Imperialism in Latin America
US Expansion
By 1850, Spain's once vast empire in the Americas was only a couple of islands in the Caribbean and a part of Chile as well as the islands in the Philippines. The United States was emerging as the New World Power in the area. As the United States economy grew, Americans looked to expand their nation. During the 19th century, this expansion was chiefly focused on taking control of the North American continent, a process driven by the concept of “manifest destiny”.
Americans also began to seek expansion further abroad, initially through trade and Christian missionaries. Americans engineered the Christianization of Hawaii (1840), forced Japan to open up to foreign trade (1853) and purchased Alaska from the Russians (1867).
Debates over American expansion abroad intensified during the Gilded Age. Men like President Grover Cleveland, industrialist Andrew Carnegie and writer Mark Twain argued that imperialism violated American political principles. Others believed the US should expand its political power and commercial interests abroad.
As the end of the 1800s neared, American imperialists gained the upper hand. They pursued an expansionist agenda, particularly in the Caribbean, Central and South America and the Pacific region.
Americans also began to seek expansion further abroad, initially through trade and Christian missionaries. Americans engineered the Christianization of Hawaii (1840), forced Japan to open up to foreign trade (1853) and purchased Alaska from the Russians (1867).
Debates over American expansion abroad intensified during the Gilded Age. Men like President Grover Cleveland, industrialist Andrew Carnegie and writer Mark Twain argued that imperialism violated American political principles. Others believed the US should expand its political power and commercial interests abroad.
As the end of the 1800s neared, American imperialists gained the upper hand. They pursued an expansionist agenda, particularly in the Caribbean, Central and South America and the Pacific region.