Ellen Aberfath 10/17/09 APUSII

DBQ: In order to best answer the question posed one must break expansionism into two separate time periods. Both of these time periods show comparisons and contrasts with US expansionism. From 1776-1880 and the late 1800s-1914 are chronicled by major events in United States and World history. Using these documents as well as commonly known events that occurred during these time periods I will show the similarities and differences that late nineteenth century and early twentieth century United States expansionism exhibit from past United States expansionism.

United States expansionism has undergone many changes throughout the years. We have expanded for land, for God, and for the economy. As the people of the United States progressed both socially and economically, the methods of expansionism evolved from non-interference to democratic control, all the while struggling to stay true to the ideals of the forefathers.

The departures have grown on a parallel with US power. The growth of the navy gained bargaining power for the US. With our big stick we had the means to venture into non contiguous lands, such as the Philippines and even China. We began expanding to find markets for our evergrowing production. Once we had conquered the continental United States we saw that we had the ambition to take on the world, as well as a faith in God that expanded Manifest Destiny across bodies of water into previously unobtainable lands. Document C underlines the importance of naval power, as well as outlining the three necessary obligations. First, protection of the chief harbors, by fortification and coast-defense ships. Secondly, naval force, the arm of offensive power, which alone enables a country to extend its influence outward. Thirdly, no foreign state should henceforth acquire a coaling

position within three thousand miles of San Francisco(Doc C). The importance of naval dominance and the Pacific Ocean is further stated by Senator Albert J. Beveridge in his speech to the 56th Congress. Our largest trade henceforth must be with Asia. The Pacific is our ocean and the Pacific is the ocean of the commerce of the future.The power that rules the Pacific, therefore, is the power that rules the world. And, with the Philippines, that power is and will forever be the American Republic (Doc E). The Roosevelt Corollary, the most important departure from past United States expansionism, made the acquisition of such territories not only possible but socially acceptable. Under Teddy Roosevelt, the people of the United States were all for expansion. He had the ability to incite the American public and rally its force behind him. After all, who can stand against the people of the United States of America when they are truly united? Our country had progressed in its departures tracing all the way back to 1885 when, as Thomas Nast depicts, the United States was nowhere to be found in the game of World Plundering (Doc A). After the acquisition of a naval power, the United States could withstand the competition involved in economic world dominance. As shown in the cartoon of American Diplomacy in 1900, Uncle Sam is standing at the forefront of China's open door holding the key which represents said American Diplomacy. (Doc G) However, with positives always come negatives. Prejudice against immigrants and no chance of citizenship for our newly acquired lands were a few of the drawbacks of over expansion. There simply was not enough room for all the people in the American Dream. There was not enough money for everyone to get rich quick and jump social classes.

The continuations of United States expansionism were limited compared to the departures. However, these continuations were of utmost importance. Staying true to our faith in God and the Monroe Doctrine helped shape American Diplomacy in regards to human decency and the opportunity for all to succeed and expand at their own pace regardless of size and relative inexperience. All of the major departures show hints of our ancient ideals. The expansion into non-contiguous lands comes from Manifest Destiny and the idea that the Anglo-Saxon, or WASP, was mandated by God to expand

into these territories. The belief was that the Anglo-Saxon race was the race of unequalled energy, with all the majesty of numbers and the might of wealth behind it the representative, let us hope, of the largest liberty, the purest Christianity, the highest civilization will spread itself over the earth (Doc B). The Roosevelt Corollary comes directly from the Monroe Doctrine which protected the rights of struggling Latin American countries and their fights for freedom. First enforced by Great Britain, the US quickly gained the power to recognize that Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of international police power (Doc F). As I stated before, with good continuations came bad continuations. The people of the United States never fully recognized immigrants or Native Americans as people who deserved the same basic rights that we so righteously granted to ourselves. American Diplomacy has steadily been a continuation of America's ambition. Commodore Perry was the first to open China's open door, thus guaranteeing an American foot, if not its broad shoulders, in China's illimitable markets. (Docs E and G)

The United States evolution from a quiet country with a good idea to the dominant, but not despotic world power was chronicled with numerous events in World History. We have stayed true to our founding ideals and expanded for the better and worse into the current interpretation of those ideals, never straying far from an unquenchable faith in God, a belief in the Constitution, and a passion for protecting those who can not protect themselves.