Imperialism

Imperialism

Should the United States have engaged in overseas imperialism? It is certainly difficult to have to choose the answer yes or no, because imperialism had many benefits and detriments. When the United States began extending its authority, the country gained raw materials, new markets, military bases, strategically placed ports, the opportunity to spread religion and democracy, and the chance to be one of the “big contenders” on the map. However, in doing so, the U.S. also made enemies, went to war, killed massive amounts of people, lost exponential amounts of money, and controlled people, which gave the country the reputation of the “bad guys”. In Albert Beveridge’s The March of the Flag, he portrays the United States as “a noble land that God has given us”, and “it is a mighty people that He has planted on this soil; a people sprung from the most masterful blood of history”. According to Beveridge, God gave us America to venture “out into unexplored lands and savage wilderness”. On the other hand, the Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League shines a very different light on imperialism, holding the belief that “the policy known as imperialism is hostile to liberty and tends toward militarism, an evil from which it has been our glory to be free.” Do the benefits of imperialism outweigh the detriments, or is it, in fact, just the opposite?

America took over the Philippines, and in doing so gave the country the greatest growth in United States exports between the years of 1880 and 1910, which helped both the United States and the Philippines. Also, Taft sent college graduates to train Filipino teachers, which increased education. In addition, America gave Filipinos the opportunity to elect the lower house of legislature, and gradually helped the Philippines gain its independence as a republic in 1946. However, U.S. military action in the Philipines resulted in the deaths of about 200,000 Filipino civilians from disease and the effects of such guerrilla tactics as the burning of villages. Also, Filipinos were only partially freed from Spain, since the American President appointed the governor of the Philippines, meaning that there was no democratic vote for the official.

The United States had a different economic goal with China. American investors put their money in China’s economy for large scale railroad construction. Also, the recently created open door notes allowed certain countries to trade with China at the coastal ports which helped their economy. The U.S. also prevented imperial powers from ruining China, and the open door notes maintained their independence. On the other hand, many people died in the Boxer Rebellion, which in effect was a result of