US imperialism
Under the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 the United States had policed the hemisphere, in theory to preserve the independence of its nations from European covetousness, in reality to protect America¯s own interests. This often involved military intervention, especially in Central America and the Caribbean. The Monroe Doctrine was based on the reasoning that the Caribbean was America¯s cinland sea¯ and part of the economic structure. In Cuba, which America had liberated Spain, the US right of intervention was actually written into the Cuban constitution, through the so-called cPlatt Amendment¯. The reason behind the American imperial upsurge is mainly an economic issue: coincided with recovery from the Civil War, the U.S. started to expand in late 19th century. However, the American expansion into Latin America can also be attributed to nationalistic causes that go beyond the economic spectrum. Thus, U.S. expansion into Latin America was a result of U.S. economic expansion and rising nationalism. American policy toward Latin America has changed over time to accommodate burgeoning American economic activities in the region.(1) During the early years of the nineteenth century, U.S. commerce with its southern neighbors demande
The cause of U.S. expansion starting with the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 and the full implementation of imperialism with the Spanish American War in 1898 is quite clear. The North American continent had been fully settled, the economy had fully recovered from the Civil War, the industrial revolution had completely set in, and also the military had been fully developed. The next step was obviously Latin America. The expansion of its economy needed new markets, and businesses had already expanded outward. Although there are some opposing views, it is an accepted fact that the U.S. expanded because of economic and nationalistic reasons, and the period coincided with prosperity in its domestic sector. d little more than policing the Caribbean for marauding pirates. As the United States grew into a commercial, industrial, and, eventually, financial power, its foreign policy broadened in scope.(2) The hunt for new markets brought it into competition with European nations, especially Great Britain. As a result, it became one of the major aims of American policy to check the further penetration of European commerce and capital into Latin America. By the turn of the century, Latin America had become not only a substantial market for American products but an important source of raw materials and a major area for capital investment as well. Having recently built a powerful navy, the United States assumed the responsibility of protecting American commerce and investment by forcibly maintaining order in the region.(3) Uninvited, it assumed the role of policeman of the Western Hemisphere. In this capacity, the United States focused its attention on the weak and chaotic nations of the Caribbean and Central America, where American economic activity was concentrated.(4) It is important to note that American intervention in Latin America did not begin to full scale until the 1890¯s even though the Manifest Destiny was declared in 1823. American military weakness, lack of information, and British predominance in the area had limited U.S. activities in Latin America. However, the war against Spain in 1898 established the United States
Some common words found in the essay are:
Latin America, Monroe Doctrine, Michael Hunt, Bailey Kennedy, Kennedy United, North American, William McKinley, Furthermore LaFeber, Cuba America, Teller Resolution, latin america, monroe doctrine, american economic, war spain, intervention latin america, monroe doctrine 1823, economic aspect, expansion latin, military power, economic nationalistic, platt amendment, nationalistic reasons, beyond economic spectrum, expansion latin america, economic nationalistic reasons,
Approximate Word count = 1436
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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