Assess the United States' ascension as a world power at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.

Question

Focus on the reason for the overseas expansion and some of the specifics of that expansion. Can someone please help me with this?

Answer 1

Why do I have the feeling that this is a final exam paper or something similar? It seems a little too specific for just simple curiosity.

Well a slightly short answer would go something like: America's gradual westward expansion and constant influx of immigrants created an incredibly large economic base to draw from as the world became more focused on economic expansion in general. Advocates of "colonies," especially in Africa and the Paficic pressed their various home countries to create spheres of inlfluence in far-away palces. James Mahan, a naval admiral, published an influential book on the use of islands and colonies as "coaling" stations vital to the economic security of the country.

In America, the Spanish American War led to the end of significant Spanish influence in the Carribean and the beginning of the overseas American "empire" that consisted of islands in the Caribbean such as Cuba and the many islands that make up the Phillipenes.

I think that's a good start.

Answer 2

In reading a book called Mornings on Horseback (David McCullough), I found out about two events that began to establish the U.S.'s ascension and governing power outside its national borders. Our president then, Theodore Roosevelt, was a remarkable man who believed in taking strong action, based on principles of creating good for the mass of people, and two of his achievements were achieving victory for the U.S. in Puerto Rico and in the Philippines. He fought for democracy (and against the Spanish rule) in Puerto Rico, and later he gave authorization (since I believe this was during his presidency, he wouldn't have led forces in person) to take the Philippines away from Spain and establish that land for the U.S. I THINK it became a protectorate of ours, but I don't have the book to refer to at this time. Since Roosevelt became President after the assassination of McKinley, his was the dominant, aggressive, and self-confident image that he projected, and very likely, American business and prominent individuals as well demonstrated that attitude at home and overseas.
When Wilson became President in the years before the start of WWII, his was a mild and pacifist approach to how America involved itself with the rest of the world, but the Roosevelt influence had already had important results from the 1890's and into the 20th century.

Answer 3

After world war one we were the only country not torn to crap by it, so we were able to become the world's market place along with it's police. Wilson's white fleet also went around the world to show off our power and that was really the first step in our international rise.

Answer 4

Read Gore Vidal's "Empire".