To what extent is the statement,"The primary factor in the united states adopting a policy of imperialism was econmic" , correct?

Even before the Civil war the United states had started to expand into the west. By the end of the nineteenth century the expansion of the united states from the Atlantic to the Pacific was complete. This all due to the many treaties of war, conquests, and gaining land from the native Americansand orther countries. With the Continent conquered , the united states decide to expand beyond its borders. Imperialism played a big part in U.S. Territorial expansion. through imperialism the united states began their international empire with the victory of the Spanish - American war. The primary factor in the united states adopting a policy of imperialism was not completely economic. To be correct the primary factor was political. this is due to the basic role of imperialism ,the closing of the frontier, the justifications of imperialism , supporters of imperialism.


Imperialism can be found through out history. Imperialism is the ideology of extending a nation's authority by territorial conquest establishing economic and political domination of other nations.their are two types of imperialism they are formal and informal. Formal imperialism is when a nation directly politically and military takes over a country. Some examples of this is is when the united states had the acquisition s of Guam ,Hawaii ,and Puerto Rico.Informal imperialism is when nations take control by drafting treaties and policy's.One policy is the Open Door policy which allowed the any area to penetrate by imperialism nations such as the united states.





Before the united states could expand beyond it boundaries it had to conquer the whole Continent first. the united states had been collecting territory since 1783 with the first Treaty of Paris.during the end of the nineteenth century the whole Continent was almost conquered all that was left were the native American territories. Indians were encouraged to sell their vast tribal lands and become "civilized", which meant for Native American society to reorganize and destroy traditional customs. this resulted in major many tragic crime such as the battle of little big horn when general Armstrong Custer's army slaughtered all the Sioux women and children. Alternate ways of perstion were assimilation and The Dawes-Severlaty Act.



Imperialism being a touchy subject many tried to come up with justifications for imperialism. Alfred T. Mahan’s view of imperialism was the United States now being a world power it must develop a great navy. It would increase the militaries power and also the United States new global standing. But first the U.S. had to acquire colonies. This book also affected Theodore Roosevelt who was also a historian. Another justification is of religion. This meant that if we went to other “uncivilized” countries and Christianize them to make them “civilized” it would be religiously justified.