Pros and Cons of American Imperialism

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Pros and Cons of American Imperialism

The Colonial Era in Europe might have been responsible for the creation of countries like the United States, but the idea of colonization and imperialism didn’t just end when colonies turned to nations. For a long period of time, American Imperialism was the rule of the day. Americans colonized or ruled over a number of territories and even though some have become states, others are still just considered “possessions” of the government. Here is a look at the pros and cons of this attitude.

What Are the Pros of American Imperialism?

Coast to Coast Expansion
The original 13 colonies had plenty of space when they were initially founded, but eventually those population centers were beginning to get crowded. More people also meant needing more crop land for food. The best and only way to initially accomplish this was through an imperialistic attitude.

Being Able To Help
Although the help that Americans were attempting to provide was done with a superior, almost pious attitude, the expansionism did help to tame some of the wilderness so that it could be turned into functional lands that could be used for food and population development.

Fueled The Economy
As the nation grew, it became more industrialized. More industrialization demanded more customers and markets, so expansionism became necessary. Much of the rest of the world already had their borders set and expansion into developed markets was difficult at best. With imperialism, American industry could develop their own new markets and then dominate them.

What Are the Cons of American Imperialism?

It was hypocritical of the foundations in American culture.
The idea that God was calling Americans to civilize other cultures and territories goes against everything the Bible says, despite using the Bible as justification for imperialism. Christianity isn’t about making people fall into line, but that’s often how it is treated, even today. It’s about loving others and sharing the tenets that Jesus taught.

Amount of Defense Needed
To some extent, American imperialism is still active today with military bases placed in numerous locations around the world, from Japan to Germany and everywhere in-between. This has caused the US to have the largest defensive budget in the world to support this wide spread of military resources.

No Need For It
The US has a vast amount of resources that could be developed to eliminate much of its dependence on foreign nations, but is instead spending development money on imported items. The idea that the country should take over areas of import is pure laziness because technology exists to eliminate most imports.

Should the United States continue expanding into other cultures to provide supports and a unique attitude? Or should Americans back off and resist the arrogant attitudes that so many in the world see today in the US? By weighing the pros and cons of American imperialism, the US can decide which journey would be most appropriate for the future.