Latin America Essay: Peoples and the Cultures of the Americas

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The United States has long viewed themselves as a powerful nation with the right to expand and explore regions around them. These strong feelings have led to the United States to construct a legacy of imperialism despite its short history. Thomas Schoonover, author of Uncle Sam’s War of 1898 and the Origins of Globalization, argues that the center of the globalization movement lies within Latin America. The text often cites Central America and the Caribbean as a vital part connecting both Eurasia and America. Furthermore it was also stated that Latin America was an instrumental part in setting up many foriegn policy and cultural views. On the other hand the text: Latin America and the United States: A Documentary History by Robert Holden and Eric Zolov analyzes the reasons why America was so interested in Latin America and the political and socio-economic context behind it. Due to growing internal economic pressures, as well as the need to showcase American power to other European nations and establish themselves as a strong independent nation underlined the motives of US policy toward Latin America in the 19th Century as well as increased US interventions in 1898.

American exceptionalism propelled the United States towards intervention in Latin America. Historically, the citizens of the United States had always held a deep admiration for their country, often extending the limits of their own lives. This was true for even the earliest American settlers, such as the Puritans who wanted to spread their way of life to the indigenous inhabitants of North America. While not blatantly visibly, this culture is engraved into the origins of American society. John Winthrop, an early colonial leader, famously gave a sermon labeled “The City Upon a Hill” where he outlined how the Massachusetts Bay Colony had to set an example of what life should look like for every other habitant of North America. Latin America was no exception to this American ideology. Thomas Schoonover highlights how Historians often accredit Western exceptionalism as a motive behind intervention, “Historian David Hanlon, a student of indigenous resistance, found that the colonizing nations justified their rule and the accompanying violence, domination, exploitation and racism with… ‘disruptive systems of religion, education…’”(Schoonover, 119). As demonstrated by this quote, the people of United States believed that their cultural practices were superior, and wanted to instill their beliefs and values within Latin America. Americans disagreed with the basic cultural values including even their practice of religion and education as showcased by Schoonover. A constant need to exert superiority over other countries has led to internationally defiant policies supporting the infiltration of other countries. These intentions were further highlighted by the highest levels of leadership in the United States: “Theodore Roosevelt announced a militaristic “big stick” policy for the Caribbean basin. Big stick diplomacy combined race ideology and naval policy.” (Schoonover, 114). The interventionist policies held by the US, as demonstrated by the Big Stick policy, are founded far more deeply than in surface level cultural differences, but instead is deeply engraved and substantiated by racial tensions. Racist ideologies contribute significant amounts to the misguided policies shaped by a deeply rooted belief in superiority, “In One word, the sacred principle of the inviolability of the protection of our flag is perverted in the ports of Brazil into a perfect monopoly of the unhallowed gains of the navigation of the African Slave Trade,” (Holden and Zolov, 22). Holden and Zolov further substantiate the idea of American exceptionalism as they emphasize that part of the reason the Slave Trade was conducted was to simply bring glory to American flag. Countries were invaded, political structures rooted in history were destroyed, and countless lives were affected purely due to a belief that the United States is superior.

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Additionally, the United States was interested in intervening in Latin America due to economic factors.. In order to stay competitive with international superpowers, the United States had to expand its territorial presence leading to new high imports and exports of raw materials, expansion of workforce and security posts. However, during the 19th century, the United States was wide aware of Britain’s large international grasp, “The held more than 60 percent of the China trade in 1899,” (Schoonover, 112). While tensions between and the Americans still remained hostile as a result of the independence, the United States tried to stray away from being bested by England with any regard. However, empire had immense of international geo political control which led to a sustainably and very large economy. The United States simply could not compete with the scale of the United Kingdom’s empire. As demonstrated, had a massive hold within Asian trade. Consequently, the US looked towards Latin America for expansion to grow their economic prowess. Schoonover further highlights the American need for economic vitality and growth, “These entrepreneur and their mercenaries ransacked the wealth of the isthmus for several decades until institutions of organized capitalism (multinational corporations) limited competition…:” (Schoonover, 117). The expansionist US policy allowed American based companies to gain a competitive edge over any of their competition by abusing international economic landscapes as demonstrated by the quote. No longer having to play by traditional Western rules of conduct, the United States absorbed Latin American companies and resources in for the sole purpose of growing as an economic powerhouse.

America itself was founded following a quest to seek more gold, power, and trade alliances and benefits. The original colonists came seeking precious metals, and an opportunity to bring glory to their home countries. From Christopher Columbus sailing off to bring the Spanish Crown more power, to Virginia being founded as a company to bring England more wealth, there has always been a myriad of reasons as to why people came to America. As the country evolved, the United States learned from its short history, and applied many of the international concepts that the US was founded on onto other countries. Primarily, economic greed and a need to assert dominance propelled the United States internationally towards Latin America in the 19th century and many other countries. Little has changed when analyzing the motives for modern day America, as it continues to conquer, seeking international praise and riches.

Works Cited

  1. Holden, Robert H., and Eric Zolov. Latin America and the United States: a Documentary History. Oxford University Press, 2011.
  2. Schoonover, Thomas David. America’s First Global War: Uncle Sam’s War of 1898 and the Origins of Globalization. University Press of Kentucky, 2003.

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