Imperialism Essay, Research Paper

U.S. IMPERIALISM AROUND THE WORLD ESSAY

Imperialism, the process of building empires by controlling the politics and the economics in other countries, was in full effect around the 19th century. Most world powers were using the idea of imperialism; particularly the United States. The United States imperialistic ways helped it become the most powerful of world powers, although, at the expense of other countries well-being.

In the case of the Philippine Islands, President Mckinley did not feel that he should give the islands back to Spanish misrule. Nevertheless, he did not feel too comfortable with leaving the region without a system of government. There were two different views on what to do with the Philippines. Business people argued that the islands had a strong source of raw materials that could help the U.S. s economy. Politicians argued that the islands were in good strategic position for trade with China. President Mckinley declared that the Filipinos were unfit to govern themselves, and therefore it was the United States duty to create a government. In turn, President Mckinley paid twenty million dollars to Spain for the purchase of the Philippines. Once the rebels heard that they were not going to get independence, they rebelled. For three years the Americans and the Filipinos fought. The Americans crushed the Filipinos, for a sum of over six-hundred million dollars. In this case the Americans demonstrated imperialism through force and through political domination over the Philippines.

Since the Spanish-American War, the U.S. had been interested in building a canal across Central America. Most politicians were in favor of the canal because it would increase overseas trade and would allow warships to get to their location faster. The U.S. offered Colombia a treaty that said that the U.S. would pay ten million dollars as a down payment and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars every year for the lease of Panama. The Colombian senate unanimously voted against the treaty. In return, having organized many rebellions before, the Panamanians rebelled again, only this time with the help of the U.S. Navy. The Panamanians along with the navy won their independence rather easily. As a result of the U.S. s involvement with Colombia, the Latin and European powers lost most of its respect for the United States. The Panama Canal was opened in 1914; there were up to four hundred thousand men working on the canal. Once the canal was opened many countries prospered, but none as much as the U.S. did. This example of imperialism profited the U.S. greatly, but destroyed Colombia for a period of time. This incident was a result of one President s selfish attempt to greatness .

By the late nineteenth century the Dominican Republic won its independence from Spain. Once it succeeded in winning its independence, the republic was left in a state of total mayhem. This led to the rise of Ulises Heureaux. He was one of the first dictators in the Dominican Republic, and brought foreign investment to the Republic. Americans and other world powers saw the Dominican Republic as an opportunity to sell equipment and help develop the Republics water and power supplies. Eventually Heureaux, acquired more debts than his country could afford. In 1899 Heureaux was assassinated. This left the country with no system of government and yet again, in a state of mayhem. In turn, President Roosevelt agreed to takeover the country s debts under the condition that the U.S. would take over the Dominican import duties. When confronted about this, Roosevelt justified his action by extending the Monroe Doctrine. In this extension , he wrote that the U.S. acted as a policeman in Latin American countries. Latin countries were infuriated by this declaration. The growth of U.S. businesses did not improve or stabilize the country. President Wilson sent Marines to the Dominican Republic in order to establish a military government and bring the country to order. This also was an example in imperialism. Although, more or less an example of Dollar Diplomacy , which is also a branch of imperialism, where the U.S. decided that they would take over the Republic s debts after it had nowhere else to turn on the condition that the U.S. would run the import/export duties.

Considering all aspects mentioned, the U.S., in many cases should not have interfered in other countries affairs. This later became obvious to the U.S. when they realized that they might not have made the very best choices concerning foreign affairs. Thus the U.S. repaid the countries with all it knew; money. In any case, the U.S. could be considered a big business. After all it does have one of the biggest monopolies in the world.

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