Topic > Economic Factors Contributing to 19th-Century American Imperialism

What economic and intellectual factors promoted U.S. imperialism in the late 19th century? By the end of the 19th century, American industry was booming and the country was expanding and becoming increasingly urbanized. Many American leaders have pushed for U.S. imperialism for various economic, political, and intellectual factors including expansion, defense, and social Darwinism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Due to drastic urban growth during the late 19th century, manufacturing in the United States reached an all-time high, and by 1894 America was the leading manufacturer in the world. (Armstrong, 2004 p. 167) Industrial leaders feared that America would soon produce more than it could consume and began pushing for an aggressive American foreign policy abroad. Furthermore, some businessmen perceived that in the future American industries would need dependent states to supply raw materials that could not be found in America, such as petroleum products and rubber. Military power and the ability to protect his expanding empire were a growing concern during the American period. imperialism. In 1887 the Americans and Hawaii made an agreement that allowed America to import sugar from Hawaii without tariffs; The increased stimulation of the sugar trade gave Hawaii's sugar planters economic and political power which they used to ratify a new constitution that limited the king's powers and gave the planters more power. (Ibid, p. 183) In 1891 the king died and was replaced by his sister, Queen Liliuokalani; in 1893, pro-American sugar planters, along with U.S. Marines, overthrew the queen, declared Hawaii a republic, and demanded that Hawaii be annexed to the United States. (Ibid) Taking control of Hawaii served economic purposes due to the sugar trade and the desire to increase involvement and establish trade with China, while serving military strategy because future bases located in Hawaii would anchor the strategic position of America in the Pacific. Some supporters of imperialism used the concept of social Darwinism to influence America's growing influence abroad. Many supporters of Social Darwinism believed that the Anglo-Saxon race was the superior race on the planet and wanted to spread their racial superiority because they believed it was their duty to civilize what they considered the inferior races. (Love, 2004. P. 156) Also during this period American missionaries traveled trying to Christianize the regions. The effects of Social Darwinism can be seen from the actions of the Spanish-American War; America initially claimed that it was only in the war for Cuba's benefit, but at the end of the war the Spanish ceded the Philippines to the Spanish. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize Essay US imperialism in the late 19th century was necessary due to recent urban expansion causing a surplus of goods for which Americans needed a foreign buyer and a foreign supplier for materials that could not be obtained in the United States. Furthermore, America wanted to protect its resources by expanding its military power to overseas bases that would serve as a central strategic location in the Pacific. The concept of social Darwinism further influences US imperialism by wanting to spread the Anglo-Saxon agenda to.