Imperialism Dbq Essay

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During the late 19th and early 20th century the United States began to expand internationally, adopting a new imperialistic foreign policy. While the transition from westward expansion to imperialism was a change geographically, the new imperialistic direction the United States, was taking was a continuation of the old ideas of expanding west.
Motives for expansionism remain the same the ideals of westward expansion continuing into a new era of American foreign policy. Much of America’s motive for an aggressive imperialist policy is the desire for land and wealth. As depicted in the political cartoon, “The World Plunders” by Thomas Nast, competition between imperialist powers left underdeveloped nations at the mercy of these countries(doc a). Competing with other nations in order to safeguard the interests of the United States was not a new concept introduced by imperialism, but rather a old ideal encouraged by the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine encouraged Americans to take control of the lands in the western hemisphere viewing interference by foreign nations in these spheres of influence as hostile. The Monroe Doctrine placed responsibility on the US to exercising “international policy …show more content…

Since these underdeveloped nations have no means to protect themselves from American interference as well as other nations America has the right to take over similar to how colonists invaded on Native American lands when America was first colonized. The platform of the Anti-Imperialist League saw the “criminal aggression” in the Philippines as blood on Americans hands that undermines the foundation of the Republic(doc d). The death of Filipinos can be connected to the destruction of natives culture when white people first settled in America. However, unlike Native American, Filipinos were not forced from their land and also not annexed into the US due to racial differences(doc