How did American foreign policy become more interventionist (aggressive) from the 1890s into the twentieth century?
What issues have led to the Filipino Insurrection? How was this conflict perceived in the United States?
Spain yielded its colony of the Philippines to the United States in the Treaty of Paris after its defeat in the Spanish-American War. Just two days before the ratification of the treaty, fighting has broken between Americans forces and the Filipino nationalists under the leadership of Former President Emilio Aguinaldo. The Filipino nationalists sought their independence than a change in the colonial rulers. The Philippine-American War has lasted about three years; it resulted in the death of American soldiers and Filipino combatants and Filipino civilians died from famine, disease, and violence. Some people commented that the American oppositions to United States were morally wrong, and others were very unconcerned about the racial or moral implications.
What arguments did Americans use to justify their colonization of the Philippines? What arguments were used against colonization?
Justifications varied during the American’s colonization in the Philippines; however, the two most significant arguments used are the economic and social interests. Americans expanded and brought democracy to the Philippines. As the United States existed in their imperial efforts, leaders have recognized the global imperial presence significant to its economic achievements. It has justified their reason for colonization as economic to bring wealth to the States. For the United States, it was a great achievement as it obtained the Philippines because it provided the State much access to many high valued natural resources. Though the United States has obtained the Philippines, it is not entirely based on the resources; it was partly due to the abundance of its resources.
Why did the U.S. want to build a canal across Central America? How did the U.S. eventually accomplish this?
The reasons are the following: (a) it is to shorten the length and time or trip between the East and West coast of the United States; (b) it lowers the transportation costs of the manufactured goods; (c) it provides great mobility for the naval fleets, (d) it helps protect new colonial empire. In addition, (e) it increases the trade between the East coast and China in particular . Through the signed treaties with European nations that has guaranteed the United States as the only country to build and operate a canal, and President Roosevelt signed the treaty with Panama and agreed to pay 10 million US dollars plus an annual rent of 250,000 US dollars. In return, the United States has retained the control of the Canal Zone and intervened in Panama to preserve order, respectively.
What is the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, and how was it used to justify imperialism?
The assertive approach of President Roosevelt to Latin America and the Caribbean has characterized as Big stick, and the policy is known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Roosevelt was concerned about the crisis between Venezuela and the creditors in the invasion of the nation through the European power. It is stated that the United States intervenes to ensure the fulfillment of the obligations to its international creditors. In addition, it does not violate the rights of the United States or invite any foreign aggression to the disadvantages of the entire American nations. In practice, the corollary worked well and the United States used the military forces to restore the internal stability to all nations.
In your opinion, which branch of the service, the Army or the Navy was more influential in this period of imperialism. Why?
In my opinion, the more influential branch of service in the period of imperialism was the Navy or Naval force. As Roosevelt wrote that, “In my judgment, the most important service that I rendered to peace was the voyage of the battle fleet around the world. I had become convinced that for many reasons it was vital that we should have it clearly understood, by our own people especially, however also by other people. The Pacific was as much out home waters as the Atlantic, and our fleet could and would at will pass from one to the other of the two great oceans” . It only implies that the Navy or Naval forces played significant role during that period.
Reference
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Morley, I. (2010). The cultural expansion of America: Imperialism, civic design and the
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Rowe, J. C. (2008). European lessons in imperialism: a letter to America. Journal of
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