The History of American Expansion | Excelsior Classes
The American Expansion
For a large portion of its time throughout its history, the United States has subscribed to expansionism. What exactly is expansionism? The expansionism definition in US history is a reference to the methods and policies of invading foreign territories to expand their territory, influence of politics or ideologies. American Expansion can be traced back to the beginning of English settlement along the coasts of America. The colonists wanted to extend their influence inward and waged war with Native Americans to do so. Following the time when the United States achieved its independence from Britain, America expanded westward by military conquest and acquisition of colonies. After having reached the Pacific Coast The United States looked to other new territories, most notably in the Caribbean along with the Pacific in the course of and following the 1890s. Following the Second World War, the United States abandoned annexing new territories as well as removing colonies like the Philippines. But, the creation of US bases around the world and the ongoing US interventions in other countries could be described as Westward Expansion In America.
In the midst of what would be the future United States, the early English colonists were also expanding, as was evident in wars such as King Phillip's War, in which the colonists of New England waged a violent campaign against Native Americans to expand. This incident is an illustration of settler colonialism when colonists gain control over new territories and force indigenous people to expand.
Manifest Destiny
After the United States gained independence from Britain the early United States continued these policies of American Expansion. The leadership looked north to Canada and towards the south-facing islands in the Caribbean and west to vast territories that lie between the US with the Pacific. West proved simpler, as France was willing to sell the vast Louisiana territory Louisiana during 1804. It was the time when the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and opened up new areas to American settlement. In the beginning, the 18th century Westward Expansion In America became the powerful belief of Manifest Destiny. The belief was that God has ordained allow the United States to expand across the continent. In 1848 it was the year that the United States won the Mexican-American War against Mexico and gained control over the northern part of the country which was situated from Texas along the Pacific Ocean. In the following years, the US began wars to evict the indigenous people of these lands, forcing them into reservations in unhospitable areas.
However, the Westward Expansion In America of the territory caused fierce political debates within Congress about whether to allow slavery to be practiced in the new territories which eventually led to Civil War, in which the anti-slavery group from the north won.
White Man's Burden
While there was a sense that Civil War was over, tensions within the domestic sphere continued to rage throughout the United States. A short period of military occupation by the northern states ended in the south while African Americans were again subjected to discrimination based on race. By the time the 1890s arrived tensions in the United States had reached an extreme level. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, many Americans worked in factories and suffered abuses by the elites of wealth. As a result, attempts were made to unite workers to receive benefits. This led to clashes between business owners and employees.
In the meantime, Americans increasingly established commercial companies throughout the Caribbean. With this increased money and it was believed that the United States could build a modern navy. This led to the belief that the US ought to be a rival on the international stage. A lot of people also believe in "the White Man's Burden," in which it was claimed that white political and cultural structures were superior to others. So, white-ruled nations like the United States had a responsibility to "teach" others their ways by taking control of their nations and changing their structures. This idea was derived from the work of Rudyard Kipling "The White Man's Burden," which is a poem that argues for it was the responsibility of the US to take over the Philippines published in the London newspaper The Times.
These forces prompted the United States to intervene in the Cuban War for Independence. After an American ship called the USS Maine which was a ship that exploded in Havana Harbor, the US blamed Spain and declared War. During the Spanish-American War, the US took control of several Spanish colonial areas, including Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and the Philippines in Asia. Although the US was not legally able to make Cuba a colony, in reality, it was. In the meantime, the US established a colony in Hawaii and established control over a huge portion of Panama to build an oceanic canal.
Wilsonian Idealism
Following the Spanish-American War, the United States had a vast empire that stretched across Asia up to the Caribbean. The US maintained a watchful eye on the neighboring regions to safeguard this vast empire, ensuring security. In 1904 President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the Roosevelt Corollary in which he declared that the United States would intervene in domestic matters throughout Latin America if the governments did not maintain stability. The policy served as a justification for the US intervening in the Dominican Republic, whose government was deeply in debt. American growthism during the 1900s was also described as Wilsonian Idealism, which was the belief it was the responsibility of the US should support capitalism and democracy through the use of force, if necessary. Capitalism, in this context, is usually a reference to US corporations. In the early 1900s especially in the era of US president Woodrow Wilson, the US intervened in several instances across Latin America to overthrow leaders who were believed to be against capitalism and democracy. Although there was no evidence that the US did not acquire large territories during the period, aside from island territories within the Caribbean and Pacific, it is worth declaring these policies to be expansionist because they increased US commercial and political power.
Modern American Expansionism
After and during World War Two, the US continued to pursue its policies of Westward Expansion In America. Direct annexation was not utilized in all circumstances however, there was a time when the United States did lease a vast base of military facilities throughout the globe. Intervention to establish US beliefs and values is currently the most frequent type of American Expansion. Following WW2 and throughout the Cold War, the US tried to spread global capitalism and democracy with the help of communism and fascism.
Following the collapse of the USSR collapsed in 1991 In 1991, the US was driven to act on its Responsibility to Protect concept. This concept believed that all nations were an obligation of protecting the citizens of dictatorships from brutality as well as it was the reason that the US was able to intervene in Yugoslavia because of this.
Following the 9/11 Terror Attacks on the United States, President George W. Bush started his War on Terror against terrorist groups, especially Islamic extremists, and nations that are accused of supporting terrorists, or disrupting peace in the world, like Iraq or Afghanistan.
Justifications for the American Expansion
Although the US has presented a myriad of motives to justify its expansionist policies there is an obvious connection and continuity between the two. Theoretically, it is believed that the US is driven by the notion of the US has superior institutions in its domestic system in comparison to other nations and should consequently expand these institutions. This is the main connection between "the White Man's Burden" and the modern responsibility to protect. These arguments are also linked to the commercial and security interest and commercial interests of the United States. Realist fears like violent civil wars or threats towards American power were key reasons behind the majority of US intervention abroad. Concerns about commercial issues, like opposition to American companies or the potential to expand markets or business, also influenced the US's actions abroad.
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