Theodore Roosevelt American Imperialism

Theodore Roosevelt came into presidency in 1901 towards the end of the Philippine American unofficial “quasi” war. At this point there were two major groups of people in the US known as the Imperialists and the Anti-Imperialists. The Imperialists believed in expansion of American beliefs and values beyond the North American continent, while Anti-Imperialists believed we should focus on our domestic issues before expanding more. Roosevelt was a very strong Imperialist. Theodore Roosevelt’s aggressive foreign approach led to the development of the Panama Canal, involvement in foreign affairs in South America, and his role as a peacemaker on the world stage.

The United States during the early twentieth-century was a heated debate. Constant changes including World War One, the Spanish-American War, and the idea that the United States would join the League of Nations would lead to major debates determining what role the United States should have taken during the constant changing world. This essay is here to go into detail about what the United States should have done during this time period as well as highlight some of the outcomes from a more progressive nation. Imperialism is defined as “The use of diplomatic or military force to extend a nation’s power and enhance its economic interests, often by acquiring territory or colonies and justifying the behavior with assumptions of racial superiority”

There are many theories connecting current and past presidents to imperial presidencies. The definition of an imperial presidency is a president who drifts from the written rules of the constitution. The various remarks and opinions accusing presidents of being imperialistic are generally from these who are conservative. This shows the occasional biasness that people occasionally show. There are many presidents who have perhaps taken their powers too far; Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, and Theodore Roosevelt were all accused of various imperialistic acts.

Trade almost always benefits the countries who participate in it. There have been many trends towards freedom of trade in the United States ever since the very beginning of the nation. Trade boosts the economy by keeping it competitive and lowering prices, which increases the consumers purchasing power. Without trading between nations, the United States wouldn’t be what it is today, trade at the center of the United States is what shaped this country as well as foreign relations. Teddy Roosevelt has influenced trade and foreign relations in the United States arguably more than any other president to this day.

Imperialism was a big impact on the late 1800’s leading into the early 1900’s with counties like the British, Spanish, Russia, and Germany pushing to gain more land in different counties. This would lead to an arms race and the buildup which would lead into World War 1. Many different alliance were made if another country would attack another other countries would help with the fight. This would keep peace till the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.

Republican? Democrat? During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it didn’t matter what political platform you were on, all that mattered was the U.S. expansion to new territories and whether or not the U.S. should have stayed within its boundaries. After the U.S. won the Spanish-American War, attention was placed on new countries, such as the Philippines, and the benefits, or downfalls, of American Imperialism. Imperialism is the policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Ronald Reagan pronounced that exclusive a recharged feeling of national reason could crush the monetary emergency that undermined to demolish the lives of a large number of Americans. Reverberating the dialect of Lincoln and FDR, Reagan lauded the peaceful strength of nationals who penance for the benefit of their nation. That night the new president held the most costly introduction ever. He imported limousines from New York to transport his visitors to eight diverse inaugural balls and enlisted Johnny Carson to have a broadly broadcast affair to honor the event. Among the welcomed visitors were Western oil aristocrats, Wall Street cash men and Hollywood famous people.

He believed that the only way to continue gaining such power was through the growth of our nations land. This very idea intertwines into imperialism, the policy of extending the power of a nation by taking control of other territories. Fredrick believed the success America was achieving was part of our move westward and the physical growth of our nation. However, we soon acquired all the land possible westward, which lead to the need for an expansion abroad. These two ideas being very similar and both followed us into the Spanish American War.

In a time between the beginning of the of the Second Industrialization Revolution and the end of the imperialism movement, there were many changes in America. It is in this context that American ideals changed in the Gilded Age. Farmers and industrial workers responded to industrialization in the Gilded Age from 1865-1900 by forming organizations that allowed for their voices to be recognized and by influencing political parties to help get national legislation passed. Farmers and industrial workers responded to industrialization in the Gilded Age from 1865 to 1900 by forming organizations that allowed for their voices to be recognized within the business industry.

United States Imperialism in the late 19th century was very selfish time. Many people in that time, debated about whether are not benefiting our country was the right way or the wrong way. The motiving factors that impacted our imperialism are economic, military, and cultural. These factors impacted the American Imperialism from 1890-194 by having control over weaker territories meeting our expanding needs.

Following the end of the Industrialist Era and the emergence of countless technological advancements, the United States entered the world stage. The United States was attempting to create an empire by expanding to land outside of its own borders in order to benefit the country’s economic interests. Many citizens, whose views were greatly influenced by their understandings of national identity, saw this overseas expansion in conflicting ways. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these groups differed in their opinions on the idea of expansion due to either their wanting to remain a democratic country built on the ideals of freedom and liberty to preserve their sense of national identity, or their wanting to expand for economic reasons and nationalism. Imperialism, which is the extension of a country’s power and influence through expansion, began as early as the 17th century, when Britain colonized the New World in order to expand economically and gain natural resources for manufacturing.

Before the 20th century the United States was an isolationist nation but around the late 19th century America decided to convert into an imperialist power. They had numerous reasons to shift into being an imperialist nation. America didn’t want to begin imperializing to settle and live in the nations they were taking over, they already had America for that reason, they wanted to adopt these nations for what they had to offer, which was many things. America saw an opportunity to improving their nation and took it. Even if there were many causes for America to imperialize, three of them stood out the most.

At the start of the 19th century, America was already expanding its territory. In 1803, the United States of America had bought the Louisiana Territory, it was bought from France which had made the country two times larger. In 1819 Spain had given up their territory of Florida to the United States. President Monroe issued the “Monroe Doctrine” in 1823, its main purpose was to warn the European countries to not enter the Western Hemisphere. In order for America to achieve its goal of becoming an imperialist nation they had conquered other countries economically, culturally, and with a strong military in the late 1800’s.

Teddy Roosevelt, an imperialist, condemned anyone who was against the takeover of the Philippines (doc5). Before becoming a president teddy Roosevelt saw the United States as a parent to the philippines. After becoming a president Roosevelt felt that the United States needs to be an international police. He recommended his ‘big stick’ policy. This included the Roosevelt corollary as suppose to the Monroe doctrine.

Imperialism was motivated by, “political ambitions… Nation’s will to power… or glory or national greatness,” (Doc 3). Imperialism for many countries is caused to improve the nation’s overall power. Additionally, according to President Mckinley, the U.S.’s involvement of Imperialism in the Philippines, was due to the fact that, “They were unfit for self-government,”(Doc. 7). The U.S. believed that there was nothing else for them to do, but take them over.