Second Wave of Expansionism

The expansionism of the United States during the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century could be viewed as a continuation of past expansionism as well as a departure of past expansionism. Therefore, the United States continued its practices of expansionism through the belief of manifest destiny and the balance of world powers, whereas the United States departed from its original way of expansionism by interfering with countries governments in the attempt to acquire power.

The belief of manifest destiny was that the people of the United States were God’s chose people, and therefore should conquer the entire continent to make one mighty nation. New York journalist, John L. O’ Sullivan, wrote in 1845 “the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” The belief of manifest destiny continued into the expansionism of the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century. Leaders of the United States felt that the citizen’s were still God’s chosen people to lead in the regeneration of the world. Pushing forward to conquer the Philippines, China, and other resource filled countries was pertinent. Asia was full of resources that were wanted and needed by the American citizens. The Pacific Ocean was then viewed as an economic source for the future. If the United States gained control of the Pacific, the United States would control the world. The faith in manifest destiny continued from past expansionism to the expansionism of the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century. (Document E)

The continuation of earlier time period expansionism was shown through world powers. Each world power continued to conquer and then control the land they had occupied. World powers such as: Germany, Russia, Great Britain, and the United States, set forth to acquire more land to call their own. This is the same type of force the United States used when they pushed to control the territory once occupied by Native Americans. (Document A)

On the contrary, United States expansionism in the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century was different than that of the past. The United States wanted to control a country through power, not necessarily land. It was ethical to look out for the wellbeing