Glossary
Economic Opportunities
The potential for financial gain, new markets, and access to valuable resources that drove imperialistic expansion.
Example:
American businesses saw vast economic opportunities in China, pushing for an Open Door Policy to ensure access to its lucrative markets for goods like textiles and oil.
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. In U.S. history, it often refers to the late 19th and early 20th-century expansion overseas.
Example:
The acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico and Guam after the Spanish-American War exemplified American imperialism, as the U.S. sought to expand its global reach.
Racial Superiority
The belief that one's own race is inherently better than others, often used to justify discrimination, subjugation, or imperialistic control over other populations.
Example:
The concept of racial superiority fueled the 'White Man's Burden' ideology, suggesting that Anglo-Saxons had a moral obligation to uplift and govern non-white populations in newly acquired territories.
Social Darwinism
A belief system applying Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to human society, arguing that certain individuals or groups are inherently superior and destined to dominate others.
Example:
Many pro-imperialists used Social Darwinism to justify American expansion, claiming that the U.S., as a 'fitter' nation, had a right to conquer and civilize 'weaker' peoples.