Us Imperialism

"In strict confidence... I should welcome almost any war, I think this country needs one." declared Teddy Roosevelt in a letter to his friend, 1897. Continuing he wrote, "To prepare for war is the most effectual means to promote peace... No triumph of peace can equal the armed triumph of war." It was clear Roosevelt desired war and for only one reason - imperialism. Him and his Washington imperialist friends manipulated the press, other politicians, popular figureheads, the spirit of America, and even President McKinley to obtain their goals.

They based their ideas on Manifest Destiny. Dubbed in 1840, this expansionist impulse rose again in a new form - America's global destiny. Politicians watched as other nations began collecting colonies in the Pacific and North Africa and quickly determined America must do the same. If America is to be a great nation, it must control a great empire. The idea of this reincarnated Manifest Destiny was molded to ideologically benefit all Americans. The business leaders in corporate circles were told that prosperity required overseas markets. The small farmers were told the same. The more demand, the greater the profits. In 1890, Secretary of State James Blaine "warned in 1890 that United States productivity was 'outrunning the demands of the home market." The military-minded were also told they would benefit. According to The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1890), Alfred T. Mahan determined a large navy means power and required naval bases abroad. Mahan supported the movement to acquire foreign territories and persuaded many others to join. The devoutly religious supported the movement as well, seeing it as an opportunity to spread religion through missionaries in foreign territories.

As soon as the majority of Americans were in support of the idea, it took off. The first focus was an easily attainable one. Great Britain and the United States had been engaged in quarrels over fishing rights in the North Atlantic and the Bering Sea off of Alaska. These quarrels reawakened anti-British sentiments and the dream of annexing Canada, but they were not met openly. Critics called the imperialists jingoists as well as warmongers. Eventually the dispute was settled in 1898 and critics' uproar slowly died down. Latin America, however, was irresistible.

Chile was engulfed in civil war in 1898. This was the opportunity imperialists had been waiting for. A Chilean vessel in San Diego was seized by United States officials for trying to buy guns. Shortly after two unarmed sailors were killed by a mob in Chile. The United States was in uproar. President Harrison nearly called for war until Chile apologized and paid an indemnity. Later in 1895, a boundary dispute erupted between Venezuela and British Guiana. Grover Cleveland asked Congress to set up a commission to settle the boundary without Britain's consent and in 1897 Britain accepted the commission's resolution.

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