Expansionism

Definition

Expansionism is the policy or practice of a nation or empire expanding its territory, power, or influence through economic, political, or military means. This concept is closely tied to the idea of a nation or empire seeking to increase its size, resources, and global presence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was driven by American expansionist desires to acquire new territory, including the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico.
2. The filibuster movement in the 1850s was an attempt by pro-slavery Americans to seize control of Cuba, Nicaragua, and other parts of Central America to expand the institution of slavery.
3. Alfred Thayer Mahan's theories on the importance of naval power and the control of sea lanes influenced the expansionist policies of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
4. The Spanish-American War of 1898 resulted in the United States gaining control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, marking a significant expansion of its overseas empire.
5. Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy, which emphasized the use of military force to protect American interests, was a key driver of American expansionism in the early 20th century.

Review Questions

• Explain how expansionism was a driving factor in the Mexican-American War and the acquisition of new territories for the United States.
  • Expansionism was a key motivator behind the Mexican-American War, as the United States sought to acquire new lands, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico. The desire to expand the nation's territory and resources westward, fueled by the concept of Manifest Destiny, led the U.S. to provoke a conflict with Mexico, ultimately resulting in the cession of these territories following the war.
• Analyze the role of the filibuster movement in the quest for new slave states and the expansion of American influence in Central America.
  • The filibuster movement in the 1850s was an attempt by pro-slavery Americans to seize control of Cuba, Nicaragua, and other parts of Central America in order to expand the institution of slavery. These efforts were driven by expansionist desires to acquire new territories and establish political and economic dominance in the region, which would have allowed for the creation of additional slave states and the perpetuation of the Southern plantation economy.
• Evaluate the influence of Alfred Thayer Mahan's theories on naval power and the control of sea lanes on the expansionist policies of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Mahan's theories on the importance of naval power and the control of sea lanes had a significant impact on the expansionist policies of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His ideas, which emphasized the need for a strong navy to protect trade routes and project global influence, helped to justify and drive the country's efforts to establish an overseas empire, including the acquisition of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico following the Spanish-American War. Mahan's influence shaped the 'Big Stick' foreign policy of Theodore Roosevelt, which used the threat of military force to protect American interests and expand the nation's global reach.

Related terms

Manifest Destiny:

The 19th-century American belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Imperialism:

The policy of a country to extend its power and influence through the acquisition of lands or the establishment of economic and political control over other areas.

Jingoism:

An extreme form of patriotism and nationalism, characterized by a belligerent foreign policy and the aggressive promotion of the national interest.