19th Century American Imperialism & 20th Century War Essay

Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan couldnt kick in said it any better, No nation had ever commence great without control of foreign markets and access to the natural resources of foreign countries (Kinzer 33). Throughout the years, the States has had an astonishing obsession with the base of global imperialism. One cant help but ask the following gesture what sparked this sudden obsession with global imperialism? Even though there are many different factors that helped spark this sudden movement, the grownupgest single factor was the industrialization of the lands major industrialist societies, such as England, United States, Japan, and Germany.The sudden explosion of industrialization sparked a huge consumption of the earths natural resources, and initiated the extremity for expansion. Throughout the late 19th century up until today, America has approached global imperialism in a number of different ways. Methods such as deception, intimidation, fear, and violence have all been use d throughout the American conquest in severalise to expand this imperialistic society. America had to start expanding and had to take everyplace weaker countries.See more Homelessness as a social problem EssayAmericans had to look to faraway countries, weak countries, countries that had large markets and rich resources but had not yet fallen beneath the sway of any great power (Kinzer 34). This paper will primarily focus on the reasoning provided by Kinzers book Overthrow. America has become the imperialistic society it is today because of the rapid 19th century industrialization and the constant American hunger for natural resources, territory, and global domination. Whether they will or no, Americans essential now begin to look outward. The growing production of the hoidenish demands it (Kinzer 33).During the late 19th century, America enjoyed a successful conquest of Hawaii, Cuba, Philippines, and Nicaragua. Hawaii, which has always embraced a story of tradition and cultur e, was faced with the issue of modernization. Throughout the years, Hawaii had slowly started to fall under white control. Hawaii has always been a huge producer of sugar, with one problem. The major market for sugar was in the United States, but the Hawaiians could not export as much as they would like because of the high tariffs imposed on imported sugar in the States.When the reciprocity pact as signed in the summer of 1876, Americans started installing military and commercial bases in Hawaii. The renewed treaty however was what really displayed that Hawaii was falling under white influence. The renewed treaty gave United States control of Pearl Harbor, an extremely fine natural port. On January 14th 1893, Queen Liliuokalani made a disturbing announcement to her cabinet. She proclaimed a new constitution which distinguishd only Hawaiian citizens had the right to vote. This meant that the Hawaiian population of Americans would no longer be able to vote.This move gave Lorrin Thu rston and John Colburn the reason they needed to initiate the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, which would mark Americas first overthrow of a foreign government. The alarmed Thurston quickly wrote a letter to John L. Stevens, requesting military assistance for the overthrow of the queens regime. concisely after, on July 4th 1894, the Republic of Hawaii was proclaimed. During the Spanish colonization of Cuba in 1897, William McKinley was sworn in as president of the United States.McKinley did not like the idea of the Spanish in Cuba. However when talking about McKinley, Kinzer states William McKinley believed that a self-governed Cuba would pose an extreme threat to the United States, for they might not do Washingtons bidding (Kinzer 35). After all, the ultra leaders in Cuba were already talking about the social reforms and land redistribution they wanted to initiate. This greatly alarmed many American businessmen, for over $50 million was invested primarily in Cubas agriculture .McKinley had finally had enough and had decided it was time to use military force to end the Spanish regime in Cuba. On April 25th 1898, the Spanish-American War had officially begun. After the Spanish surrender, America started to kill Cubas dream of independence. In the 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain gave up all rights to Cuba, surrendered Puerto Rico and Guam, and sold Philippines for $20 million to the United States. The Platt Amendment gave the US some economic and military control of Cuba. McKinley initially only wanted to come on a naval base at Manila, Philippines.Later however, he decided he would embark on a journey of Christianizing the country. This was unnecessary however, for most Filipinos were already Catholic. On June 2nd 1899, the official Philippine-American War started. The United States would win the war, and dissolute the First Philippine Republic. At this point, the United States had obtained, by force, full sovereignty over the Philippines. With Cuba, Hawaii, Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico under its belt, America now had access to a wide array of natural resources and an assortment of markets.However, the conquest would not end there. In order for one to under stomach the takeover of Nicaragua, one must understand Central America in the late 19th century. The late 19th century be to be a strong idealistic era for Central America. Ideas of both social and political reforms were sweeping many Central nations, ideas inspired by European philosophers. These ideas were absolutely despised by the American government, for these ideas called for change. These ideas were admired by Central Americans because they all desired change.Jose Santos Zelaya became president of Nicaragua in 1893. He adopted many revolutionary changes, such as importing the automobile and legalizing civil marriage. He also had a very strong emphasis on building and expanding the countrys infrastructure. At first Zelaya and America were on good terms, for there have be en talks of building a canal through Nicaragua. Later however, Panama was chosen as the building site, temporarily ending American interest in Nicaragua.As historian John Ellis wrote To the State Department, Nicaragua was no longer a country that needed to be coddled or cared for in preparation for future usefulness, rather, it was not a country that needed to be watched carefully and kept in literary argument (Kinzer 60). A very strong nationalist, Zelaya was giving some of the American business based in his country trouble, which didnt appeal to the United States secretary of state Philander Knox. What angered Knox even more was that Zelaya went to European banks to borrow money for his railroad project, not American banks.This showed the Taft administration that Nicaragua was trying not to depend on the States as much as they used to, which of course cause congressional panic. After much trouble from Knox, Zelaya finally resigned in 1909. After the brief animation in line of Jose Madriz, Juan Jose Estrada took over the country, and the new conservative government was much admired and supported by the United States. Estradas coming to power marks the conquest of Nicaragua, because of Americas strong influence on Estradas regime.As demonstrated, the United States has always obtained a hostile approach regarding takeovers and conquest. The first overthrow took place in Hawaii where the queen was relieved of her position. Cuba was later obtained from Spain with the help of brute force and intimidation. Philippines and Puerto Rico were also obtained in the same fashion. Nicaraguas government fell victim to an American sponsored coup, and their government was taken over by the Americans. It seems like there has always been a recurring pattern throughout American history. If you try to stand up to the US government, you will go down.If you operate your country in a way that doesnt appeal to the US government, youre going down. If you skillful happen to be do ing good for your country, theres still a good chance youre still going down. America has always been that big bully that beats on the little kids at school, because they are just too weak to defend themselves. America throughout the 19th century was a product of a heavily industrialized society, a society that must rely on domination of other markets and other countries resources in order to keep expanding and thriving.