How Did America Change To Imperialism

A Change to Imperialism

After the civil war, Americans remained surprisingly aloof to the outside world. Because America was struggling with many problems over Reconstruction, such as trying to maintain a steady flow in the economy and settle the West, many Americans weren’t very concerned with foreign affairs. There was a drastic shift, however, that made America change from isolationism to imperialism in the early 20th century. America made this drastic shift because it wanted to expand and gain prestige, convert people into one’s own beliefs (missionary zeal), and indulge itself in foreign affairs to aid its economy and marketing. With the control of the Panama Canal, America was then able to obtain its worldwide power.

Originally, America

At that point, expansionism could potentially pose danger to the military in America. The Spanish-American war is a prime example of how expanding was a dangerous expedition and how “yellow journalism” can have a negative impact on people’s perspectives about crisis’s. America sent the battleship Maine to Cuba for a “friendly visit,” but in reality, it was a way to protect any Americans if a “flare-up” were to occur. Tragedy then struck when the Maine mysteriously exploded. Spaniard officials eventually came to the conclusion that the explosion must have been an internal problem, but at the time, problems arose when American naval officers suspected it was a Spanish submarine that had actually blown up the Maine. Although President McKinley didn’t want to start a war, “yellow journalism” had rallied the furious American citizens and pressured McKinley to issue a declaration of war. A war came after President McKinley gave into the pressure coming from the American public. After America won the war, the Platt Amendment replaced the joint resolution, giving America the power to override Cuba’s

James G. Blaine created his “Big Sister Policy” that urged Latin American markets to trade with American markets. These Latin American nations, which were already under American control, created minor disputes with some countries such as Italy and Chile. With a close call to war, the policy then flourished in 1889, when Blaine “presided over the First International Conference of the American States.”

After the death of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt was then elected president of the United States. Roosevelt quickly wanted to take over the Panama Canal. Since the middle of the 19th century, America had only dreamed of building a canal that would link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. With this canal, America would be able to trade more easily with other countries, making it the leader of the imperial race around the world. Although it was a very hard project that was very costly and that had failed various times, this canal was a major event that helped America in many