Introduction

 

We hear repeatedly that America is unlike European nations such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, and Portugal in terms of our desire for colonial expansion. Whether right or wrong, America almost from our beginnings as a nation sought foreign territory. Moreover, our rule over certain lands such as American Samoa, Virgin Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Marina Islands, and Ryukyu Islands does not differ significantly from the rule of European Powers. 

 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States periodically intervened militarily in Latin American nations to protect its interests, particularly the commercial interests of the American business community. After the Roosevelt Corollary of 1904, whenever the United States felt its debts were not being repaid in a prompt fashion, its citizens' business interests were being threatened, or its access to natural resources were being impeded, military intervention or threats were often used to coerce the respective government into compliance. This made many Latin Americans wary of U.S. presence in their region and subsequently hostilities grew towards the United States

 

In defense of America, Hawaii, Alaska, and our forty-eight states have equal standing with the original American Colonies. On the other hand, many of our other territories possess a significant lower status.

 

America’s Record of Imperialism

 

Native Americans

 

We need to explicitly recognize that from the time of Columbus until the present, America has treated poorly Native Americans. On countless occasions, land was promised to Indians for an indefinite term, only to be unilaterally rescinded within a few years.

 

While it is difficult to determine exactly how many Natives lived in North America before Columbus, estimates range from a low of 2.1 million to 7 million people to a high of 18 million. Civilized people decry the Nazi and Japanese Treatment of subjugated people during World War II. Our record also is dismal. Native Americans were frequently forced to leave their promised territories without meaningful compensations and under inhospitable conditions, leading to widespread death from malnutrition and disease. American killing of millions of buffalo, which was the source of Indian livelihood, was comparable to Nazi confiscation of 75% of GNP of France, Netherlands, Belgium, etc. during World War II. The buffalo was the source of Indian food and clothing. Without it they were destitute. 

 

Stated differently, Americans view our purchase of territory either through treaties with Spain over Florida or with France over Louisiana Purchase as totally legitimate. That said, we never investigated the rights of Native Americans who preceded France or Spain.

 

The Mexican American War (1846-1848)

 

This war followed in the wake of the 1845 American annexation of Texas. In the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million dollars. Mexico acknowledged the loss of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. Mexico lost one-third of its original territory.

 

The Spanish American War (1898)

 

The United States decisively defeated Spain in a war that initially focused on the independence of Cuba from Spain.

At the Treaty of Paris (1898) Spain recognized Cuban Independence. Spain also gave up Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine islands.

Hawaii

 

In 1893 Americans overthrew the historic native Hawaiian regime led by Queen Liliuokalani. The successful Americans established the Republic of Hawaii.  Because Hawaii was strategically important naval outpost, in 1898 America annexed Hawaii.

 

American Samoa: Germany, United States, and Britain colonized the Samoan islands as per the Treaty of Berlin, 1899

 

Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua

While America never annexed these countries, we repeatedly sent in troops to establish governments friendly to American interests. Pro-American dictators ruled all of these countries.

 

In 1870 President Grant submitted his request for annexation of the Dominican Republic. Because its population was mostly colored, its language Spanish, and its population Roman Catholic, the Senate rejected Grant’s application

 

Panama Canal Zone: (1903-1999) America had control over the Panama Canal Zone

 

Virgin Islands: In 1917 the United States purchased the former Danish colony of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, which is now the U.S. Virgin Islands.