America's Age of Imperialism
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America's Age of Imperialism
America's age of imperialism did not last for long. It took place in the 1890s and spilled over to early 1900(Brands, 2002). It is major aim of acquiring colonies overseas despite indigenous resistance was to have raw materials for their fast expanding industrial base, markets for products and labor from the colonies(Trask, 1981). They had no intention of relinquishing statehood and citizenship to their colonies, thus the resistance they witnessed. The most memorable is the Filipino Insurrection which took place between 1899 and 1902. After driving away the Spanish from Philippines, the Americans denied Filipinos their independence. Many civilians from Philippine lost their lives trying to regain their independence (Ileto, 2005). This paper will examine how America foreign policy grew to be more interventionist and more aggressive in late 1890s to early 1900s.
In 1890 United States began to use imperialist approaches it had formerly criticized other colonialists for. By 1896, it had annexed Hawaii islands following it increased sugar plantations. During the same period, they were advocating for the infamous ‘open trade policy’ to China. Americans were motivated by the ‘white man’s burden’ of political, economic, religious and social intrigues(Taylor, 1971). This concept was as flourishing in the US as it was in many other European countries. Some Americans opposed imperialism on moral ground while the proponents such as Theodore Roosevelt articulated for it through initiatives such building of Panama Canal and military combat. In America, it was viewed as a way of becoming the world’s super power though economic, political, religious and social influences.
A close examination of United States policy in late 1890s exposes some form pattern of colonialism among Native Americans(Williams, 1980). The extended the same...