how does imperialism contradict American ideals about liberty?

Question

u.s history

please help me

Answer 1

If we are truly for freedom, we should allow other states and countries to have that same freedom. Lately, though, the U.S. only allows freedom (i.e. democratic elections) if the outcome is favorable to the U.S.
Imperialism... the wish to conquer the world... is not a fight for freedom for those nations we want under out thumb.
The original idea of American freedom was that it would shine among nations and inspire non-democratic governments to follow suit.
But of course now U.S. citizens are under many restrictions of freedom that were not intended by the signers of the Constitution and the welfare of the top 2% has aced liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the common man.

Answer 2

Looks like an Empire, behaves like an Empire...

As well as outright war, American foreign trade has been called Economic imperialism. Big US companies swamping local producers (Euro film industry vs Hollywood). America also believes in controling its suppliers (Cuba revolted against unfair sugar price fixing, you know the rest).

Where the $ doesn't work, there is always the USMC. Recent events include the occupation of oil producing country, etc.

Any form of imperialism will be counter to the liberty of the country being occupied or bullied. To think otherwise is dumb.

Luck

Answer 3

Imperialism is generally believed to suppress liberty because history shows us that by taking resources forcefully from another country usually leads to the enslavement, mistreatment, or disregard for the inhabitants who already have a "claim" to their territory.

A great example of this is the division of Africa by the European nations in the early 19th century. They completely disregarded already established tribal territorial boundaries. Instead, they separated groups into countries based on European needs, despite native protest. So you could argue that the European nations disregarded the freedoms of the original inhabitants and, by force, seized political and economic control- completely disregarding native authority and freedoms. This goes against ideal "American Liberty", where people should have the right to choose for themselves and not be controlled by another.

Too bad that's not how it really is! : (

Hope this helps! It's an interesting subject.

Answer 4

Imperialism imposes the culture of the conquering country upon the natives in the country being conquered. The imperialistic country holds only its own culture and people to be of value, so it impedes or destroys the freedoms of the culture in the country it is invading or conquering.

For instance -- when Spain "discovered" South America and slaughtered entire cities of native people, when white settlers came to North America and imposed warfare and genocide upon Native Americans and wouldn't let them speak their language or practice their own religion (a real irony, that), when Britain colonized India --

As a matter of fact, if you look at history over the past several hundred years, Britain emerges as the villain of imperialism, but British policy very strongly influenced early American policy on dealing with native cultures, and the arrogance of these policies of Britain and America still linger in our culture today.

Answer 5

Old, white males who hold the power don't think imperialism impedes on anyone else's liberty because they are bull-dozing "non-democratic, lesser" countries for their own good. Didn't you know that? America's power holders feel democracy should be spread far and wide through imperialism--especially cultural imperialism. It is all about Globalization and capitalism, baby!

Answer 6

imperialism enslaves natives. the american constitution claims that all men are equal. if george bush's imperialist warmongering is for the sake of liberty and not oil then im a chinaman.

for a good example of how imperialism contradicts liberty, google "guantanamo bay".

Answer 7

It doesn't. Manifest destiny, the sugarcoated American term for imperialism, is about as patriotic as apple pie and baseball.