Looking back over weeks 7-9, what in your view was
the 1) most common and 2) most effective strategy for American expansion abroad
in the period 1890-1920. Formal empire? Dollar diplomacy? Americanization? Or an
interplay of all three? (80-100 words, by 5pm Friday October 5)
To suppose that informal imperialism, be it via financial or cultural means, has influenced American expansion moreso than formal imperialism is a decidedly 20th-century viewpoint. It also assumes a very 20th-century definition of America itself. If not for the military expansion of formal empire, the United States would still be limited to the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic Coast, it would not have acquired the vast swathes of territory it has subsumed by military expansion, such as California, New Mexico, Hawaii and the Philippines. Even in those areas either purchased or acquired by treaty, actual occupation and settlement of these regions, such as the Northwest, would have been impossible without a military supression of local resistance; a hallmark of formal imperial power.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the most common and the most effective strategy for American expansion was Americanisation. This however, does not diminish the importance of the other two approaches. Although some American ventures into other countries weren’t perhaps quite as successful as desired (re: baseball), there were other numerous ideals that American personified, along with material culture, which other nations adapted. The development of Hollywood for example dominated the majority of the world’s media markets. Hollywood assured that those of foreign culture were literally swamped by the American vision of the world. Other examples include the dominance of restaurants such as KFC and McDonalds. Americanisation is essentially cultural imperialism. It is a soft power – it effectively spreads and reinforces American norms, ideals, values and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteFrom 1890-1920 America embarked on an Empire building process. This was a multifaceted approach with many important factors. The idea of Formal Empire was entrenched in American foreign policy. Even Woodrow Wilson, largely considered a very idealistic man, considered America’s occupation of the Philippines valid. The idea of Dollar Diplomacy was utilised extensively in America’s relations with Central and South American Nations as well as Caribbean nations such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The idea of Americanisation was also consistently and forcefully embarked upon to great success, as the reaction to the American presence at World Fairs demonstrates. Each of these three ideas were equally important, each had successes and failures however to simply contend one of these aspects was the sole strategy of American overseas expansion is overly simplistic.
ReplyDeleteAmerican expansion abroad between 1890 and 1920 was most commonly utilised through a mixture of dollar diplomacy and Americanisation. While they did incorporate formal empire to some degree, for instance in their acquisition of the Philippines and their involvement in Panama, it was their use of dollar diplomacy and Americanisation to influence American interests abroad most effectively, and most commonly. Through dollar diplomacy they were able to influence heavily, both economically and thus politically, much of Latin American that they could not through formal empire. Americanisation was also the first way, and possibly the only, way to finally spread American influence to Europe in the early 20th Century.
ReplyDeleteIn the period between 1890-1920 the most common and effective strategy used by the United States (US) in their efforts to expand their influence abroad was dollar diplomacy. Dollar diplomacy was a common form of expansion in that it was utilized in multiple states in various regions of the world such as the Caribbean, Latin American and Asia. Furthermore, whilst both formal empire and Americanization did play important roles in American US expansion abroad, dollar diplomacy was more effective due to the way in which it allowed for what was essentially economic reliance upon the US in countries such as the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Through guaranteeing loans to such countries, the US was able to further its interests in these states, benefit its own economy, as well as theirs, whilst also preventing European countries from becoming involved. Preventing European influence and economic and political involvement was of great importance to the US throughout this period and consequently, through dollar diplomacy, America was able to prevent such involvement.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Americanization was the most effective strategy for American expansion abroad from 1890 to 1920 because it was a soft approach to expanding in the world by smothering the world with American ideals and products. Americanization was effective because they were welcomed into countries because of the advancement of their manufacturing and marketing policies demonstrated modernity.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the most common strategy for expansion was formal empire. The most of the territories they added to the original states of the Union were under imperialistic ideas and made up the form in which the United States is today. On the other hand a more effective way was the dollar diplomacy and Americanization. The soft approach of cultural undermining and influencing the existing culture with American products and money is possibly more successful for longer time duration.
ReplyDeleteWhilst the United States’ efforts to expand American influence abroad during the period of 1890-1920 certainly involved much in the way of formal empire and dollar diplomacy, in my opinion the most common form of expansion was Americanisation. Through the use of this soft power individual Americans and corporations expanded the influence of the United States abroad. The success of this influence can be seen in the popularity of brands such as Coca Cola, and franchises such as Mc Donald’s. Whilst the success of Americanisation was not always guaranteed, as was the case with the expansion of baseball as a global sport, the fact that American branding and business managed to pervade the world shows the ultimate success of this strategy.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that as America and it’s ideals and desires have evolved, so to have its methods and means. Between 1890-1920, a number of different expansion fronts appeared, each with there own method and consequences. The expansion within what is now regarded as America was undertaken with formal overtones, as was the case with expansion into the Philippines. America employed informal empire however in its quest for relevancy and global power, employing tactics such as Americanisation and Dollar Diplomacy, both of which still exist today as seen through the influence of American culture in our daily lives and global power exerted by the US around the world.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the most effective form of American expansion is Americanization. Americanization during this period involved spreading American ideals and products throughout the world, particularly Europe. The Paris Universal Exposition and the European tour of Buffalo Bill both demonstrate an “authentic” view of America. The success of Americanization and these ideals of the American cowboy are still desired by Europeans today. This is also true for companies like Kodak and Singer (sewing machines) who have become everlasting icons of Americana. America was never technically an American Empire therefore this is neither the most effective nor the most common form of expansion. The same goes for Dollar Diplomacy because Americans never regarded this as expansion, rather philanthropic aide.
ReplyDeleteAmericanisation sought to enlighten the rest of the developed world with progressive marvels of technology and popular culture, while Formal Empire embarked on a civilising campaign in hopes of instilling American values and Christian democracy. While both characteristics of American expansion produced effective results, it was dollar diplomacy which enabled America to foster relationships with Latin America economically as well as politically, simultaneously curtailing European expansion into those areas. Dollar diplomacy not only provided financial opportunities to developing nations, it south to create international stability, through which America promoted its commercial interests, crediting its widespread contribution to American expansion.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Lau.
The most effective strategy employed by America during the 1890-1920 period was dollar diplomacy as it effectively stabilised the region’s economy whilst extending America's commercial and financial interests. Dollar diplomacy extended the United States control over the Latin Americas and East Asia and was the most common form of successful expansion employed by America. Americanisation was another mechanism utilised by America in their expansion exporting cultural and commercial products to spread their ideology. Whilst these two mechanisms expanded the national interest of America and increased their influence neither can be seen as effective form of expansion in a traditional sense as the United States did not establish a formal empire.
ReplyDeleteAll three forms of American expansion abroad between 1890 and 1920 were used commonly and to great effect, it is too difficult to choose any one aspect as being more effective. Dollar diplomacy, formal empire and Americanisation often intermingled, helping to spread American influence over the world, to America's own interests. American ideals were imposed on people from the Philippines to Europe during WWI, and Latin America. Their considerable economic clout was almost always employed in all their dealings with foreign nations, from buying large tracts of land, to building canals, and propping up regimes considered favourable to the US. And, although it is highly disputed, I do believe that they established a formal empire in the Philippines, granting America influence in Asia. It would seem that one strategy of expansion is not employed without the others.
ReplyDelete"Americanization" has had the most lasting cultural impact on contemporary society. As Matthew Fraser says in his book, Weapons of Mass Distraction "hard power threatens; soft power seduces." It is much more of an insidious form of expansion and therefore people tend to be more receptive of it. AlDollar Diplomacy and Formal Empire were prevalent from 1890-1920, with the relations with Latin America and the American expansion in the Philippines. However the subtle, and sometimes more obvious, spread of American culture and ideals was the most common strategy and is lasting in its effectiveness as it is still evident today.
ReplyDeleteThe most effective means of expanding American interests from 1890-1920 was 'Americanization' because it allowed to spread American influences across the entire globe with much smaller resistance than the dollar diplomacy and the formal empire. However if it wasn't for the other two means, then America would not have been as powerful as it was and thus it could not spread it's materials and influences.
ReplyDeleteThe most effective tool of Empire during the 1890-1920 was undoubtedly 'Americanization.' The effects process of economic expansion globalization can be still seen in ubiquitous American global culture today. Their expansion of empire through more formal means of dollar diplomacy and formal empire, only created domestic unrest and the scorn of the world.
ReplyDelete- Campbell Bews
While it was an interplay of all three aspects in American society over the period 1890-1920 that contributed to their Empire, Americanization was surely more effective long-term than either dollar diplomacy or formal empire. It has had a larger impact culturally than perhaps anything else in the world since and is still growing to this day. Without dollar diplomacy and formal empire, America would not have reached the size it has or held the control it has had or did have, but without the spread of the American ideals through Americanization, the rest of the world would not have been changed as it was. Americanization saw the encouragement of Hollywood and coca-cola, but also the failure of baseball in countries other than America itself. Americanization was a succesful way of culturally infiltrating countries across the globe, with less failure and losses than either dollar diplomacy and formal empire.
ReplyDelete