Zachary Wu 2-7-13 American Studies Unit 6 Essay America on the World Stage

Americas Journey to Imperialism

In President George Washingtons Farewell Address of 1796, he said Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.1 This view of isolationism shaped U.S foreign policy for many years. Washington wanted America maximize trade with foreign countries but not to form permanent alliances with other countries. Americans were not politically engaged with other countries because they were too busy doing their own job of Manifest Destiny, conquering the frontier and continually pushing it west until finally in 1890, the government announced the end of the frontier.2 Now that America had finally reached the Pacific, Manifest Destiny was complete. However, the frontier had provided lots of opportunity for Americans, so they decided to keep expanding. An example of this is the Spanish American War of 1898, in which America took multiple islands from Spain.3 However, it was actually before this that America had started to make a change. It was in the earlier 1800s in which America had begun to flex its muscles, ready to expand its reach to other countries in ways that were not only economically based, as George Washington had wanted, but also politically and socially based. America followed isolationist policies for a long time, following to George Washingtons advice. However, in 1820, Christian missionaries and American merchants started to arrive in
1 2 3

"George Washington Quotes." Mark's Quotes. http://www.marksquotes.com/FoundingFathers/Washington/ (accessed February 8, 2013).

Appleby, Joyce, Brinkley, Alan, and McPherson, James M., The American Journey, (McGraw Hill: 2005) (accessed Ibid.

February 9, 2013).

Hawaii, and in the 1830s American sugar plantations in Hawaii began to take control of the economy.4 This was not what Washington wanted; he did not want America to politically influence other countries. As more Americans came to Hawaii looking to join the profitable sugar business, the U.S became dominant Hawaii politically. Americans served as advisers to the ruling Hawaiian family.5 However, trouble for the Americans brewed when Queen Liliuokalani came to power in 1891. She attempted to take away the political powers that American sugar planters held, but in response the planters overthrew her. They set up their own temporary government in 1893, and suddenly America was in charge of Hawaii. However, Hawaiis annexation as a U.S territory was not approved until 1898, because president Grover Cleveland thought that taking over Hawaii was wrong; the annexation was approved in by his successor, President William McKinley, and Hawaii became a territory of the U.S. in 1900. America had traded with foreign countries before, but not until the late 1890s did America start to extend its economic grasp and begin trading in Asia, specifically China. In 1899, Secretary of State John Hay proposed the Open Door policy in China, which would allow any foreign country with a presence in China to trade with any other part of China.6 Before the Open Door policy, China was split up into little spheres of influence under the control of various countries such as Japan, Russia, Great Britain, and France.7 The Open Door cleverly allowed the U.S to trade with any part of China even though they had no sphere of influence there.

4 5

Ibid. Ibid. 6 Appleby, Joyce, Brinkley, Alan, and McPherson, James M., The American Journey, (McGraw Hill: 2005) (accessed
February 9, 2013).
7

Ibid.

The last way that America spread out to foreign countries was by expanding its social influence. Social influence was a huge factor in Americas takeover of the islands of the Pacific, such as Hawaii, because the Christian missionaries established schools, created a Hawaiian alphabet, and translated the Bible to the native Hawaiian language.8 Also, the first step to acquiring the Samoan Islands was to convert the Samoans to Christianity.9 Social influence in other countries was the key for America in dominating all the islands. Some Americans felt like expanding their social influence was important in helping other foreign countries. They felt that they could help uncivilized countries by sharing Christianity and Western beliefs with them.10 A congregational minister named Josiah Strong proposed an imperialism of righteousness with Americans bringing Western culture and religion to foreign countries, such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America.11 Others might say that it was in the late 1800s during the time of the Spanish-American War that America had begun to turn away from isolationism and towards imperialism. The Spanish American War was a big turning point, but since America had already been influencing other countries in economic, political, and social ways in the beginning of the 1800s, they had actually begun to turn earlier. Imperialism is A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.12 The example of Hawaii shows that America

8 9

Appleby, Joyce, Brinkley, Alan, and McPherson, James M., The American Journey, (McGraw Hill: 2005) (accessed

February 9, 2013).

Ibid. Ibid. 11 Ibid.

10 12

"Imperialism | Define Imperialism at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imperialism (accessed February 9, 2013).

started to fit the description of imperialism not just during the late 1800s, but earlier, in the start of the 18th century. America had a dream of becoming an empire, and in the early 1800s they began to accomplish that goal. One of the major contributors to American expansion was Theodore Roosevelt, president of the U.S from 1901 to 1909. During his presidency, he attacked multiple Central American countries, some of whom became American satellites.13 Roosevelt also helped the U.S expand in the Spanish American War, as he personally fought as a Rough Rider. In 1907 Roosevelt sent out the Great White Fleet, a group of 16 beautiful white battleships, around the world to display the power of the U.S Navy.14 He truly helped the U.S expand socially, politically, and economically, and contributed to the making of the American empire.

I have completed this assignment in accordance with the Newark Academy Honor Code _______________________________

13

"American Expansion - Alternative History." Alternative History. http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/American_Expansion(accessed February 9, 2013). 14 Appleby, Joyce, Brinkley, Alan, and McPherson, James M., The American Journey, (McGraw Hill: 2005) (accessed
February 9, 2013).