Perhaps one of the most divisive topics in world history is imperialism. American Exceptionalism, the belief that the United States was unique from other countries because it was established on freedom and democracy, was the theoretical foundation for American imperialism. Giddings (1990) argued that in order for civilization to advance, semi-civilized, barbaric, and savage nations had to be subjugated by more advanced nations. The era when western powers tried to colonize less developed nations is known as imperialism. Giddings went on to claim that democracy could exist within a kingdom. His claims were that even if the Indian communities were forced to conform to the English way of life it still respected the local customs and religions. That way the empire was able to rule without the interference of how the Indian communities wanted to live. Giddings is focused on explaining that humans have learned that social solidity, useful collaboration and harmony of purpose are needed for growth and formation of states.
Is Democracy and Empire Compatible?
Democracy and empire follow two different logics: empire or American imperialism as an economic, military and cultural influence of the United states on other nations and the other hand democracy is the equal civic and political rights. Until the 1890's American Expansion had only taken place when Russia sold Alaska to the United States through Secretary of State. The need to expand production became paramount because the industrial production could no longer be absorbed entirely at home. Even though the United States and Hawaii had many treaties, they were finally annexed in the middle of Spanish American war. The 1893 depression heightened the need for America to seek formulas for a more aggressive foreign policy that would eventually Kindle American Trades. The Spanish American war in 1898 occurred when America attempted to save Cuba from Spain but eventually used it as an opportunity to increase influence over it. Other Spanish colonies taken in the process include the Philippines and Puerto Rico. While it was very imperative to promote imperialism democracy of other nations was threatened, and so empire cannot be compatible with democracy. According to Emilio Aguinaldo America's press represented Filipinos as Africans or Mohawk Indians; ignorant savages but he asserted that theirs is a nation that needed liberty and freedom and unlike what America thinks the Philippines could govern itself.
Did the United States Imperial Ventures Undermine or Strengthen Democracy?
Imperialism brought about a lot of change from the 1880's to the First World War. By the 1900's there was a dramatic economic growth spurred by the 200,000 railroad truck which was fundamental in exporting agricultural produce outside America. Before in the 1890s the country was threatened by overproduction and depression, but with new markets opening due to imperialism America became a global trader, but that brought about many repercussions.
Many strikes were instrumental in shaping agriculture as it was. Radical labor leaders emerged and social Darwinism was rampant. America further suppressed freedom of nations through reinforcement of ideas of racial superiority at home. Democracy was further suppressed through a celebration of imposing efforts, the appearance of the advancement of the daring boyhood as well as motherhood being celebrated as an essential imperial effort and girl's literature stressed domestic service and nurturing. Foner emphasizes that in fact the Union of South Africa followed America's policy of Social segregation later called the apartheid.
Did Movements Expand Democracy Weaken or Strengthen the U.S. Empire?
Perhaps the most prominent leader to promote democracy was Woodrow Wilson. His efforts in progressivism which in divergence to imperialism backed America's notion of a grander upright position to commit to ideologies of liberty, fairness and self- determination. Nationally, the early 1920s brought about progressive movements like the women's' suffrage which caused activists to lose momentum in seeking further change. The attempts by a third liberal party also weakened the republic party. On the other hand, Woodrow Wilson was originally not a supporter of the war until 1917 when he insisted America would go to War with Germany to make the world safe for democracy. It was this progressivism that stimulated Americanization platforms intended to revolutionize current settlers which would turn them into exemplary inhabitants with little or weakened allegiances to old republic.
When Wilson delivered his speech for Congress, he asserted that the war was intended to assure the United States that the war was fought for moral causes. He reiterated that it was the same democracy that had fashioned internal transformations in America and that it was this progressivism that would, in turn, become superlative for nations defining their prospects without external intervention. So this being said it is relevant to note that the empire that was America becomes diminished because the need for democracy pushed imperialism further away. The concept of empire was more submerged by women suffragists and civilian privileges leaders as well as union bureaucrats and commercial managers. Even civilians sought to control the war depending on the groups that they belonged to. Such democratic processes undoubtedly led to the liberation of colonies later in the middle of the 20th century. The idea that some states needed to be part of bigger and more independent states according to Giddings, therefore, became weak through a free expansion which led to the weakening of the United States Empire.
Bibliography
Ambrosius, Lloyd E. Wilsonian Statecraft: Theory and Practice of Liberal Internationalism During World War I (America in the Modern World). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1991.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty: An American History. W.W. Norton and Company, 2014: Brief Fourth Edition
Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History. W.W. Norton and Company. Fifth Edition, Volume 2.
Giddings, Franklin H. Democracy, and Empire, Studies of their psychological, economic and moral foundations. Macmillan Publishers, 1901.
