American Imperialism

American Imperialism

In order to understand imperialism you must first understand it’s meaning to which, imperialism is any occurrence of aggressive extension of authority. The extension of authority is the rule of a government over a foreign country that is acquired by conquest or purchase, without a corresponding grant to a Constitution or of a Republican form of government, and ruling over the people with a monarchical principle, treating the people as subjects rather than as citizens.

In 1899 the American Anti-Imperialist League was formed in order to battle against the imperialistic takeover of the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico by the United States. The overall intent of the league was to protest the occupation believing the takeover is hostile to liberty that leads toward militarism, and therefore, re-affirming that all men are entitled to a free life, liberty, and happiness. The league apparently was extremely outspoken and firmly believed there was criminality to the actions and accused the government of being very disloyal. The league also argued that they wanted to put an end to this conflict by granting the Philippines their independence, when in fact it was actually theirs to begin with. The league also believed the occupying administration was additionally trying to smother the Spirit of 1776 throughout the islands. The league viewed the imperialists actions was no doubt the destruction of self-government in the Philippine islands, the league resented the betrayal, and accused Americans of having blood-stained hands of Filipinos upon them (Fredrick 1913). American Anti-Imperialist League held close to them a quote, that “No man is good enough to govern another man without his consent, and when the white man governs himself, that is self-government, but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government that is despotism” (Abraham Lincoln).

The adoption of American imperialism, although there...