Introduction
` According to Miller (2015), American imperialism is a policy that promotes the influence of the United States on other countries. The influence can be economic, cultural or military. The concept of American imperialism started in the late 1800s. Imperialism was based on the principles that American businessmen need new territories to sell their goods. Furthermore, the proponents believed that the United States of America was different from other countries. Hence, it is the responsibility of America to establish industries, Christianity, liberty, and political democracy in all the less developed countries in the world. American imperialism led to rapid expansion of American territory through annexation of other territories in the Far East and the Caribbean such as Hawaii.
Beveridge’s arguments for American Imperialism
Albert J. Beveridge was one of the proponents of American imperialism. Albert was a successful senator for Indiana between the year 1899 and 1911. Beveridge believed that one's race or blood influence the inner drive and ability of human. In this regard, Albert argued that the Anglo-Saxon race was superior to all Europeans, Germans, English, Africans, and Asians. Albert reasoned that the other races including Filipinos, Hawaiians’ were like Children and were not capable of self-governing. Therefore he urged that the United States needed to support them and guide them on ways of self-governance. He believed that American imperialism was the easiest and practical way to ensure that democracy and liberty were present in the less developed countries (Levine, 1962).
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Beveridge believed that imperialism will bring law and order as had been reported in other countries such as Russia and Egypt. He believed that these countries appreciate the importance of social cohesion rather than violence, hence the need for the United States to spread such values through imperialism. The responsibility of the United States is to restore order and the constitution provides this responsibility. The American forefathers like Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson took up this responsibility to expand the American Territory in Mississippi and Florida (Halsall, 1997).
Beveridge also had a high appetite for power. In this regard, he urged the congressmen that the United States needs to take their role as a powerhouse to make their presence felt to the whole world like England. He believed that God provided this power and therefore should not be allowed to slip away.
American Anti-Imperialism League’s arguments against American Imperialism
The American Anti-Imperialist organization was formed in June 1898. The American Anti-Imperialist organization opposed American Imperialisms with the reason that such actions were violating the rights of those governed in Philipines. This is because the natives of the annexed territories did not give their consent to be governed through the process of imperialism. The Anti-Imperialism League’s insisted that the Spanish-American War was to expand the American territory to Cuba rather than liberate them from the Spanish empire. The anti-imperialists termed such actions as "criminal aggression" (Halsall, 1997).
In summary, the imperialists argued that it was the moral duty of America to help the less developed country achieve democracy and liberation. Furthermore, imperialism would improve trade and provide a market for American products. In contrary, the anti-imperialists argued that the American Declaration of Independence does not allow for forceful governance of nations. In this regard, if America was to expand its territory, then it could only do that through consent by the people it is governing.
Discussion of arguments made by Beveridge and the American Anti-Imperialism League
The American Anti-Imperialist organization point of arguments resonates well with the American position in several ways. First, the Philippine-American War resulted in American colonizing the Philippines. In this regard, the American acquired land from the Filipinos through forceful eviction. The action went against the American constitution that recognizes the declaration of independence and sovereign’s states. This is because The Filipinos were fighting for Independence that they had fought for a long time.
Secondly, the United States law opposes the act of forcefully ruling a nation without their consent. In this regard, it is unfortunate that the proposers of imperialism in the United States were supporting activities that were opposite to those stated in the American constitution. In my view, the arguments given by the Anti-Imperialism League were valid and strongly anchored in the American law. However, the Anti-Imperialism position was less popular by the public mainly because of political temperature during that period of Imperialism. However, it is clear that the anti-imperialists did not oppose the expansion of the American territory either on basis of trade, religion, or humanitarian implication but they believed that adding extra territory to America would lead to the loss of ideas of self-governance (Schumacher, 2015).
Albert argument on imperialism was motivated by the fact that the American constitution allowed the united state to expand their territory and spread civilization to the whole world. Albert emphasized that the American Forefathers obeyed similar calls to expand their territory in Mississippi and Florida. Alberts was further convinced that the Philippines, Cuba, and Hawaii were provided great trade opportunities that would improve the economy of America. In addition, Albert saw that failure to occupy the territories would make that the United States miss s valuable trade opportunities. He believed that imperialism will open the Pacific Ocean for America and open up trade opportunities with the East. The Pacific colony would make America a powerhouse in trade greater than China. Albert felt that the Philippines were too violent hence were not ready for self-government (Halsall, 1997).
Conclusion
Whether one was for Imperialism or Anti-Imperialism, the driving force behind their argument was necessitated by politics (Morrow, 2016). Ambition drove the proponents and opponents of Imperialism to take the side that could win the election at that time. Moreover, social awareness, political inclination, enthusiasm for power and centralized government were the major factor that determined the definition of Imperialism and political standpoint.
References
Halsall, P. (1997, August). Modern history sourcebook: Albert Beveridge: The March of the Flag. Fordham University . Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1898beveridge.asp
Halsall, P. (1997, August). Modern history sourcebook: American Anti-Imperialist League,
1899. Fordham University . Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1899antiimp.asp
Levine, D. (1962). The social philosophy of Albert J. Beveridge. The Indiana Magazine of History , 101-116.
Miller, T. G. (2015). 1898: The Start of American Imperialism, or its End?.
Morrow, J. A. (2016). Propaganda and Artificial Glory. IU Journal of Undergraduate Research , 2 (1), 19-28.
Schumacher, F. (2015). DEBATING EMPIRE: DISCOURSES OF LIBERTY AND EXCEPTIONALISM IN PROGRESSIVE ERA AMERICA-Cullinane Michael Patrick. Liberty and American Anti-Imperialism, 1898–1909. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012, x+ 246 pp. $105.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-1137002563. Hilfrich Fabian. Debating American Exceptionalism. Empire and Democracy in the Wake of the Spanish-American War. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012, xii+ 278 pp. $100.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0230392892. The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era , 14 (2), 274-277.
