A Brief History of American Imperialism - 1391 Words

The United States saw its territory more than double in the first three decades of the 19th century. Bursting with nationalist fervor, an insatiable desire for more land, and a rapidly increasing population, the western frontiers of the United States would not remain east of the Mississippi. The eventual spread of the American nation beyond the Mississippi into Native and French land, referred to as â€Å"Manifest Destiny† by John O’Sullivan, was rationalized as a realization of their God given duty. The Louisiana Purchase set the precedent for unrestricted westward expansion in America, and allowed for others to follow in his footsteps. Characterized by racist overtones, a lack of the â€Å"consent of the governed, and ethnic cleansing, there is no†¦show more content†¦During the presidency of James Madison, the question of what to do about Spanish controlled Florida came to the forefront. Florida would be of immense importance for both the protection of the United States from Spain, and for the access it would give to the Gulf of Mexico for trading ports. Recognizing this, Madison instructed John Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State, to being negotiations with Don Luis de Onà ­s, Spanish Minister to the United States, on the exact borders between U.S. and Spanish territory. However during these negotiations, future president and General, Andrew Jackson invaded Florida. When Onà ­s protested to this invasion, it was rebutted by Adams that, â€Å"Florida had long been a refuge for hostile Indians, runaway black slaves, and outlaws [†¦] the U.S. might be forced to seize the territory as a matter of self-defense.† It also showed that the forced seizure of the land could be swiftly accomplished at any time. Seeing this, Florida agreed to sell the territory to the United States for 5 million dollars, under the Adams-Onà ­s Treaty of 1819, during the Presidency of James Monroe. Not only was this another example of territorial expansion without the â€Å"consent of the governed†, it showed that the the interpretation of the Constitution by Jefferson was continued in presidencies to come, withoutShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Was Late Nineteenth-Century and Early Twentieth-Century United States Expansionism a Continuation of Past United States Expansionism and to What Extent Was It a Departure?1184 Words   |  5 Pagesearly twentieth-century United States expansionism a continuation of past United States expansionism and to what extent was it a departure? Throughout the history of the United States, America had a desire to expand its boundaries. The United States acquired most of its land during the nineteenth and early twentieth century with a brief break during the Civil War and Reconstruction. However, the way America went about graining new lands drastically changed from non-aggressive means in the beginningRead MoreImperialism is Almost Never Acceptable1629 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough imperialism or the act of conquering another country, taking over and using that country for support of the mother country for things such as natural resources, cheap labor and economic benefits such as international seaports. Imperialism was the empowerment of another country such as Great Britain over India. Imperialism was a type of social darwinism where the country that imperialized the most places was to be the strongest, fittest, and most likely to survive. 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The first aspect, empirical globalization, is one that has been rampant forRead MoreCulture Is A Way Of Life1033 Words   |  5 Pagesthese interactions that resulted in ideas such as art, history, tradition, and science, along with a range of others. The study of the history of culture should then logically require these people and their interactions as the focus. As such, cultural history is the study and interpretation of experiences, testimonies, and points of view that combines anthropological and historical methodologies to appreciate the history of a culture. Cultural history therefore requires the study of all levels of societyRead MoreEssay on China, India, and Japan Responds to Western Imperialism2293 Words   |  10 PagesCHINA, INDIA, AND JAPAN RESPONDS TO WESTERN IMPERIALISM C. H. HIS 351 Asia in Age of Decolonization and Globalization August 2012 Western imperialism or expansion ignored a country’s sovereign right to self-rule and independence from dominant foreign powers. 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