The American Age Of Imperialism: Gilded And Progressive Era

The American Age of Imperialism was the time period that took place after the Gilded and Progressive Eras, as they emerged as a great power with new economic opportunities that resulted from those times. In the early 1900s, American Westward expansion had ended as the frontier was considered closed. However, Americans wanted more so they looked elsewhere for land. This is when they entered into imperialism when a country expands its policy through diplomatic or military means. To America, this meant taking control of small islands to the south considered inferior, expanding trade into Asia, and justifying with the belief racist supremacy belief that America is “saving” them. By the end of this time, America was considered a great power. The

In the early 1900s, America along with Japan, Russia, and even Britain all looked to expand trade into Asia. One of the most sought-after areas was Manchuria in Northeast China. The land and the expansion of the railroad showed a huge opportunity for economic growth and success. In order to allow equal access to the area, Secretary of State John Hay sent out a series of notes called the Open Door notes which called Japan, Russia, and Britain to allow equal access to all of China’s markets and protection of China’s territory and sovereignty (Hay). However, after the Russo-Japanese war, Russia’s hand over the territory had weakened and much of the control was given to Japan. Seeing this, America worried that this would threaten the open-door policy that was unofficially agreed upon by the notes(Milestones). This was only the beginning of tensions between America and Japan. In 1915, Japan ordered its 21 Demands which increased China’s sovereignty so much that America felt it had no choice but to intervene with diplomacy if it wanted to secure the open door. Japan sent diplomat Viscount Ishii to negotiate with Secretary of State Bryan Lansing dealing with (Bailey 634). Ishii’s main goals were to get America to acknowledge their “paramount interests” while America wanted affirmation that the open door would stay open. The result of their

At the turn of the century, America and Japan were in good spirits with each other. In President William McKinely’s Annual Message to Congress, he reported “Japan's declarations in favor of the integrity of the Chinese Empire and the conservation of open world trade therewith have been frank and positive” and “under the treaties(American purchase of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guam) which took effect July 17, 1899, has proceeded without international friction, showing the competence of the Japanese to hold a foremost place among modern peoples'' showing the happy relationship between the two countries and setting the standard for what America strived for the relationship to be like in the following years(William 1900). However, the multiple accounts of the rising tensions followed by Diplomacy slowly broke the relationship down. The Gentlemen’s Agreement starting in 1905 was the first time conflict between the countries has risen. This was the start of the Anti-Japanese policy in America and despite setting it with the agreement at the time, the policy rooted itself within the country slowly splintering the American Japanese bond. Another issue that continued to persist was Japanese Imperialism, often threatening American foreign policy. An example of this is after the Filipino-Insurrection when America feared they would