Alfred Thayer Mahan began a propaganda campaign to promote a stronger navy. If the navy was larger, economic and territorial expansion would occur. There were other justifications brought up to defend the idea of imperialism. Some believed that “Anglo-Saxons” were racially superior to other races occupying the world. White rule would promote three successes: national success, international stability, and to benefit other races deemed inferior by forcing American ideas and ways of life on them. Christianity was another form of imperialism because it was thought that the world should have the same beliefs that Americans do since Christianity is a large portion of this nation’s founding; theref

To expand the territorial influence of the U.S., we made an agreement with Spain. We gained control of Puerto Rico, all of the Hawaiian Islands, one third across the Pacific Ocean, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines. For all of these territories, the U.S. paid $20 million. That’s the cost of some of America’s finest homes, today! The Philippines were not going to let the U.S. gain control without revolting. It took three years and over 70,000 troops to literally crush the people of these islands. During the Battle of Luzon, one sixth of the natives were killed, or died from disease Americans brought with them. The U.S. primarily took over the Philippines for economic growth.

The U.S. wanted to be the most powerful imperialistic nation. Expansion of power was a thought to gain superiority over other nations. The U.S. was not the only nation who had the idea of becoming the “super power” of the world. Germany and Austria-Hungary competed with other nations in Europe to gain superior economic power. In the war of imperialism, the Great War was created. On August 28, 1914 a Serbian Terrorist assassinated Arch Duke Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary. Germany supported Austria-Hungary since they had an alliance. The two Central Powers declared war on Serbia. Yet, Serbia had an alliance with France and Britain, two key countries of the Allied Powers. Thus, World War I began.

McKinley was the current U.S. President and although he did not want war, he understood the economic benefits of war. If you give a nation freedom, it will have the freedom to trade, and create a global impact for economic growth. On April 11, 1898, McKinley asked Congress for war.

Some topics in this essay:
McKinley Congress, Manifest Destiny, Thayer Mahan, Battle Luzon, , JP Morgan, Platt Amendment, War McKinley, Guam Philippines, Germany Austria-Hungary, economic growth, ship sank, anti-imperialist league, war cuba, territorial expansion, died disease, cuba spain, peace treaty, war cuba spain, idea imperialism,