US History 1865 to Present - Essay Example

US History 1865 to Present PART America found its footing and stability in the early years because they were able to rebel and free themselves from their colonial masters. For instance, the Latin America, which attained its independence in 1825, thrived on the destruction of the old market system and adoption of dependence on financial investment under the aspect of industrialization. The need to be free and control their destinies continued on in the form of imperialism. With the Civil War ending, America pursued the dream of industrialization as it had expanded favorably. They embarked on imperialism, which in all sense was the acquisition of states that were not independent and exploiting them through trade and gaining influence through them. At the time, this was possible for America as they had the resources and still held the zeal to survive following independence from their colonial masters. They were now tasked with improving a country that needed development and increase in factors of production, leading to the rise of the industrial revolution. Businesses grew, and products flooded the local markets due to mechanization leading to the emergence of the modern American corporation. Particularly, the US during this period is considered to have practiced an aggressive expansionism policy in ensuring that it extended its economic and political influence globally. A precise event of imperialism and expansionism practiced by the United States is with regard to the foreign policy in Philippines in 1898. This was in an effort to free Cuba from the Spanish oppressors. Historically, America is known to have been expansionistic but, the same is untrue for the expansion towards North America. It was at this time that America started looking outward into other territories, not with the view of assisting them, but that of finding new trading markets. They needed to dispose of the surplus produce and create a stable environment for continued development. They started seeing themselves as liberators and having the calling to spread civilization to the entire world. In addition to looking for new trade markets, they also believed that they had the potential to uplift backward people. This would be achieved through American civilization and the spread of protestant Christianity. They saw themselves as the saviors and liberators who needed to spread their democratic and religious ideas to those who were less fortunate. In their new found beliefs, many Americans felt that it was considered a sin to leave these so called backward people in their current state. They saw them as godless and chaotic and people who needed the urgent assistance of the pious Americans to assist them. Although some of the proponents like Josiah Strong only sought the expansion of the American mission, they also promoted civilization and Christianity. A case example for the moving out by America is as noted in the year 1890 when the Bureau of Census declared the closure of the internal frontier with the profit system looking for overseas expansions. Consequently, this aggravated expansion was motivated by the severe depression of 1893 that as well triggered the application of the Monroe Doctrine. The expansionist program can be attributed to Alfred T. Mahan, a popular propagandist. As a US Navy Captain, he influenced President Theodore Roosevelt and other American leaders into the building of the Panama Canal that would imply the controlling of Hawaii and Cuba as part of the expansion. His interest was majorly in the increasing surplus of products from overseas to America. There was dissimilarity in the political scene, in America with the Republicans pushing for the imperialist system in order to promote their business interests. They did everything possible to seek foreign markets and new opportunities in which they could invest seeing that they had exhausted their country. This was in terms of skilled labor and industrialization; hence, they needed a new avenue and channel in which people could apply their skills and enhance the growth of their beloved country. The Democrats on the other hand, would mainly represent the small businesses and farmers and did not have the fascination developed by imperialistic ideologies as contained in the Monroe Doctrine. The main aim of this doctrine was to create a check on the European countries influence in the world, seeing that America at the time did not have adequate military capacity. Therefore, they needed to create propaganda and ways of reducing the influence so that European countries would not interfere with their plans for development. Since its declaration in the year 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was meant to create a distinct separation of the spheres of influence controlled by America and Europe. At around the 20th Century, it formed the backbone of the foreign relations and policies of the US both abroad and in the Western hemisphere. It also sets a standard to ensure that European countries would no longer have the capability to colonize Latin American countries or interfere in their management in any way, (Monroe, 323). They also created a system where they would remain neutral should the European powers wage war with their colonies on condition that they did not attack the Western Hemisphere. This was seen when America supported Venezuela when the country was in dispute with British Guinea, which was an English colony. They assisted Venezuela to impose a condition that the disagreement should be tabled before an arbitration board for a fair resolution. This went far in creating goodwill for the United States within the Latin American countries as they were seen to fight for the rights of Venezuelans. Although the British government refused to adhere to the idea of arbitration, there was a public outcry and outrage in the statements made by the Cleveland administration. This almost led to war with America who maintained grounds on the need for arbitration. In actual sense, the doctrine has underpinned most of the actions by the US government. These include the World War I, the World War II, the Cold War and the prevention of the emergence of the regional hegemon in Asia and Europe. The definition of this doctrine was critically done by John Quincy, and as he noted, the doctrine would help deter colonialism. However, on the contrary, the same was used to manipulate and infiltrate foreign states by the US in their expansion programs. Such were in Nicaragua, Chile and Latin America. Great Britain at the time was dealing with increased competition from her European neighbors, especially Germany in terms of economic and military might. They did not and could not afford to get into a war with the US at the time and settled for the idea of arbitration. At the time, media propaganda against Germany was rife in Britain with various cartoons being published to taint their credibility. In one titled “Red Cross or Iron Cross”, the German nurses assisting in the war as part of the Red Cross mission as seen mistreating the British soldiers injured in the war. There is a clear depiction of her pouring water on the ground while the helpless soldier cries out on the ground in his presence. The message is clear from the advertisement that the Germans were out to destroy and harm the British. This was a contributing factor in stopping the British from fighting the Americans as they did not want to weaken their defense systems in the event that they had to fight against the cruel Germans. In addition, another advert circulated signifying the threat posed by the Germans on the British Empire. The words left nothing to the imagination, creating a negative view of the Germans and stating that, for every German employed, a British worker was unemployed. The aim was the creation of a situation of strengthened military and economic might and getting into international conflicts were not in their agenda. PART 2 The aim of America since the period of late 19th century was to gain new territories and establish dominance in the economic, political and social aspects of other countries. Ideally, the expansionist program in this case was very bloody as it is linked to the mobbing of African Americans in America. After expanding into the Latin American nations, Asia, and North American territories, America took a stance of maintaining neutrality in issues relating to allies. They would only act in the position of providing material support and nothing more. In my opinion, I would consider the expansionist program as justified given that it set America as a powerful state despite the challenges faced in accommodating other nations. This was seen in 1915 when Germany was held responsible for the sinking of the Lusitania, a British ocean liner. This incident led to the death of 1,200 people, of which 128 were citizens of the United States. They were angry and spoke out clearly against the attack, but America did not attack Germany but remained neutral. However, fate was repeated in 1917 when the Germans again sank Housatonic, an American Cargo ship. At the time, Germany had lifted restrictions on submarine warfare, giving the commanders authority to sink any ship they believed was assisting the allies, in this case the Great Britain. President Wilson remained neutral after this incident, but a continued sinking of American vessels took its toll on the diplomatic patience as they sank both cargo and passenger ships. America never involved herself in World War I until a telegram was found sent from Germany to Mexico asking the latter to attack America at the Southern border. The American culture had been greatly influenced by the Monroe Doctrine, and the president had to carry out the necessary measures that would protect his people. By the culmination of World War I, America faced many challenges in order to stabilize its economy and reform. However, the Bolshevik Revolution, in 1917 broke out in Russia causing panic America. Although the revolution was happening outside of the US, there was fear that, in the same way that a small group of people took over Russia, the same would happen to them. The panic created would only be driven to greater heights when in 1919, 40 bombs were found that had been addressed to important people in the country and sent through the postal service. With this came the creation of the intelligence department led by J. Edgar Hoover that led to the collection of information on people viewed as radicals and criminals alike. This has today developed to the CIA and the NSA that collect personal information from people all in a bid to avert disasters in the homeland, another justification for the imperialism and expansion. During World War II, when some regimes like Japan, Italy and Germany sought regime changes and waged war with other countries in order to expand, America was still a leading economic giant and sensing that war was at the corner, gave a warning that they would not give any aid to any country involved in any form of conflict. At the time, President Roosevelt did not have a strong reason to convince people to support a war. The public opinion at the time favored the victims of Hitler’s atrocities encouraging the allies to soldier on, but none of them supported the participation of the US in the war. However, in 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt condemned the act by Japanese forces and convinced the Congress that there was a need to attack Japan in order to send a message to the world and prevent further attacks. He also sought the support of the American people so that they could own the war that would break out as a form of closure. Again the seeking of the Congress support would justify the involvement in the war. There was a need to protect the borders because the attack was seen as an attack on the central forces of the country. After World War II, America had great influence in the world, seeing that the war did not affect their land in the form of damages. However, in 1945 the Cold War broke out between the US and the Soviet Union. The war was as a result of the support of the forces during the Bolshevik regime together with allied countries. During the war, the two countries were allies against the Nazi regime and were able to work together, cracks were now visible, and there was increased tension. The Soviet Union following the war had an agenda to reinforce and protect its borders from any further attack by the western nations. They had a requirement that they needed to have borders that were defensible and also called for assistance by regimes that supported their aims in the Eastern European region. The US was not pleased as they sought the independence of the same countries, as well. With this, there were clear differences of how the various countries would govern and administrate seeing that some regimes did not want to give up their dictatorial stand. Additionally, the US were also worried about the situation developing in China, where Mao Zedong was promoting the communist agenda. The promotion of world peace and the economic agenda through trade are justifiable reasons for the expansionist program. In 2011, the September 11 terror attacks created a new form of war that needed to be fought outside the borders of the nation. As such, President Bush’s seeking of the Congress’s permission is a justifiable reason for the engagement into war. He gave a stern warning during his speech after the attack that other countries were with them or against them. This was the clearest call for war by the president who saw it favorable to ensure that the people were protected both from internal and external aggression of any kind. It was at this time that the security apparatus and intelligence units in the United States intensified their efforts including involving Interpol in international matters. Conclusion The United States has developed into an international police force in the sense that they are seen as the guardians of peace. In many instances, countries at war have relied on them for aid and conditions of peace were placed in return for assistance. The new threat of terrorism is a threat that had not been experienced before and fighting it at the grassroots level was the best option available. They had to attack the terrorists at their bases in order to safeguard the Americans and global allies. Works Cited Monroe, J. “The Monroe Doctrine” In the Evolution of our Latin American Policy: A Documentary Record. Ed. Gantenbein, J.W. New York: Columbia University Press. 1950. 323-25. Press. Read More