Justify American imperialism.

"We need Hawaii just as much and a good deal more than we did California. It is manifest destiny." (1898) "William McKinley: quote on Hawaii."

Why can it be argued that the Great Scramble for Africa influenced American imperialism?

Where?

Rationalizing Imperialism… As part of his annual address to Congress in 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt stated that in keeping with the Monroe Doctrine the United States was justified in exercising "international police power" to put an end to chronic unrest or wrongdoing in the Western Hemisphere. This came to be called the Roosevelt Corollary.

The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine declared that the United States would exercise "international police power" to get Latin American nations to honor their financial commitments. Americans began to be concerned when British, German, and Italian gunboats blockaded Venezuela’s ports in 1902 because the Venezuelan government defaulted on its debts to foreign bondholders. European intervention in Latin America would undermine America's dominance in the region.

Irony? The Monroe Doctrine's purpose had been to prevent intervention in the internal affairs of Latin American countries. The Roosevelt Corollary sought to justify such intervention whenever the American government thought it was necessary. It wasn't long before the corollary was put into action. The Dominican Republic could not pay its debts and to protect American interests the United States took over the customs houses and established a customs receivership.

Roosevelt was fond of the African proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far." His foreign policy style has come to be called Big Stick diplomacy.

1899 Satire of Kipling's phrase "the white man's burden" shows the colonial powers being carried as the burden of their Philippine subjects.

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Why? Analyze the United States' motivation for expansion in the late 19th century. What was the primary motivation? Do you agree with the practice of imperialism? Was imperialism counter to the “American ideals?”

Does this cartoon support or criticize United States imperialism?