The United States was justified in their imperialistic policies in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The
following political cartoons support that conclusion depending on your interpretation of the cartoons.
Purchase of Alaska:

People in America believe that when the US purchased Alaska we were buying a
waste land and we spend $7.2 million dollars on an ice box. The cartoon message is
that America (Seward) is carrying the ice block away to cool off congress who was
not happy about the purchase while Russia got the benefit. Other opinions on this
topic might be that Alaska could be full of natural resources and is beautiful bu.t the
majority of congress was upset. Everyone was hoping that the Alaska purchase was
not a waste of money.
As Seward is taking the Alaska treaty wheel barrow the cartoonist has exaggerated
the situation of it being a large block of ice. It is exaggerating that he will need the
block of ice to cool off congress because of the high prices they thought was paid
for the land. Alaska has expanded the US power by increasing naval power, it is
also a place to avoid due to the weather. William Seward knew that Alaska would
provide benefit to the US and we now know just how much. That is why I support
imperialism in this example.

Spanish American War:

The Spanish-American war was a deadly start. In the end the Spanish empire ended
and it was a beginning of the American Empire. But, now McKinley doesnt want to
fight in war. This may make this worse for America. Sadly, other could see our
president as a coward, because he had no means to fight in any sort of war.
If you hadnt noticed, McKinley is being labeled as the coward because some people
of the time viewed him as a coward. He is holding back a solder which makes him
look like a wimp because he does not want. But McKinley knows that sometimes
imperialism may require war to expand the country; in this cartoon he is trying to
delay war. He would rather stop the war than continue to expand US territory.

Hawaii Annexation:

The annexation of Hawaii was a

great event in US history. In
Hawaii we found lots of sugar and
we we gained control of Pearl
Harbor. The sugar was a
profitable crop and Pearl Harbor
was a great naval base. In this
cartoon, the cartoonist showed
that America wanted Hawaii and
to get rid of the Queen Liliukalani
because she was abusing her
power. Others could thin America
wants to work with Hawaii but not
with the queen.
If the queen has been
exaggerated it shows her being
kicked out of Hawaii. It depicts
her as being kicked out of Hawaii on a see-saw. Imperialism is shown in this cartoon
as the US annexes Hawaii. Hawaii was a benefit for the US because it helped the
economy through the sugar crops and it expanded the land of the US, as well as
securing a strategic military base.

Panama Canal:

The Panama Canal was all Roosevelt could think about. But in this cartoon, it
looks like Roosevelt is doing much more than just protecting his Panama Canal. It
looks as if he will do whatever it takes to keep the land safe. But, to some it appears
to be Roosevelt helping the man to safety. As you see in this cartoon Roosevelt has
many weapons. This shows exaggeration by making Roosevelt overly protected.

Panama Canal:

The Panama Canal

was a very important
thing to Roosevelt, it was
as if nothing could stop
him from finishing this
canal. In this carton you
see Roosevelt in a small
kayak. And you can see,
he is trying to get to the
end of the canal. Is that
a stick in his hand? Yes,
referred to as the policy.
Exaggeration in
this story is mainly the
whole story. With his big
stick Roosevelt made a
policy for the Panama
Canal. This policy made
sure that the canal will
be finished one day no
matter what. This canal
was going to be a huge
feat and would take
many lives of the construction workers. But, in the process Roosevelt still has time
to worry about reclaiming more land for the canal. And the Imperialism is shown in
the cartoon by the power from the naval base there.

Open Door Policy:

The Open Door Policy was a way for the U.S. to influence China. To help the
U.S. grow even stronger than we already were. In this cartoonists opinion the U.S.
was the main influence. But, other countries wanted to affect China as strongly as
we did, which caused some arguments. Certainly so people would think we didnt
really affect china, but we did.
If you look at the cartoon closely you will see that Uncle Sam towers over the
rest of them which is a form of exaggeration. Therefore, it makes him look like he is
in control. This also show imperialism because we are expanding into China.

Roosevelt Corollary:

The Roosevelt Corollary was Roosevelt trying to make relationships with other
countries. Other countries wanted Roosevelt to notice them so he would want to
make relationships with them. But, Roosevelt didnt notice a lot of countries, he
noticed very few.
This exaggeration is showing when Roosevelt towers over the others,
because it is a form of exaggeration. To the U.S.s surprise we gained more
influence when we used the Roosevelt Corollary. Therefore, the U.S. grew with
Imperialism.

Open Door Policy:

The Open Door Policy was a connection to China. As all of the countries
wanted to take over China, the U.S. was the only country to make an effect. Other
countries made little or no influence on China, but all countries tried.
As you see in this cartoon the countries or people are fighting over China.
Which is a form of labeling. The imperialism in this cartoon is simply the Expanding
territory into China with the Open Door Policy.

Works Cited
1.Preparing For The Heated Term. Historicalese.

Case HistoryAlaska. Congressional Record, 1956. Web 20 Feb. 2016.

< https://justdohistory.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/no-cold-war-here-russia-and-america-before-the-civilwar/>

2. Let Go Of Him, McKinley! Yellow Journalism.

Great Project Films Company, 1999. Web 20 Feb 2016
<http://www.pbs.org/crucible/cartoon6.html>.
3. See-Saw! Uncle Sam in Hawaii Hawaii Political Cartoons about Hawaii
N.p., n.d. Web 20 Feb. 2016.
<http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7503158062_e0fd2bff1b_o.jpg>
4. Coup dEtat A Political Cartoon about the Panama Canal

Coup DEtat. Cartoon. New York World 1903.

<https://history204group4.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/guidepic2.jpg>
5. The Big Stick Imperialism by Brady
N.p., n.d. Web 20 Feb. 2016.
<https://s-media-cacheak0.pinimg.com/736x/8f/3e/b9/8f3eb960a3b69ed282f17aa09daa0efc.jpg>

"The Open Door Policy Cartoon." West Valley College, Saratoga

CA. Web. 21 Dec. 2011. Web 20 Feb. 2016.
6.

<https://sites.google.com/a/ncps-k12.org/amhnews-n-koller2011/_/rsrc/1324511429769/economic/hay-unlocks-the-doors-to-china/cartoon-ofthe-open-door-policy/Screen%20Shot%202011-12-21%20at
%206.49.50%20PM.png>
7. Roosevelt Corollary The Worlds Constable. Modern American History
Modern American History, 2 March 2011. Web 20 Feb. 2016.
<http://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/his1005spring2011/files/2011/03/teddy4.jpg>
8. Open Door Political Cartoon
N.p., n.d. Web 20 Feb. 2016
<http://3219a2.medialib.glogster.com/media/fe/fe74359d8b7eb522e4d27817489c4
fd1748784b7c7f17cc063ef17cfb86cd7b5/br6.jpg>