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Many developments start the nations ambition to overseas expansion. Farmers and factory owners began to look beyond American borders as the agricultural and industrial production increased greatly. A new sense of power generated by the robust growth in population, wealth, and productive capacity. The American Empire was first popularized during the presidency of James K. Polk who led the nation into the Mexican American War 1846 that annexed Territories like California and the Gadsden Purchase. Mexican-American War was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. Thomas Jefferson, in the 1780s, waited the fall of the Spanish empire until our population can be sufficiently advanced to gain it from them piece by piece. The proposition that the United States is different from other countries in that it has a specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy was considered American exceptionalism. It was a notion that the United States is Qualitatively different but they had just thought they were better than other countries. Many Americans believed U.S. had to expand or explode. Increase in population, wealth, and industrial production demanded more resources. Some feared existing resources in U.S. might eventually dry up. Panic of 1893 convinced some businessmen industry had over expanded resulting in overproduction & under consumption. Foreign trade becoming increasingly important to American economy in late 19th c. Americans considered acquiring new colonies to expand markets further. Desire to compete with Europe for overseas empires. Influential minority sought international status for U.S. like Great European Powers. Between 1870 and 1900, Europeans had taken over 1/5 of land and 1/10 of population of the world. Germany became Americas biggest imperialist foe and largely spurred U.S. into imperialism; Germany sought colonies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America & Caribbean.

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U.S. and German navies nearly engaged each other in 1889 over Samoan Islands. Germany did not wish to provoke U.S. and agreed to settlement. Issue resolved in 1900 treaty with Germany and Britain. U.S. gained 76 square miles -- American Samoa including Pago Pago Social Darwinism meant earth belonged to the strong & fit -- U.S. Stronger nations dominating weak ones was part of natural law. If U.S. was to survive in competition of modern states, it too would have to become an imperial power First Pan-American Conference in Washington, D.C. held in 1889. U.S. proposals rejected by Latin American countries. Inter-American customs union not appealing because European goods were cheaper for Latin Americans. Hemispheric arbitration organization rejected due to fears of U.S. dominance.

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Dollar Diplomacy- The effort of the US to further its goals in Latin American and East Asia through the use of economic power by giving loans made to foreign countries. It was enforced and made by President Theodore Roosevelt Political 1. The outgoing President Theodore Roosevelt said the foundation for this approach in 1904 to the Monroe Doctrine. 2. U.S. intervention involved participating in the overthrow of one government and the military support of another. 3. A dangerous trouble spot was the revolution-riddled Caribbean 4. Another goal of diplomacy to improve financial opportunities, but also to use private capital to further U.S. interests overseas. 5. it possible to pay soldiers without having to fight Economic
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If any nation in the Western Hemisphere appeared politically and financially as unstable as to be vulnerable to European control. In March 1909, Roosevelt attempted unsuccessfully to establish control over Honduras by buying up its debt to British bankers. Washington urged U.S. bankers to pump dollars into the financial vacuum in Honduras and Haiti to keep out foreign funds. The secretary of State encouraged U.S. bankers to move into the country and offer substantial loans to the new regime, thus increasing U.S financial advantage over the country. Dollar Diplomacy was to encourage and protect trade within Latin America and Asia.

Ideological 1. Taft continued and expanded the policy, starting in Central America, where he justified it as a means of protecting the Panama Canal. 2. When a revolt broke out in Nicaragua in 1912, the Taft administration quickly sided with the insurgents (who had been instigated by U.S. mining interests) and sent U.S. troops into the country to seize the customs houses 3. the administration landed U.S. troops in Nicaragua, this time to protect the tottering, corrupt U.S. regime. U.S. troops remained there for over a decade. 4. The State Department persuaded four U.S. banks to refinance Haiti's national debt, setting the stage for further intervention in the further future 5. The United States would not permit foreign nations to intervene, and consequently felt obligated to prevent economic and political instability.