. In addition, investment opportunities like produce in Hawaii and certain mines in Philippines were noticed and desired. In Henry Cabot Lodge's "Our Blundering Foreign Policy," he reaffirms this point saying, "In the interests of our commerce and of our fullest development we should build the Nicaraguan canal, and ... for the sake of our commercial supremacy in the Pacific, we should control Hawaii and Samoa." The overseas territories were teeming with a cheap labor force, this would allow American goods to be made at a decreased cost. Finally, these foreign lands were loaded with raw materials that could easily be used in American…show more content…
The attitude, "we're as good as European nations" was amplified more than ever by the jingoists, or extreme nationalists. Echoing this sentiment, Josiah Strong's "Our Country," recognizes the Anglo-Saxon advantage on the west shores of the Atlantic. As America sought to grow, America also sought to protect its overseas territories, and, more importantly, its existing territories. By acquiring Alaska, the Alleutian Islands, Midway Island, Hawaii, Guam, and Samoa, the perimeter of America extended. This issue of national security as a root for imperialism was mentioned in Henry Cabot Lodge's "Our Blundering Foreign Policy." Religious reasons also propelled imperialism. Missionaries sought to convert the inhabitants of foreign lands by convincing them that, "what we have is better." It's a new zeal that actually got the imperialism ball rolling. In fact, missionaries made the first contact with Hawaii in the 1850s to Christianize the islands, and at this time we learned of its perfect sugar-growing
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