American Expansionism

Americans in the late 1800's agreed most strongly with the imperialist views of Albert Beverage and Josiah Strong. America had expanded, from the small east coast thirteen-state-country it had been in the late 1700's, until reaching the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the west. There was infrastructure, like railroads, connecting the entire country. The most recent census taken at the time said that there were no more undeveloped lands on which new immigrants could settle. This began the U.S. looking toward expansion in a whole new light. New inventions, like the light bulb and sewing machine, were increasing worker productivity. Industrialization had taken hold and America produced more goods than the population could use. Surpluses existed in corn, wheat, cotton, and many manufactured goods. The country needed new markets to fill the order sheets of its progress. At much the same time the United States was growing in international prestige throughout the world. A victory in Cuba over the Spanish had elevated the military status of the country. The growth of the U. S. had fascinated many social scientists of the time. They explained the rapid successful growth of America to the Darwinian of survival of the fittest. …