Interventions into the political affairs of foreign countries and the internationalizing of American markets were not new ideas to the leaders of the late 19th century America (Zinn, H., 1980), but during the latter 1800’s, the United States took a much grander step into the policies of Imperialism. American leaders in favor of expanding the United States sphere of control throughout Latin American and the Pacific regions realized the lucrative advantages of foreign investments. Increased access to foreign markets afforded profits for exporting, and resources from distant lands provided more materials for US manufacturing (Jones, et al). Profits could be made in spite of the depression of 1893(Jones, et. Al). American leaders had long watched European nations rush to control foreign markets. Theodore Roosevelt perpetrated the view of the “American manifest destiny” (Jones, et al), and thus the lure of expansionist policies had begun. But not all Americans favored these polices. Many such as Mark Twain recognized the dangers of Imperialism and founded the “Anti- Imperialist League” to counter it. Thousands of Cubans, Hawaiians, and Filipinos died fighting to retain control of their lands. Continuing throughout the 20th century, America has involved itself in numerous foreign conflicts to varying degrees of success and tremendous loss of lives (Jones, et al). Today, we still see overseas policies with a suggestion of Imperialism. Military regime changes in foreign countries are often touted as promotion of democracy, but are closely imbedded with American economic interests.
Description: In the back of the classroom students representing California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Alaska are quietly reading. In the front row are boys representing the Philippines, Porto (sic) Rico, Cuba, and Hawai'i looking as if they would rather not be there.
Courtesy of the Hawai'i State Archives
Retrieved from http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/~soma/cartoons/school.html
References
Jones, J., Wood, P.H., Borstelmann, T., May, E.T., and Ruiz, Vicki (2008). Created Equal: A social and political history of the United States. New York: Pearson Education, Inc.
Zinn, H. (1980). A people’s history of the United States. Retrieved on 6/12/2010 from http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnempire12.htm
