Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mr. Gillard
AP US History
1 February 2007
DBQ 2
Throughout history, America has believed that it was their destiny to colonize the
world. Manifest destiny, as it was called, was partly the main reason for the colonization
of what is now the United States of America. Past manifest destiny, though it was in the
past, continued throughout history, with changes of course. In more “modern” expansion
ism, there were different goals, but the American people were still trying to achieve mani
fest destiny.
The one true goal that remained the same throughout history was the belief that,
in a sense, everything belonged to the United States. When the US decided to go after the
Philippines in1898, they believed that “… The Philippines [were theirs] forever…” (Doc
E). The continuation of past expansionism is shown by the attitude of certain Americans
towards the Philippines.
As America changed, so did expansionism. No longer was expansionism purely
just for expansion. It transformed into a surrogate “power play”. The US wanted to feel in
control of something, such as with the Open Door Policy in 1899 by Secretary of State
John Hay. His “misinterpretation” of the agreement by the foreign countries in China cre
ated a way for America to monitor other countries currently in other countries (Doc G).
Even though, the US didn’t technically “take over” China, they still found a way to control
it, fulfilling their expansionist goals, to be in control of another country. That new ambi
tion of wanting to be in control of another country, and not necessarily colonize it
changed the past expansionism.
Expansionism, though it essentially remained the same through time, there were
changes. Not everyone in manifest destiny saw it as a mission to colonize the world. Their
views changed to that of manifest destiny as a way to protect their main cities. People saw
expansionism as a way to keep foreign nations from acquiring land “… within three thou
sand miles of San Francisco…” and other major cities (Doc C). Expansionism changed to
fit that of a defensive goal.
Past expansionism continued on through history with only minor changes. Up to a
certain point, expansionism was as it had originally begun but after that point things like
defense began to be included in the reasons for expansionism. Expansionism was still a
major part of American culture, just with a few things added to originally concept.