06.02: Imperialism

America on Stage

Though Gilded Age industrialists expanded to international markets, on the political front the United States was relatively quiet from the end of the Civil War until the late 1890s. President Roosevelt’s is but one approach a nation can take to foreign relations. Take a quick look at the types in this spectrum, which vary by their general level of government action.

Looking at the nation’s history through the eyes of this spectrum, you can see that the United States has used all of these approaches at different times and in different places. Sometimes an event or time period can reflect multiple approaches, as shown by the United States around the turn of the 20th century. The government’s actions generated a great deal of debate and media attention.

You First

Place each of the following events into the appropriate category below. Some events from earlier eras appear to give you an idea of how foreign policy changes over time. Consult your assigned readings or notes to review the events.

Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796
Monroe Doctrine, 1823
Mexican-American War, 1846–48
Commodore Perry in Japan, 1854
Alaska Purchase, 1867
Annexation of Hawaii, 1898
Spanish-American War, 1898
Platt Amendment, 1898
Open Door Policy, 1899
Philippine War, 1899–1903
Foraker Act (Puerto Rico), 1900

Isolationism	Diplomacy	Intervention	Imperialism

Could any of these events fit multiple places on the spectrum? Do connections exist between events of different periods?

Save

Now Compare

Compare your notes with this chart, adding in any details you may have missed.

Isolationism	Diplomacy	Intervention	Imperialism
Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796—advised avoiding “entangling alliances”	Commodore Perry in Japan, 1854—convinced Japanese to open trade Alaska Purchase, 1867—negotiated with Russia Open Door Policy, 1899—statement to European nations calling for fair access to trade with China	Monroe Doctrine, 1823—threatened military action against further colonial efforts in Latin America Platt Amendment, 1898—established U.S. role in Cuba, including the right to intervene and lease or buy land for military use	Mexican-American War, 1846–48—extended U.S. territory Annexation of Hawaii, 1898—favored by U.S. interests there, not generally by Hawaiians Spanish-American War, 1898—led to overseas empire Foraker Act, 1900—maintained subordinate status of Puerto Rico Philippine War, 1899–1903—Filipinos rebelled unsuccessfully to end U.S. occupation

Could any of these events fit multiple places on the spectrum? Do connections exist between events of different periods?

Absolutely, to both questions. You might interpret the Open Door Policy as somewhat imperialist in nature since the Chinese had no part in it. Same for the Monroe Doctrine—in effect the United States established its own influence over Latin American nations. On the other hand, the Spanish-American War did not begin with a questionable incident like the Mexican-American War. It started as support for Cuban independence, so it could be considered diplomatic and interventionist. Yet it evolved through the “yellow press” treatment and President McKinley’s belief that captured areas could not be restored to Spain or given independence. One more interesting idea—Commodore Perry’s show of potential force with his fleet to gain what he wanted from Japan looks a lot like “Big Stick Diplomacy.” Keep this idea of shifting policy positions in mind when you study the world wars of the 20th century.

The Progressive Era presidents saw diplomacy as having many facets. Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Diplomacy” carried the threat of force (intervention) if a nation did not agree to something. Taft’s "Dollar Diplomacy" encouraged peace through investment in foreign nations that promised profit to both the U.S. and the other nation. Finally, Wilson’s "Moral Diplomacy" in application looked much more like intervention, but carried with it the idea that the United States should only support and defend democratic nations, or intervene to make them so.