American Imperialism Essay Sample

Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. At the time some people disagreed with imperialism, these people were called isolationists. They wanted to stay in the United States because they deemed it wasn’t ethical. The United States adopted imperialism in 1898, by adopting imperialism the United States was able to become the undisputed global superpower for nearly 100 years. This was because of the extraordinary growth of the economy, a surplus of resources, and the great terrifying image that The United States gained through imperialism. 

With the rise of imperialism, the United States had a large increase in its economy due to the increased import port of materials and trading with other countries. For example, taking over Hawaii in 1898. This helped them export many goods such as lumber, tobacco, rice, and dried fish. These resources helped the United States trade with other countries that lacked these resources. The United States also gained more steel from trade using this steel the United States made steel steamboats which were much faster than wooden boats allowing the United States to get to other countries quicker allowing them to get resources faster.

With imperialism, the United States gained tons of resources from other countries through the means of trade. The United States traded with Cuba, the Philippines, Germany, Austria, Korea, and Japan. By trading with these countries such as Japan and the Philippines which were usually kept to themselves the United States gained many resources that not much of the world had at the time these resources helped them trade with other countries which helped them gain allies from trading such as Germany and Austria that didn’t have easy access to Japan and the Philippines.

The United States' image was greatly increased as a dominating superpower. They did this by exerting their political influence in Japan, the Philippines, and Cuba. The United States bought the Philippines for 20 million dollars in 1898 for Spain in The Treaty of Paris. Doing this the Philippines always has this looming presence over them that was controlling them. The United States also gained control of Hawaii in 1898. They took control of it making it territory and eventually the 50th state of the United States. The United States took over the military power that they had at the time and resources such as a great water supply, and soil. With the power, they gained the United States made themselves many important materials such as weapons and more advanced technology which helped them gain more territory such as the Philippines which they took with force from Spain. From the United States gaining this it increased its name making them a distinguished global superpower.

Imperialism made the United States the superpower it is today. The United States would not be the same without imperialism during this time it was vital for the United States to gain control over many trade routes which gave them a headstart in gaining tons of resources, allies, and territories.  The United States would not be the same without this vital point in history.