Hawaii Imperialism Essay

Words: 420
Pages: 2

Imperialism is not a foreign concept to many people, as it has been practiced by many nations and powers in world history. According to the textbook World Civilization II: The Rise and Fall of Empires© 1500-present, imperialism can be defined as, "the deliberate policy of extending a nation’s power through diplomacy or military might" (Sattler, 23). In other words, it is when a nation expands their known territory to other parts of the globe, which they then claim as their own. The United States has participated in many acts of imperialism. Two of those acts have been involved with Hawaii and the Spanish-American War.
With America on the rise to become an imperial force, they needed ports near international waters for their navy (Sattler, 48). Thanks to the voyages of James Cook, Hawaii had become an available to the West (Sattler, 48). Hawaiians did not resist this act of imperialism, they actually encouraged it. (Sattler, 49). However, this encouragement was short-lived. Sattler explained, "Diseases halved the Hawaiian population by 1850, requiring the importation of new laborers, mostly from Japan, China, and the Philippines" (Sattler, 49). The influence of the imported laborers and Americans would have an effect on Hawaii to this day (Sattler, 49).
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A&E stated, "The Spanish-American War (1898) was a conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin America." The origin of this war resonated from Cuba's pleas and attempts of independence of Spain. America answered the pleas and warred with Spain (A&E). The result of this war ended with Spain defeated. Along with this defeat, they abandoned Cuba, gave the territory of Puerto Rico and Guam over to the United States and gave America rule over the Philippines for $20,000,000