Using your notes and your readings rank the following in terms of their ability to explain American interest in "imperialism" at the end of the nineteenth century:
A. racial theories
B. international rivalry
C. trading interests
D. religious humanitarianism
Justify your ranking.
Your post is due by 9:00pm Sunday, March 1.
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Trading Interest: America strategically took land hoping to setup, and exploit their resources in an attempt to maximize their ability to receive resources cheap and in large quantities. This is seen in Hawaii's sugar cane field.s
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: America wanted to establish its realm as a world power,like those of Europe.
Religious Humanitarianism: Americans, especially white people believe that its there duty from god to spread Christianity to all people of color, who are heathens and because their civilization is different, well its wrong.
Racial Theories: See Above. The main reason behind religious Humanitarianism
Trading Interests: The isolationist period ended when Americans realized that in order maintain a stronghold in the market, they had to actively compete with their European rivals. Competition with other countries meant resources that the United States did not have, and ports that they didn't hold. In order to supply the goods needed for the fierce competition, the US had to resort to imperialism of "lesser" nations.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalries: Like above, in order to stay in business various American enterprises had to look elsewhere for their supplies. With out goods from other places, the American market would have fallen short of its European competitors.
Racial Theories: In order to justify the invasion of smaller, and often island nations, the United States was forced to portray the foreigners as helpless fools with failing governments and morals. In doing so they increased popular demand to imperialize said nations, in turn bringing about a profit to American companies.
Religions Humanitarianism: As above, religious humanitarianism was simply used as a vehicle to excuse the masked invasion of countries with desirable goods. Missionaries were often sent in to enforce the idea that people of other nations needed to be christianized, needed to be saved and that we were the ones to do it. In reality, much of the religious humanitarianism and racial theories were simply a mask for the economic interest that the american public would not have approved of.
I agree with Christian and Steph:
ReplyDeleteTrading Interests: By owning Hawaii, and some of the Philippines, America had a much larger grasp on trade around the world. The opening up of Japan, a goal of the US also helped American trade greatly. The idea of mercantilism also came about in the US, or the idea that you should sell more products to other countries than you purchase.
International Rivalry: As has been said, America wanted to present itself as a very powerful and intimidating nation compared to other countries at the time as well as to help with gaining land to improve trade.
Religious Humanitarianism: White, Christians in America believed that it was their "burden" to try and "help" those who were not white and not Christians become saved and to make them into good Christians. Missionaries were sent out to foreign countries as well, not just in America.
Racial Theories: White Americans believed that they were the superior, and that if you were another race or had different beliefs, that you were wrong. The Hawaiians and the Filipinos were depicted as barbarians or animals while the Chinese were shown as evil.
To Answer Tylers question from the other day asking why Filipino was spelled the way it was. Here is what i found.
ReplyDeleteColloquially, they refer to themselves as Pinoy (feminine: Pinay), which is formed by taking the last four letters of Pilipino and adding the diminutive suffix -y.[2] Many Philippine languages lack /f/ as a phoneme and is substituted by /p/ turning Filipino into Pilipino.
Thanks for looking up that information Christian!
ReplyDeleteTrading Interests: America expanded the tried-and-true philosophy of manifest destiny to the international stage, colonizing many Pacific and Caribbean islands, as well as occupying and dominating several countries, especially in Latin America. The Panama Canal, as well as the military occupation of Nicaragua, are both excellent examples of this, which were American efforts to control international commerce and politics.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: The World War I-era world stage was dominated by a precarious card house of interlacing empires and alliances. New to this stage was America, whose growing economic, political, and military influence led imperialists to try to prove their country's worth in an era of rampant nationalism.
Religious Humanitarianism and Racial Theories both played an important, though relatively minor, role in American imperialism. The two were tied to each other, as showing the natives of our newly-conquered protectorates our white "Christian" ways was seen as imperative.
Trading Interest: In order to compete with America’s European rivals trading was very important. America needed to have the hold no the market to exploit resources to make a profit. For example, American began taking over the Pacific Ocean and islands that were in it.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: America is trying to become like the rival Europe in order to gain power.
Racial Theories: Christian Missionaries were sent around the world is a racial theory because they felt that it was their duty to save people below them. This was wrong because everyone should have been treated equal. The Hawaiians and Filipinos were seen as barbarians, ugly, and dumb people when they were only innocent in not knowing what America was doing to them, and Chinese were seen as evil, which they were not at all they were just trying to protect themselves.
Religious Humanitarianism: White Americans felt it was there duty to spread Christianity. This is why that had missionaries travel to world to help them become better as they were.
I ranked international rivalry first because the reason the US was so intent upon gaining control over other contries through religion, race, and trade was so that the US could maintain its stregnth as a dominating world power. Once the US felt that Spain and Asia were being too presumptuous by aquiring land in the western hemisphere, US imperialism began.
ReplyDeleteTrading interests take second place because in order for the US to gain power, cheap resources were nessecary. By occupying land that was abundant in items like sugar, or in a strategic trading location the US was able to gain an advantage over other countries.
Religious Humanitarianism place a significantly less important role in US imperialism because mostly of the US conquests were not based off of religion, but rather religious missionaries stepped in after the US had already claimed land.
Racial Theories played little role in American Imperialism. Although white Americans truly believed they were the most blessed people on God’s earth, their motivation behind conquests were rarely based off of racial motives. Racism certainly existed, but mostly between the white Americans and the other immigrants or the black-white tension. Once the US conquered a lond they frequently encouraged assimilation but rarely invaded to do so.
Trading interests:Americans knew in order to remain in the market they had to compete with European rivals. When America finally took hold of Hawaii and parts of the Philippines, it allowed for a larger grasp of trade around the world. Hawaii provided large amounts of sugar.This also helped American trade, by trying to receive cheap resources. Which in the end resulted in Imperialism.
ReplyDeleteInternational rivalry: In an attempt to control other countries, America felt the need to show not only their power but their strength by become a world power. Gaining more land would allow for more trade options.
Religious humanitarianism: White, Christians in America felt that it was their duty from God to spread their religions and beliefs to all other people of the world. In order to do this missionaries were sent out to spread Christianity. By doing this all non-Christians could be saved and made better.
Racial theories: White Americans believed they were the superior race and if others were not exactly like them, they were wrong. Many immigrants were often shown as being evil or animals in both propaganda and political cartoons.
I believe that international rivalry would have to be the most significant contribution to American imperialism. America was trying to combat European expansion and economic competition overseas. To accomplish this, they did take land that would best serve their trading interests but their primary goal in taking this land was to establish the U.S. as a dominant force overseas and in the west. America took over Hawaii not just for economic reasons but because of its strategic positioning and the fact that Japan wanted the land.
ReplyDeleteThis fierce international rivalry led to the U.S. picking its overseas territory depending on how well it contributed to trading interests. This led to the U.S. taking over Hawaii which it depended on for sugar and Panama where we built the Panama canal which the U.S. was highly dependent upon for trade.
Racial theories also led to increased imperialism as the U.S. was constantly trying to convince itself that overseas development and that the oppression of other races was indeed a positive thing. By making the people indigenous to the territories it acquired seem insignificant and in need of America to civilize, the U.S. was able to justify its actions.
Religious humanitarianism also contributed to imperialism. There was no longer a real need for missionaries in the U.S. so religious groups turned to spread their beliefs elsewhere. This led to them convincing themselves that anyone who wasn't of their religion was sinful and that it was their job to convert them.
Trading Interest, because economy was a huge factor for America at this time. Tafts dollar diplomacy had strengthened the dollar and allowed the U.S to control the economy of other countries. This would allow many countries to be dependent on America. Also all the new islands and Alaska that America had gained would give them an upperhand when it comes to trading.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivals, because America wanted to start the idea of imperialism where, they take economic, militaristic, and socialistic control of a nation. And they can influence their culture upon others.
Religious Humanitarianism, because American including white men and Rudyard Kipling believed that it was the "White Mans Burden" to spread their religion to the other countries. Therefore the birth of Missionaries for the spread of Christianity.
Racial Theories, because I really see no difference between this and the Religious one because no matter what the race was, at this time America was just concerned about their burden as white men.
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ReplyDeleteTrading interests: America wanted money- as seen in America's obsession with Hawaii. Hawaii had sugar, sugar meant money and America wanted money therefore America wanted Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: Though America wanted Hawaii because it was rich in resources, America also wanted it for another reason; its strategic position. Hawaii’s placement would allow America to be closer to- therefore compete with and challenge the eastern hemisphere.
Religious Humanitarianism: The "white man's burden" to convert others to Christianity was not so much a reason for imperialism as it was an excuse to enter other countries.
Racial Theories: Also not so much a reason for imperialism as it was an excuse.
Trading Interest: Prior to WWI, America had no need of being drawn into any international trade disputes. We were a nation of unparalled industrial superiority. The U.S. relied on mercantilism. In time this attitude of not needing to rely on anyone proved to be wrong. The U.S. took on the Hawaiian territory as a natural extension of our domain and reign; the Hawaiian islands were a strategic acquistion for our territorial boundaries as well as a wealth of natural resources. Dollar diplomacy also ties into trading interests.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: The U.S. turned a blind eye towards international rivalry.
We discounted the fact that both our allies and enemies were capable of being our rival. Jingoism was very pervasive.
Racial Theories: Segregation was the rule of the day regardless of it was military, politics, or anything else. (e.g. American reconcentration camps, segregated military units, "little brown brothers".)
Religious Humanitarianism: Religious Humanitarianism took a backseat to the thought process of the day and were a lesser consequence.
Trading Interest: Economic power worldwide was foremost on the list of priorities of the United States, even though they attempted to seem at times as if they looked down upon colonizing other lands. This view was juxtaposed by the owning of Hawaii and the Phillipines, and the sugar canefields being set up for profit in those areas
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: Trading interest was most omportant because it was the key component of international rivalry, because international rivalry was fueled by a desire to be more economically powerful.
Religious Humanitarianism: A product of the growing international rivalries was the colonozing and fighting over of new lands. It then became important, once a place was claimed or taken over, to assimilate the natives of that land at least somewhat into the culture of the mother country.
Racial Theories: Part of religious humanitariansim was that the missionaries who came to convert natives often looked down upon the natives because of their differing religions and traditions. This contrast between cultures led to dehumanization and degradation of the intelligence of the natives in the eyes of the citizens of the mother country.
Trading Interests: America expanded it's trade by owning more land outside of the US (like Hawaii and Philippines)When Japan was opened, it increased the trade as well. This played the largest role in imperialism.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: By America making itself more powerful, it made other countries want to have connection with it. This made America more intimidating, helping the US recieve more land and trade.
Religious Humanitarianism and Racial Theories: If you were not a white Christian, you were in the wrong which is why missionaries spread all throughout and outside of the US, which played a minor role in imperialism.
At first I would have said trading interest to be the number one importance at the time, but after reading through others' responses I agree with Kelsey and Nina. It makes more sense to rank International Rivalry as the main importance of the time period, because it is this rivalry that sparked the other important interests of the time. Without International Rivalry there would be no standard to compare ourselves against, and trading interests would not be as great an issue without anything to compete against. This all leads back to Jingoism, in which some Americans loved America so much they wanted to fight any competitors to it. The next important part of imperialism for Americans at the end of the nineteenth century was trade interests. America adopted a mercantilism system in which we exported more than we imported to make more money. At this time there was a need for global competition and America extended its control over weaker nations like Hawaii in order to gain cheap resources like sugar. The next importance on the list is religious humanitarianism because many times Americans used the idea that the nations we took over needed our help to see the error of their ways and that the white man carried a burden to convert men of color to Christianity in order to save them. This religious humanitarianism rationalized America taking over weaker nations. The least important interest on this list is racial theories, although important because at the time people started extending Darwinism to society with social Darwinism, the main importance was getting ahead of other nations economically.
ReplyDeleteTrading Interest:
ReplyDeletemany people believed imperialism was the key to getting America out of the 1893 Depression. The Turner thesis stated that the frontier was the source of American vitality and innovation and in 1890 the census proclaimed there was no more frontier. The US needed a new frontier to unload goods and services and imperialism provided that.
Religious Humanitarianism:
The belief that it was the "white man's burden" to bring civilization helped justify reasons for and calm moral objections against imperialism. Missionaries were often the most zealous of imperialists and forayed new populations with endless enthusiasm.
International Rivalry:
The US joined the imperialist age pretty late considering other countries had already carved up all of Africa, but after the Civil War nationalism grew and the US wanted to get involved. Our want for international power and opportunity is demonstrated by the Open Door Policy in China which allows all countries to get involved with Chinese trade.
Racial Theories:
I see this as connected to Religious Humanitarianism. Many missionaries were also racist and believed the "little brown brothers" were inept and dumb. The belief that the conquered were not really humans also helped ease moral objections to imperialism
Trading Interests: The US had finished expanding and continued strenghthening its economy between its borders. The US economy was limited in its ability to grow unless it spread internationally. Setting up ports in these islands helped create mid points for trade between nations across the oceans.
ReplyDeleteInternational Rivalry: US also wanted to increase its strength and recognition as a world power.
Religious Humanitarianism: "manifest destiny" and "white man's burden" were ideas that brought God into the situation by saying it was their duty to take over and assimilate these "savage" nations.
Racial theories: Same idea as white mans burden and assimilation instigated by the yellow press.
1. Trading Interests: Money is the root of all our interests. We wanted cheap resources in Pacific nations to prosper economically and gain the power to compete with other industrial nations. Simple as that
ReplyDelete2. International Rivalry: America gained a number of small insignificant islands as well as the Phillipines and Hawaii, to act as naval bases between America and Asia. The Lodge Corollary also reinforced our obligation to honor the Monroe Doctrine and take on the problems of inferior countries in our hemisphere. As a result we had conflicts with Spain in Cuba and the Phillipines and enacted the Open Door Policy with China so Britain wouldn't gain too much power.
Racial Theories: Beliefs of racial superiority were expressed in literary pieces such as "The White Man's Burden." We were determined to teach them to assimilate to lifestyle of the white man. Taft, given the task to administrate the Phillipines favored a gradual assimilation and referred to them as "Brown Brothers."
Religious Humanitarianism: We thought our culture and religion were better than theirs so of course we had to teach them that.
That last one was Tyler. I was accidentally on my mom's account.
ReplyDelete1) International Rivalry: One of the reasons that imperialism began was because of the fact that the U.S. saw the expanding of other countries around the world and this brought competition among the countries and brought the U.S. to come to the idea of imperialism and getting involved with other countries besides themselves.
ReplyDelete2) Trading Interests: With the frontier closing, America realized that they had to needed to extend out to other countries. One of America’s examples of showing interest in trades was how they managed to negotiate with trade with Japan and create the Treaty of Kanagawa, opening up two Japan ports for American ships bring trade between them and ending Japan seclusion.
3) Religious Humanitarianism: White American Christians thought that Christianity was the only way to go and that their religion was superior to all. With such a high attitude towards their religion, they felt that they needed to spread Christianity all around the world and convert all to Christianity and they tried to do this with missionaries. Although some people felt really strongly about this, I don’t feel like religion played a big role in imperialism.
4) Racial Theories: Race wise, Whites were the same as there religion. They felt there race was the best and that everyone should be just like them. This goes along with the idea of the White Man’s Burden