The Imperialist foreign policy of the United States
The Imperialist foreign policy of the United States in the Hawaiian Islands was more pronounced with respect to the near-total control it gained in the country. The United States gained the control of the Hawaiian military and public entities, which is evidence that its foreign policy of expansion was multifaceted in terms of bringing democracy to nations and establishing its power and influence over the nations in imperialist fashion. Formally, the ports, harbors, and military installations in Hawaii belonged to the government of Hawaiian islands. The American imperial control over Hawaii was further entrenched through
military action by American citizens i. Hawaii, who through a coup d’ état deposed Hawaii’s queen Liliuokalani on 17th January 1893 following her attempts to establish a Hawaiian constitution. The
annexation of Hawaii set the grounds for its incorporation into the United States as the nation’s fiftieth state in 1959.
Social Darwinism was a prevalent guide on foreign policies of many imperialist nations, with its primary tenet being the survival of the fittest in both territorial acquisition and economic dominance. The United States war with Spain set it at the forefront of global superpower status while heralding a definite end to the Spanish empire. Simultaneously, the United states advanced tenets of democracy such as racial equality, economic inclusion, and political freedom through evangelism that accorded the foreign policy
extensive public support. The United States evangelism was championed by the The Social Gospel a protestant movement which advocate for the application of Christian morals in the solution of social problems such as economic inequality, racism and labout union issues. In this sense, the foreign policies of the United States through the chriatian ministries advanced democratic policies.
The United States foreign policy of the late 19th and 20th centuries also aimed to curb the influence of other imperialist nations such as Britain and France. The Open Door policy
in China established by the United States on 6th September 1899 was meant to stop territorial acquisition of china and maintenance of a neutral economic agenda by the Chinese towards all imperialist nations. The policy enabled the United States to economically gain from trade with China and maintain the autonomy of China. Furthermore, the United States established the Monroe Doctrine o lf 1823 which made it an act of aggression if a European nation attempted to acquire land in
both North and South Americas. Similarly, the doctrine stated that the United States would not intervene in the affirs of European colonies or territories. Clearly, the United States advanced a multifaceted foreign policy in the late 19th century and early 20th century advocatong for global democracy and its own imperialist agenda of economic dominance.