Angela Peterson

Brook Halford
History 1700
November 14, 2016
Unit 3 discussion: American Imperialism
Yale historian Paul Kennedy put it, "From the time the first settlers arrived
in Virginia from England and started moving westward, this was an imperial
nation, a conquering nation. (Stone and Kuznick 2013, XV). America was settled
by conquering territory from those that had already been established here. Native
American lands, Mexico territory and Spanish territory were all conquered in the
name of expansion, religion and business.
By the end of the nineteenth century, most business owners realized that in order to
succeed they needed to expand further. By forging new and stronger ties overseas,
the United States would gain access to international markets for export, as well as
to better deals for the raw materials needed domestically. (American Civilization,
296).
Secretary of State William Seward made early strides trying to make political and
commercial expansions into Asia and Latin America. He worked out a treaty with
Nicaragua to build a canal, created a better route to Asia through the Pacific Islands
and purchased Alaska from Russia. (American Civilization, 296).
A supporter of Imperialism, Albert J. Beveridge, penned March of the Flag in 1898
in an attempt to persuade Republicans in Indiana to support expansion. He argued,
To-day, we are making more than we can use. To-day, our industrial society is
congested; there are more workers than there is work; there is more capital than
there is investment. We do not need more money - we need more circulation, more
employment. Therefore we must find new markets for our produce. (Beveridge
1898, 3)
As most Imperialists, he believed that by expanding into foreign countries we
would be creating jobs for Americans and markets for trade. Beveridge also
believed that it was our countrys right to spread liberty to other countries.
Ah! as our commerce spreads, the flag of liberty will circle the globe, and the
highways of the ocean - carrying trade of all mankind, be guarded by the guns of
the republic. And, as their thunders salute the flag, benighted peoples will know
that the voice of Liberty is speaking, at last, for them; that civilization is dawning,
at last, for them - Liberty and Civilization (Beveridge 1898, 5)

Not everyone was supportive of expansion into foreign countries, though. In 1899,
William James penned The Philippine Tangle as a response to the battle against a
group of Filipinos. They were against the invasion of American and wanted to
remain free. James refers to the American people as pirates pure and simple.
(James 1899, 1). Sarcastically he writes, "We are here for your own good;
therefore unconditionally surrender to our tender mercies, or we'll blow you into
kingdom come." (James 1899, 1).
Although his argument was written a few months prior, Beveridge questioned
whether the people of the Philippines may not prefer our way of life. He wrote,
The Opposition tells us that we ought not to govern a people without their consent.
I answer, The rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority from the
consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self-government.
We govern the Indians without their consent, we govern our territories without
their consent, we govern our children without their consent. How do they know
that our government would be without their consent? Would not the people of the
Philippines prefer the just, humane, civilizing government of this Republic to the
savage, bloody rule of pillage and extortion from which we have rescued them?
(Beveridge 1898, 2).
Both men make compelling arguments for their side of Imperialism. I
cannot say that I completely agree one way or another. I do agree that expansion
was a necessity for the success of our country. The jobs and markets created helped
to stabilize our country. On the other hand, I do not believe that attempting to
conquer a nation that wished to remain free, in the name of commerce, was
necessary. I understand that war happens and it is sometimes unavoidable, but as a
country founded on Independence I believe we should embrace that Independence
from other nations if we can.
Works Cited
1.

American Civilization, A Brief History.2nd ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Salt Lake
Community College, 2016.

2.

Beveridge, Albert J. "March of the Flag," address, 16 September 1898.

Accessed 10 November, 2016.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/gilded/empire/text5/beveridge.pdf.

3.

James, William. "The Philippine Tangle,"Boston Evening Transcript, 1

March 1899. Accessed 10 November,

2016. http://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/JamesPhilippineTangle.pdf (Links

to an external site.).
4.

Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of the United
States (New York City: Gallery Books, 2013), XV