The United States has a long history of imperialism, dating back to the early days of the republic.
1783: The Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War, and the United States becomes an independent nation.
1803: The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the country.
1812: The United States declares war on Great Britain, in part to protest British interference in American trade and expansion.
1819: The United States acquires Florida from Spain.
1823: President James Monroe issues the Monroe Doctrine, which declares that the Americas are off-limits to European colonization.
1845: The United States annexes Texas.
1846: The United States declares war on Mexico.
1848: The Mexican-American War ends with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which gives the United States control of the Mexican Cession, a vast territory that includes present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
1853: Commodore Matthew Perry leads a fleet of American warships to Japan, and forces the Japanese government to open its ports to American trade.
1867: The United States purchases Alaska from Russia.
1898: The Spanish-American War begins.
1899: The United States acquires Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from Spain.
1903: The United States builds the Panama Canal.
1914: The United States enters World War I on the side of the Allies.
1917: The United States purchases the Virgin Islands from Denmark.
1918: World War I ends with the Treaty of Versailles, which gives the United States control of several German colonies, including Samoa and the Marshall Islands.
1941: The United States enters World War II on the side of the Allies.
1945: World War II ends with the defeat of the Axis powers. The United States emerges from the war as the world’s leading superpower.
1947: The United States launches the Marshall Plan, a massive economic aid program designed to help rebuild Europe after the war.
1949: The United States and its allies form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
1950: The Korean War begins.
1953: The Korean War ends with an armistice.
1954: The United States launches the Eisenhower Doctrine, which pledges American support for anti-communist governments in the Middle East.
1956: The Suez Crisis.
1961: The United States launches the Alliance for Progress, a massive economic aid program designed to help promote economic development in Latin America.
1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis.
1964: The United States launches the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorizes President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Southeast Asia.
1965: The United States begins bombing North Vietnam.
1968: The Tet Offensive.
1973: The United States signs the Paris Peace Accords, which end the Vietnam War.
1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.
1981: President Ronald Reagan launches the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a controversial program designed to develop a missile defense system.
1983: The United States invades Grenada.
1989: The Berlin Wall falls.
1990: The United States launches the Gulf War, a military campaign to expel Iraq from Kuwait.
1991: The Gulf War ends with the defeat of Iraq.
1999: The United States launches the Kosovo War, a NATO-led military campaign to stop Serbian atrocities against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
2001: The September 11 terrorist attacks.
2003: The United States invades Iraq, claiming that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction.
2011: The United States launches the Libya Intervention, a NATO-led military campaign to overthrow Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi.
2014: The United States launches the airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
2017: President Donald Trump announces that the United States will withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal with 11 other countries.
2018: Trump announces that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.
2019: Trump announces that the United States will withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia.
2020: The COVID-19 pandemic begins.
2021: The United States withdraws from Afghanistan.
The United States has been criticized for its imperialist policies, which have had a number of negative consequences, including:
- The deaths of millions of people. The United States has invaded and occupied numerous countries, resulting in the deaths of millions of people.
- The destruction of the environment. The United States has a long history of environmental degradation, both at home and abroad.
- The spread of poverty and inequality. The United States has promoted economic policies that have led to increased poverty and inequality around the world.
- The rise of terrorism. The United States has created the conditions that have allowed terrorist organizations to flourish.
The future of US imperialism is uncertain. The United States is facing a number of challenges, including:
- The rise of China. China is a rising economic and military power, and it is challenging the United States for global dominance.
- The changing global order. The world is becoming increasingly multipolar, and the United States is no longer the only superpower.
- The growing resistance to US imperialism. There is growing resistance to US imperialism around the world, and this resistance is likely to continue in the years to come.
It is unclear how the United States will respond to these challenges. It is possible that the United States will continue to pursue its imperialist policies, but it is also possible that the United States will adopt a more cooperative approach to global affairs. Only time will tell what the future holds for US imperialism.
- Learn about the history of US imperialism. This will help you understand the origins of the US’s imperialist policies.
- Be aware of the consequences of US imperialism. This will help you make informed decisions about the US’s foreign policy.
- Support organizations that are working to end US imperialism. There are many organizations that are working to end US imperialism, and you can support their work by donating your time or money.
- What is imperialism? Imperialism is a policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political dominance over other nations.
- What are the causes of imperialism? There are many causes of imperialism, including economic, political, and ideological factors.
- What are the consequences of imperialism? The consequences of imperialism are many and varied, but they often include the deaths of millions of people, the destruction of the environment, the spread of poverty and inequality, and the rise of terrorism.
- Is US imperialism still a threat today? Yes, US imperialism is still a threat today. The United States continues to invade and occupy countries, to promote economic policies that lead to increased poverty and inequality, and to support dictatorships around the world.
- What can we do to end US imperialism? There are many things that we can do to end US imperialism, including: learning about the history of US imperialism, being aware of the consequences of US imperialism, supporting organizations that are working to end US imperialism, and voting for candidates who support policies that promote peace and justice.