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Expansionism of the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Cen

 

             Throughout the entire history of the United States, Americans have had this desire to expand. The expansionism of the late nineteenth-century and the early twentieth-century is simply a continuation of past expansionism. Although the times and events have changed, the motives have not. These similarities include: religion, economy, and the resulting wars. .
             Americans have always been concerned about religion. The first Americans, the Puritans, were escaping religious persecution. After gaining religious freedom with the Bill of Rights, Americans wanted to spread their religion. This idea of spreading Christianity was also present during the nineteenth and twentieth century. Josiah Strong, a minister, discussed his feelings of spreading Christianity in the novel Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis. Part of this novel explains that "The largest liberty, the purest Christianity, the highest civilization. will spread itself over the earth." (Doc. B). Strong defiantly believed that expansionism including the spread of Christianity was a good thing. Americans also used religion in another way. They used religion as a force that guides them to spread throughout the world. Senator Albert J. Beveridge's speech to Congress showed this. In this speech he thanked God for giving the United States the Philippines. (Doc. E) He also said that God chose Americans to spread to the Philippines and to China. All through American history, religion has motivated people to expand and spread throughout the word. .
             Americans also used economic opportunities as a motive to expand. Thomas Jefferson was one of the first Americans to expand due to economy. Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase which was an excellent economic move. With this new land the United States was able to trade furs, farm the land, and improve the economy. This set a precedent for further expansion. The Americans realized how much money could be made from gaining new territories.


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