Created by dsant on Dec 2, 2009
Last updated: 12/09/09 at 09:56 AM
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The Marshall Plan was created in 1948 at the end of World War Two. Its purpose was for the United States to provide relief to European countries that were in bad shape after the war. This was very important to them because they felt that if the kept European countries strong, those countries would be able to resist communism. The Marshall Plan relates to the idea of expansion because the United States was getting involved in the governments of foreign countries for somewhat selfish reasons. They were expanding their influence across the world and spreading their American ideals. Picture: www.marshallplan.freeterritorytrieste.com/
In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt made an addition to the Monroe Doctrine called the Roosevelt Corollary. This new policy allowed the United States to have deeper involvement in Latin America (class notes). The government now sanctioned members of the US to act like "policemen" in foreign countries, controlling and patrolling the actions of the country's natives (class notes). This addition set a precedent of the United States intervening in the affairs of other countries, even if they did not involve them. This increased expansion because now the United States feels that they are allowed to expand into countries even where they are unwanted just to enforce what they believe is right. If it wasn’t for the Roosevelt Corollary, the United States might not have expanded as much as they have. Picture: shipbright.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/climate-change-and-freshwater-prologue-to-a-series/
The Spanish American War began in 1898 when Cuba wanted independence from Spain. To aid Cuba, the United States sent a warship called the Maine to Cuba; it exploded and they blamed it on the Spanish, giving them reason to start a war (class notes). After only four months of fighting, Spain surrendered. As a result, the United States gained Spanish colonies, the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico. Cuba became independent but the United States would stay involved and had the right to intervene at any time (class notes). The Spanish American War greatly effected expansion because it added more colonies to the American empire and proved once again that America could be stronger than European countries. The rights held by the United States in Cuba also impacts expansion because it makes it seem okay for the United States to have so much control over another country. Many events related to expansion that take place after this are effected by this precedent of over involvement. Picture: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gapauld2/mpc/spamwar.shtml
The Pacific Railway Act was passed by Congress in 1862. Its goal was to connect the country by joining the West to the rest of the country (class notes). They believed that the best way to do this would be creating a transcontinental railroad that stretched from the Mississippi River all the way to the Pacific Ocean. To accomplish this, the government gave money and land to telegraph companies and train companies, who then worked for a long time to build the railroads (class notes). The Pacific Railway Act effected expansion because it lead many people to move West because it became easier to travel. It also became easier to communicate and trade with the entire country, effectively making the West completely a part of America. The transcontinental railroad bridged the gap between the East and the West. Picture: www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/steamtown/shs2t.htm
The Mexican War started with the annexation of Texas. Mexico was very unhappy with the United States for taking over Texas, so they refused to sell any land to them (class notes). The United States gets worried and sends troops down to the border and in response Mexico sends their own troops (class notes). Soon a fight breaks out and the United States sees the violence of the Mexicans as reason for war (class notes). After not too long, the United States wins the war and gains the Southwest, California, and more from Mexico (class notes). However the United States still had to pay 15 million dollars for all this land (class notes). The Mexican War is significant in relation to expansion because the United States gains more land, expanding their country to an even greater size. The more land they have, the more land on to which they can expand their country. However, the Mexican War is most significant in relation to expansion because it sets a precedent of the United States taking land by force. This is the first time that they have fought another country to gain land but it will not be the last. It is the start of the American empire and of the idea of taking land by force (class notes). Picture: www.il.ngb.army.mil/museum/HistoricalEvents/MexicanWar.htm
Manifest Destiny is the belief that members of the United States have the divine right to take care of the whole continent and to expand westward and that this is a responsibility given to the United States by God (class notes). So, the United States makes it okay to expand west and into land lived on by others because they are saying that it is their duty to make the land around them great and worthy of God. By declaring this, the United States is being very arrogant; they think that they are better then everyone else and therefore are being generous when taking over and supposedly fixing their land. The idea of manifest destiny is extremely important to expansion because it is the motivating force and also the sanctifier of most of the events relating to expansion that follow. It causes so many Americans to support expansion and also provides reason for many expansions that aren't really right. If not for the idea of manifest destiny, the United States would not have expanded like it did. Picture: faculty.umf.maine.edu/~walters/web%20103/outline%2013%20umf%20103_06.htm
The question of whether the United States would annex Texas began in 1836 when Texas asked for independence from Mexico. At this point, due to American westward expansion, there were more Americans in Texas than there were Mexicans. When Texas was successful in gaining independence, the United States offered to annex them, making them a part of the United States. However, there was a lot of opposition in the North because they felt that the South was just angling to get another slave state to throw off the balance. In the end, the South won by a small majority and Texas became a state. The annexation of Texas relates to expansion because the United States was attempting to expand even further, but this time there was a lot of opposition from within. This shows that the United States did not all agree on the idea of expansion and this difference of beliefs would effects events to happen later. Picture: www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/index.php
American Industrialization began in 1830 with Steam Revolution and continued until the late 19th century with the Electrical Revolution (class notes). There were many inventions and innovations during this time period, all of which effected American society, mainly labor, living standards, and business culture (class notes). Industrialization is related to expansion because both relate to the idea of growth; in a way industrialization is an expansion of technology. All of the new inventions and changes made America stronger. Industrialization strengthened the economy, life of the people, and also unified of the country through inventions like the telephone and the train. Now that the United States is stronger, they are better able to expand. Picture: faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/kilgroe/Indus.htm
The Monroe Doctrine was written in 1823. It announced that the Western hemisphere was closed to European colonization (class notes). The US felt this was acceptable because American political systems are different from those of Europe and therefore they should stay separate (class notes). The document goes on to say that any political influence by Europe will be viewed as a threat to the Western hemisphere and therefore will require action by the United States (class notes). The Monroe Doctrine had a major effect of American expansion because it assured that the United States would have all of the Western hemisphere in which to expand. Without European powers involved in their hemisphere, the United States would more easily be able to expand and feel safer doing so. Picture: thebsreport.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/todays-birthdays-april-28th/
The War of 1812 is the second war of independence fought between the United States and Britain. The United States was frustrated with Britain because they felt that Britain was holding them back from growing as a country. Britain was interfering with American ships and aiding the Native Americans in staying strong against American expansion. The war was very hard and neither side came out victorious; they agreed to return to the previous terms regarding Britain's involvement in America. However, their almost win boosted many American's confidence in their country. This effects expansion because Americans realized that they were strong enough to resist defeat by the British and therefore were strong enough to stand up to many different obstacles as well. They were able to expand because they felt confident enough that it would not be too much for them to handle. Picture: hotchkissfamily.lbbhost.com/1812.html
In 1803, the United States bought a huge chunk of North American land from the French. The land had previously been owned by Spain, who then gave it to France (class notes). The United States was worried that the French led by Napoleon would cut off their trade west of the Mississippi River, so they attempted to buy the land (class notes). They were successful and bought all of the French land, doubling the size of the United States. This has a huge impact on American expansion because without all this new western land, there would have been no where to expand to. Now Americans were able to settle in the West and eventually expand the United States all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Picture: www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Course%20Index/Lessons/4/LA%20Purchase.html
The French and Indian War was a war fought in North America between Britain and the French, who were supported by the Native Americans (class note). As a result of this war, the French no longer had any power or land in America and the British were able to expand all the way to the Mississippi River. However, the Proclamation of 1763 created a line through the Appalachian Mountains (class notes). The colonists were to stay on the east side and the natives got the west (class notes). Overall, the French and Indian War effected American expansion because it moved one step closer to full expansion. The French were now out of the way and just the British were left to get rid of before America could expand. However, the French and Indian War also led to problems with expansion because the Proclamation of 1763 confined them to a small portion of land. However, they would soon overcome this and be able to fully expand. Picture: freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fancher/french_indian.htm
The colonial period in America started with the first permanent colony, Jamestown in 1607 (class notes). Colonists came to America because they were unhappy with life in Europe and were looking for a new starts. The colonial period relates to expansion because it was the very beginning. The unhappy Europeans expanding into America was the first step in American expansion. They took over land belonging to Native Americans, pushing the natives further west. This to a trend of taking the land of native's and just pushing them out of the way. The structure of colonial life relates to expansion as well. The longer that the colonists stayed in America, the more self-sufficient and self-assured they became. They began to feel that they were meant to be there and started to look down upon the natives. This attitude leads to the whole expansionist mindset of future times: that Americans deserve to be there and that they are superior, giving them the right to take whatever land they wanted. Picture: www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/cricket/ladstolords/1601.html
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