The Evolution of American Expansionism

The United States that had existed from the landing on Plymouth in 1620 to the Reconstruction period in the late 19th century was a country dependent on expansionism for survival. Among the imperial powerhouses of Western Europe, this blossoming country was forced to practice expansionism merely to keep its head above water. However, as the country neared the beginning of turn of the century, ambitions grew from survival to conquest as the underdog country gained more political, military, and industrial power than anyone had dreamed. Inevitably, as societies do when faced with newfound power, this one became selfish, and once again in the cycle of world power, expansionism evolved into imperialism because of a national superiority complex, and economic greed, but also continued with the expansionist ideals by spreading American culture.…