Brianna Derevjanik

AP DBQ- Expansionism


It is arguable that the United States policies of expansion in the late 1800s and
the early 1900s were a continuation of previous policies; however, in most senses
they were a departure from them. The central idea was the same, but the
application was completely different, in every way from the publics opinion
towards the expansion, to the reasons for expansion, to the geographical area
where the expansion occurred. Manifest Destiny continued to apply, in that it was
our duty as white, Christian people to follow the laws of Darwinism and spread
our superiority. (Doc B) Although the basis of Manifest Destiny was maintained,
it was stretched to apply to not only the continental U.S. and the West, but global
areas as well. Prior to the 1900s, expansion occurred out of necessity, a need to
support a growing population, and a need for fresh farmland, and through means
such as the Louisiana Purchase. In the 20
th
century, expansionism became a
competition with European powers, and a way to reach foreign markets for
commerce. In relation to the public, previously there was very little argument over
whether expansion was appropriate, but when it became global, Anti-Imperialists
raised their voices with objections.
When the Monroe Doctrine was first established, the intent was clear that
it was to keep European nations out of the Americas; however, with the addition
of the Roosevelt Corollary at the turn of the century, the doctrine became an
excuse for the United Stated to intervene in areas outside of the country, while
still under a cloak of false isolationism. The general opinion in the U.S. at the
time was that it was the white mans burden to not only intervene to protect the
Latin Americans, but also to assimilate them to American life styles and culture.
(Doc F) Slightly prior to the Corollary was the Spanish American War, which
began a huge shift in our feelings towards expansionism. Through this war, we
acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and also basically had control
of Cuba. Although American citizens disapproved over governing the Philippines
without their consent, if the war had occurred 20 years prior, the national mood
may have not even allowed for the acquiring of any of the territories to begin
with. However, here problems did begin to arise, again in relation to the white
mans burden. It became a struggle for Congress and the Supreme Court to
decide which, if any, parts of the Constitution applied to newly acquired
territories that were not states, in both negative and positive aspects. (Doc H)
Expansionism was not contained to only the Americas, but also the eastern
world. We leaped at the opportunity to become leaders in trade in Asia. When
John Hay negotiated the Open Door Policy in China, he used highhanded tactics
to agree on behalf of nations long before they had actually agreed to the policy.
We were basically in charge of handing out the keys to the Open Door. (Doc G)
We also used competition with Europe in Asia as an excuse for expansionism. We
argued that if we did not intervene in Asia, Japan might become too powerful.
Additionally, the idea that we needed to become a greater naval power majorly
supported the idea that we needed to find new places to export goods to, and the
only option left was an international market.













































1. Monroe Doctrine
2. Roosevelt Corollary
3. Spanish-American War
4. World War I
5. Open Door Policy
6. Intervention in Latin America- Big Sister
7. False idea of Isolationism
8. Manifest Destiny
9. Competition with Europe
Previous-
Louisiana Purchase
Mexican American War
Alaska from Russia
Reason- to settle land, expand, more agriculture
Everyone Agreed

After-
Spanish American War
Cuba, Philippines, Hawaii
Interfering in Latin America
Panama Canal
Reason- Competition, keep trade open
Opposition from Anti-Imperialists



Doc A. Brits, Russians, and Germans are all taking from Africa and Asia, US is
no where to be seen so far

Doc B. Idea of Manifest Destiny, Darwinism, idea that theyre superior,
suggesting to take over Mexico, Central and South America, pacific islands, and
Africa, white supremacy, Christian supremacy

Doc C. Need for trade, places to export good to, goal of building a canal, need to:
protect harbors, naval power, protect our coaling stations, we need to respond to
everyone elses expansion by building up our naval power

Doc D. Im confused

Doc E. We are obligated to expand, and it would be morally wrong to give up our
possessions in Asia

Doc F. We are only using imperialistic policies to guide other countries to
stability. Justifies Roosevelt Corollary, claiming it is our duty to interfere, but
well stop interfering once their stable

Doc G. America is in charge of creating the open door in China, but also was
the one responsible for handing out the keys and allowing other nations in.

Doc H. Finally a different point of view, the idea that acquiring territory is also
the white mans burden, because Congress then has a ton of legalities to work
out, like should we grant them rights? Citizenship? Make them pay taxes?








During the late 19th and early 20th century, US expansionism kept the same main
principle but departed from earlier expansionism in terms of geography, economics, and
politics. They held the same basic belief that they had a God-given right to expand.
However, they expanded this Manifest Destiny so that, instead of looking to the West,
they were looking to the world. Earlier, the US had gained land in the same general area
and wanted to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific. After accomplishing this, rather
than settling down, they kept expanding, this time into different places including Hawaii,
Cuba, and the Philippines. Another departure from early expansionism was the economic
reasoning. Many people wanted to settle the West to help promote agriculture and
ranching. Now, a big reason was competition with European imperialist powers. The US
had to preserve trade, especially with China, and gain some territory before it was all
gone and the US no longer had any markets for their goods. Another change from early
expansionism was politically, in the support and justification for expansion. Before, they
believed in Manifest Destiny, the God-given right to stretch from sea to sea. Few had
opposed this. Now, they expanded on that idea to encompass the world, stating that they
had a "duty" to help lower nations. Some opposition in the form of Anti-Imperialists rose
to this. In this way, expansionism was mostly a departure, only preserving one idea, in
terms of geography, economics, and politics.

In their new expansion, the US moved from the home continent to land elsewhere in the
world. Earlier, they had expanded through the Lousiana Purchase, land gained in the
Mexican-American War, and land acquired from Russia in Alaska. Now, they moved
away from their homeland and went to different places. They took Cuba from Spain and
controlled it through a provincial government, then eventually took control of domestic
affairs by inserting the Platt Amendment into their constitution. In Hawaii, when Queen
Lil refused to renounce power, American settlers asked for help and troops eventually
raised the American flag there. In the Philippines, the US took control as well, despite
opposition. The US held onto the same belief that God had chosen them for this (Doc E)
as they has in Manifest Destiny, but they now went to land that didn't rightfully "belong"
to them.

US expansionism also changed in economic reasons. The West had been settled to
promote agriculture and ranching, with the Homestead Act and subsequent acts granting
settlers land. Now, expansionism was a means of trade and competition. European
countries such as Britain and Germany were gaining land and power through their "pick"
of lower countries(Doc A) and the US had to test its strength against them. Many
believed that expansion was necessary to preserve trading markets, easy passage of ships
for trade, and the value of American products, as well as to limit the power of European
nations and growing Japan(Doc C). This was one reason the US got involved in foreign
affairs. For instance, the "Open Door" notes of 1899 from John Hay were designed to
limit foreign power and keep the valuable trade with China available. When other
countries were slow to agree, Hay declared that they had agreed in principle by mid-
1900, which many countries were skeptical and unhappy about(Doc G).

Another change came through support and justification. Few had opposed Manifest
Destiny, the God-given right to stretch from sea to sea. Now, Anti-Imperialists rose
against expansion, not wanting supposedly lower, uncivilized people to "pollute" the
American race(Doc D). Others believed that Americans were destined to dominate the
world and should remain "pure and civilized"(Doc B). However, Pro-Imperialists used
the argument stated in the poem "White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling that they had
a duty to help and civilize the lower nations. The idea that lower countries might require
intervention became known as the Roosevelt Corollary(Doc F).

Expansionism of the late 19th and early 20th century held on to the belief that they were
destined by God to expand, but it changed in terms of geography, economics, and
politics. New land, new competition, and new justification were the fundamental
changes. Now that the US had become a world power, there was no backing out, and it
would soon play crucial roles in coming world conflicts.