Us History - Different Causes For The Expanding Role Of The Us

Evaluate the relative importance of different causes for the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 to 1910 Contextualization • The impact of the Civil War on the United States role in the world • International competition to establish colonies and maintain empires from 1865 to 1910 • Increasing United States industrialization and saturation of the domestic market, resulting in a desire to develop new global markets for goods • The closing of the frontier Coming out of the Civil War, the United State has never been so divided. The controversy of slavery divided the northern and southern into a bloody war. However, whether either side took the victory or defeat, it opened doors of opportunity for United States to experience the rapid economic growth. The nation became a land of opportunity, especially for immigrants as they start settling here in United States. The Fist Transcontinental Railroad was built between 1862 and 1869 for it to connect California to the Union during the Civil War. It was completed in 1868 that brought economic, cultural, and political significance to the development of the United States. The railroad opened markets for goods for products to be manufactured from the east to be imported to the west. From the west, the products would be sold to country like Asia. The endless cycle of raw material being transported and imported accelerated industrial bloom after the Civil War. In 1859, Charles Darwin philosophy of Social Darwinism fostered imperialistic expansion by proposing that some people were more fitted than others. The Europeans believed that they, as the white race who were more dominant and superior was only natural for them to conquer the “inferior” people. Thus, the conquest of inferior people was just, and the wipe out of other races was obligated. Outside Information • The annexation of Guam at the end of the Spanish American War (1898) could be used as evidence about the expansion of the United States beyond North America and in the Pacific. • The overthrow and annexation of Hawaii from 1894 to 1898 could be used as evidence of United States efforts to expand its control over other kingdoms or nations in the same period. • Missionary work could be used as evidence beyond the documents of the efforts of Americans to extend cultural influence and assert cultural superiority over other nations through the spread of Christianity (“White Man’s Burden”). • The United States efforts to bring peace through diplomacy at the end of the Russo-Japanese War could serve as evidence of its more visible role as an international power. • Spanish-American War • Platt Amendment • Insular cases • Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine • Panama Canal • Great White Fleet • Big Stick/Big Brother Policies “Doc. 6 depicts Uncle Sam, its purpose showing the US having control over the country, trying to seem generous, when it actually isn’t.” Through the age of imperialism, United States primarily sought to increase its role in the world due to the notion that America and the American lifestyle was more superior and to also gain strategic territory to expand their influence globally. Depicts Uncle Sam, its purpose showing the United Stated having control over the country, trying to seem generous, when it actually isn’t. The cartoonist depicted Uncle Sam as an Imperialist giving the Filipinos a choice as to how it would like to be conquered either through peacefully or by military means. Through the application of social Darwinism, In Our Country: Its possible Future and Its Present Crisis, United States imperialism promotes ideas about racial competition and “Anglo-Saxon” superiority who felt the need to Christianized and rule the land through the means of God. This is also tied through the application of Social Darwinism, because through the unoccupied territory, race will soon compete for land, and to claim what they think belongs to them. Those who are more fitted, in this instance the Anglo Saxon believe their superiority should conqueror the “inferior” of other races. The Monroe Doctrine indicated United States would isolate itself from European affairs, which included not interfering in existing European colonies on the American continents. It also means that European colonies could not trespass or attempt to further colonize the Western Hemisphere or it would be seen as a hostile act. John Hay, Secretary of State also negotiated a policy in which foreign powers in China would agree to maintain an Open-Door policy to protect economic interest. The Note advocated that the United States intervene into the affairs of China in collaboration with the other European powers to put down the Boxer Rebellion