Background
- Between 1880 and 1929, the United States transitioned from a relatively isolated republic to a global power.
- Fueled by industrial growth, strategic ambitions, and nationalist ideology, U.S. leaders pursued expansion abroad by acquiring territories, intervening in Latin America, and reshaping hemispheric relations.
- This era reflected the convergence of political, economic, social, and ideological forces driving foreign policy.
Political and Strategic Motivations
- Politically, the United States sought to secure influence in the Caribbean and Pacific to protect trade routes and enhance national security.
- Leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley believed territorial expansion would project U.S. strength and secure access to new naval bases.
- The Monroe Doctrine (1823), originally a defensive statement against European colonization, evolved under Roosevelt’s Corollary (1904) into a justification for U.S. intervention to maintain regional stability.
- Expansion was also tied to the balance of power. Policymakers feared European dominance in the Western Hemisphere if the U.S. did not assert itself.
Definition
Monroe Doctrine
A U.S. policy (1823) declaring the Western Hemisphere off-limits to further European colonization or interference.
Definition
Roosevelt Corollary
Theodore Roosevelt’s 1904 addition to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American nations to preserve order and stability.
The Spanish–American War (1898)
- The war demonstrated how modernization and expansionist sentiment merged into foreign policy.
- Sparked by U.S. sympathy for Cuban independence and the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, the war revealed the role of public opinion and “yellow journalism” in shaping policy.
- The U.S. victory, secured by a modern steel navy, marked the nation’s emergence as a global power.
- Through the Treaty of Paris (1898), the U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and gained influence in Cuba.
Economic Motivations
- Industrialization in the late 19th century created a surplus economy. The U.S. needed new markets for goods and sources of raw materials.
- Expansion into Latin America and Asia opened trade networks, ensuring access to sugar, oil, rubber, and tropical exports.
- Business leaders and politicians viewed expansion as essential to capitalist growth and global competitiveness.
