American Expansion (1880s)
...The conflict in Mexico where the United States drove out a French puppet government expressed our stern policy of newly acquired foreign power in native soil. The purchase of Alaska in 1867, the annexation of Hawaii 1898, and the acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines after the Spanish-American War in 1898 allowed us to prosper economically because it created much needed industry and gave us much authority in the global scope. Also ,after the Spanish-American War, America won Cuba it’s independence from Spain and gave the United States protectorate authority over Cuba. This again proved our strength and made us a contender with greater countries. With this great empire there was much debate whether the United States should colonize or leave each country as an independent state. Colonialism was open to deliberation because according to some there was no provision in the Constitution that would allow this to occur. Also this would lead to more conflicts overseas and America becoming further involved in Asian markets but the pros outweighed the cons. America needed a “foothold” in the Pacific to enhance both it’s trade and sphere of influence. Colonization and expansionism was the first step to becoming a legitimate, and well respected country. Most American’s during this time expressed an excessive amount of pomp and pride best represented as American jingo. This era made American’s war hungry because they believed that America was strong enough to overcome any and a...