19th Century American Expansionism Research Paper

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A vast majority of the history of the United States was marked by an age of expansionism. This era was particularly pronounced throughout the 19th century; such events may include the acquisition of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the annexation of Hawaii and purchase of Alaska, all of which are the hallmarks of U.S expansionism. The main motives were of a multitude and varied, but there is one particularly strong motivation in this conquest. The acquisition of economic opportunities was a common belief among many of the people of the U.S. and among its leaders. This idea fueled and garnered this idea of expansionism and directed the course of history in its conquest. Both in the hopes of the people, yet the disparity for many others.

The origination of this idea stemmed from the concept called Manifest Destiny,
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The support for this idea amongst Americans only grew by the mid-nineteenth century through the surge of technological advancements. This belief was used as a pretext for many Americans to surge into the allure of this new land. For most of the duration of the nineteenth century, there have been many infamous land acquisitions in the U.S, through means of purchasing, or forcefully invading it. An example of the former being the Louisiana purchase, in which the U.S had gained an expansive amount of territory that encompassed nearly 530 million acres of new and valuable resources, being considered one of the best economic pacts to be made. And the latter may be exemplified by the Mexican cession.Although achieved through forceful attacks on the Mexican people, this acquisition caused