ipl-logo

American Exceptionalism In The 19th Century

784 Words4 Pages

The rise of the United States to an international hegemonic position was accompanied by the conviction of its citizens to be part of a success story. This positive sentiment was consolidated as a national project based on values such as freedom, egalitarianism and "laissez-faire". The way of conceiving the country's position in the world was mediated by the notion of American exceptionalism based on its self-perception. Since the United States became a superpower with interests around the world, two issues were raised in its foreign policy. The first of them was how to prevent a politics of supremacy from becoming imperialism. The second question determine if the moral values of the nation could be harmonized with the reality of its international objectives.
Although at the beginning of the 19th century there were some academic exchanges supported by the government, it was at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th when the use of culture as an instrument of foreign policy …show more content…

Its objectives were to convince its receivers of military power and American good faith; defenders of freedom and the improvement of living conditions throughout the world against totalitarian

Show More
Related
1031 Words | 5 Pages

Entering WWII brought America out of its depression and into the complicated world of political affairs. The change of U.S. foreign policy from the end of the First World War to the end of the Korean War changed drastically as the U.S. became a stronger world power. From isolationism to encouragement of interventions, it can be said that the U.S. reversed its policy within a few decades. The shift in its policy can be attributed to the international wars that got the U.S. involved with world politics, involvement of U.S. presidents in the world affairs, and the growing power of other foreign powers, such as the Soviet Union. Wars are the one of the central factors in international affairs.

Read More
338 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
1007 Words | 5 Pages

When America, as we know it today, was created, it had just freed itself from an unwanted, suffocating European power. The people wanted nothing to do with foreign affairs and their presidents’ policies reflected that. As America moved forward and established themselves as a world power, they began to want more. At the turn of the twentieth century, this want for more hit its peak and because of other circumstances, more was just within reach. America had always prided themselves in staying out of foreign problems and focusing inward, but now a new age was dawning.

Read More
1764 Words | 8 Pages

As America became a great power, it has continued its legacy of territorial expansionism through neo-imperialist policies. Aside from acquiring land and expanding American territory, the United States has established policies that have allowed direct and often indirect military and political control, economic exploitation, and the introduction of American ideals. The U.S. has justified this form of colonialism by claiming that it is for mutual economic pursuits, the spreading of democracy, and the establishment of stable governments in developing countries. Despite America’s noble causes, American imperialism has caused many repercussions. The United States should cease to be an imperialist power as it is economically damaging to countries under its rule, costly to America, violates the fundamental American principle of self-governance, and exacerbates social and political situations in countries America has tampered with.

Read More
1362 Words | 6 Pages

American Exceptionalism was coined by Alexis de Tocqueville in his book Democracy in America. To illustrate how the American way of thought is superior to the other ways of the world, Tocqueville expresses that the American way of thought is distinctively unique and special. This distinction is exemplified through liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and Laissez-Faire Economics. These qualities prove America’s exceptionality and difference from other countries. Although American Exceptionalism originated in the early 1800s, the idyllic values Tocqueville paints in his book can be seen throughout American history.

Read More
592 Words | 3 Pages

On January 6th, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his eighth State of the Union address to Congress, known as the speech of the “Four Freedoms.” The purpose of this speech was to persuade Americans to shift their attention from the Axis threat to the British and allied troops in desperate need of support. During the time of this address, America was in a great state of isolationism. The majority of Americans sought to disassociate themselves from any foreign ties, including wars. “Policies to curb immigration quotas and increase tariffs on imported goods were implemented, and a series of Neutrality Acts passed in the 1930’s limited American arms and munitions assistance abroad” (“The Four Freedoms”1).

Read More
1039 Words | 5 Pages

The United States had for years been improving and growing rapidly. Away from the other world powers in Europe, they were able to avoid their conflicts for a long time, but that changed. America got involved in World War One and it affected some of their advancements. U.S imperialism was able to thrive in WWI, with America using the power to expand their empire. American progressivism however, fell between the cracks and disappeared for a long while during and after the war.

Read More
1231 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More
228 Words | 1 Pages

The United States in the 20th century had all these great inventions like steel and the automobile. The United States wanted the world to start to notice the improvements and show that it has power and successes. The United States started to show its power as a global superpower was through foreign trade with other bigger countries like Asia, which brought European and Asian immigrant to work in the United States. The United States noticed that its economy was growing and increasing and wanted to protect its economy around the world which caused it to intervene in Mexico, china, and the Middle East.

Read More
832 Words | 4 Pages

From colonial times until the end of the Indian Wars in 1890, the people in America went through a series of unfair and unfortunate events. Mainly for the Indians which are also called the first peoples. These events could have been handled with much more consideration for the Indians. There are many times when the Americans went too far including the Removal Act of 1830, the Reservation System, and the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians.

Read More
842 Words | 4 Pages

Exam Paper 1 In what ways did the American West of the late nineteenth century represent a contrast to the East? In what ways did the two regions resemble each other?

Read More
744 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
768 Words | 4 Pages

The nineteenth century isolationism was a movement of the United States to become an independent nation. They did not want allies and they wanted to be their own country. Meaning they did not want to be part of the UN. A lot of countries at the tim were becoming independent at the time because they felt compelled as a nation to come together in union. A lot of countries did not realize at the time that because their was a strong sense of nationalism.

Read More
951 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the 19th century Native Americans were treated far less than respectful by the United States’ government. This was the time when the United States wanted to expand and grow rapidly as a land, and to achieve this goal, the Native Americans were “pushed” westward. It was a memorable and tricky time in the Natives’ history, and the US government made many treatments with the Native Americans, making big changes on the Indian nation. Native Americans wanted to live peacefully with the white men, but the result of treatments and agreements was not quite peaceful. This precedent of mistreatment of minorities began with Andrew Jackson’s indian removal policies to the tribes of Oklahoma (specifically the Cherokee indians) in 1829 because of the lack of respect given to the indians during the removal laws.

Read More
718 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

More about American Exceptionalism In The 19th Century

Related Topics

Open Document