Manifest Destiny Imperialism

America: Hypocrisy, Egotism, and Disillusion America is a grand country praised as being “beautiful for spacious skies/For amber waves of grain/For purple mountain majesties/Above the fruited plain” (“America the Beautiful”). The citizens of this country enjoy the rights and liberties granted under the shield of wonderful America. However, “the land of the free and the home of the brave” (“The Star Spangled Banner”) may not be as golden as it appears. While this country is said to be the land of equality, not everyone is truly treated equivalently. Racism towards both other citizens and immigrants is very much alive in modern day society, as well as being prevalent in history. Both Manifest Destiny and Imperialism exemplify the discrimination

In this case, the Americans assumed they were authorized to claim the land because they saw themselves as a superior, more civilized society than that of the Native Americans. In fact, America has a strong antiquity of inflating its self-image. Robert Morgan demonstrates American arrogance when he quotes diplomat and historian George F. Kennan: “ [Americans have] a certain […] desire to appear, particularly to ourselves, as more wise and more noble than we really were.” He also adds that he found “a curious but deeply-rooted sentimentality on our part…arising evidently from the pleasure it gave us to view ourselves as high-minded patrons, benefactors, and teachers of…people less fortunate,” (“There Is No True History…”). A prime example of Americans exerting what they feel is there dominance can be found in the idea of White Man’s Burden. This was a school of thought during American Imperialism serving mainly as an excuse to conquer other nations. White Man’s Burden said that Americans were better, smarter, and more capable than the inhabitants of less advanced countries and suggested that it was the duty of Americans to take over these countries and help them become better. In reality, when Americans tried to execute these beliefs in countries such as the Philippines, their attempts were met with dissatisfaction and rebellion. The other countries did not want to be like America, but Americans

In reality, American history is not entirely just and errorless. Such a history would be impossible to come by. There should be no shame in recognizing mistakes made in the past and learning from them to become a better nation. In his essay, Robert Morgan supports this idea when he writes, “Our greatest hope for the study of history, and of representative lives, is that we many learn from both the successes and the mistakes and begin to understand which is which,” (“There Is No True History…”). Americans need to swallow some of their pride and openly examine their egotism. Conversely, it should be noted that not all Americans are hypocrites. Many United States citizens are open-minded and willing to accept new ideas as well as new people into the nation. However, there are still too many Americans blinded by their ignorance and façade of perfection. Racism and bigotry towards both citizens and immigrants is rampant throughout the country. It is evident that America is not a flawless nation by any means. American society has always been, but hopefully will not continue to be, plagued with hypocrisy, egotism, and