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)
Throughout weeks 7-9 we have focused greatly on American Expansion. From what I have learned, it is easy to suggest that all three of the options above have been successful strategies for American Expansion in their own different ways. Although in my personal opinion, Americanization has been the most common way the US were able to expand between 1890 and 1920.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have learned in the past few weeks, Americanization is an extremely broad concept. In terms of commercialism and the spread of American popular culture, Americanization was a leading feature of American expansion. The more America pushed and promoted its culture into other countries, the more America was ‘expanding’ internationally. One of the first waves of Americanization was seen through the creation of an ‘Informal Empire’ in Latin America. This was done by the foreign policy ‘Dollar Diplomacy’.
Dollar diplomacy was a successful way of international expansion for the US because it created a way to spread American commercialism. The spread of American commercialism meant that America would have a greater international market and therefore would expand its trading opportunities, particularly in South America.
Through creating stronger economic ties with other countries, America was able to promote themselves as a leading country in terms of culture and economy. Americanization which includes the spread of American cultures (i.e. sports), economic markets and democracy was most definitely the most effective reason for American expansion between the 1890s and the 1920s.
American expansion abroad in the period 1890-1920 was characterised by both military method and cultural influence.
ReplyDeleteFormally, the most common method was military method. This included war waging, military occupation, revolution provocation, canal building and contract drawing to ensure that the United States maintained control and supremacy within its region. Even the ‘dollar diplomacy’ was associated with Rosevelt Corollary, which self-promoted America to be the ‘international police’ for Latin America.
However, the most effective strategy for America expansion was actually through the cultural influence of Americanisation. By spreading American products in different areas such as science, technology, economy, food, fashion, music, film, sport and art, the world could not escape the presence of America. This form of expansion befriended the United States to other nations and promoted the ideology that American’s products are superior, and therefore, their expansion was deserved and welcomed. Moreover, Americanisation was so effective that its legacy is still continued today in the twenty-first century.
For an effective expansion, either in America or any other country in the world, one particular strategy is not enough. Expansion is not purely based on acquiring new territories by waging a war. Definitely, exerting direct political control over colonies and acquired territories is one thing and an effective expansion strategy “will go bankrupt” without new territories and direct interventions, no, it won’t even start. Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii are important milestones in proclaiming expansion, but one composite that is also important is ideology behind any expansion and in this issue, America was indeed successful. Manifest Destiny and their duty to enlighten inferior nations somehow connected American citizens together and even justified their right for expansion in their hearts and minds, how a nation could expand if people see no vision. Vision is indeed important. We can trace an analogy with Nazi Germany, when Hitler came to power Germany experienced political and economic instability, and what he did, right, he promised to create the purest nation which will dominate the European union both politically and economically. So far, two composites of an effective expansion have been mentioned (e.g., political and ideological) but what about economic motives?
ReplyDeleteThere is no way for any nation to be powerful unless it expands also economically. Having political control and new territories is great, but making other nations to depend on you is a great way to exert power without exerting it. I cannot deny the fact that all three strategies are important elements in American expansion, but, dollar diplomacy not only allowed American products which were produced in great amounts and were needed to be sold somewhere, but also enabled America to control economies of other countries through loans and “subsidising” enterprises. What is more, Americanization played a significant role in American expansion as well, but socially and culturally. Strictly speaking, America used effectively different strategies to expand politically, economically, geographically, socially and culturally by employing these strategies.
Also one parallel that can be traced is the correspondence of American expansion with the Chinese strategy in the 21st century. It is not that obvious right now, but their policy is based on integration in the society socially and economically, maybe it’s quite complicated to exert direct political power nowadays and acquire territories, but anyway, the Chinese government subsidises businesses to open enterprises in different countries and the minimum subsidy ranges from millions of dollars. Also they encourage men to marry women in the countries where they establish businesses, and so on. Thus, it is obvious that one strategy is not enough and quite interesting that America managed to apply all three strategies simultaneously effectively.
Maria S. (22504079).
Formal empire, dollar diplomacy and Americanization all had varying roles in American expansionism at the turn of the 20th century, and in fact combined to feed off one another. However, Americanization and informal empire were perhaps the most significant, as they provided an avenue for the United States to spread its commercialist and capitalist ways to other corners of the globe, particularly countries throughout Latin America. Sports, especially baseball, were taken up in Caribbean nations such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba, providing a common thread to America. Formal empire and dollar diplomacy also played a part in the spread of the United States, but more on a political and economic level as opposed to a cultural one, the influence of which is still abundantly clear a century later.
ReplyDeleteDominic Gallichio
22653392
Between 1890 and 1920, all three of the strategies mentioned played a role in American expansion. It is difficult to single out one strategy which was as being the most effective. An interplay of all three was definitely integral in ensuring America expanded. However, I feel that the most important of the three strategies was Americanisation. Expansion was helped immensely by promoting and trading and advertising American ideals. These included the spread of American products, American sports and theatre productions. This had a large influence on the world outside America.
ReplyDeleteFormal empire, dollar diplomacy and Americanization all played crucial roles in securing the expansion of the United States’ influence abroad. Americanization was perhaps the most common and pervasive method, and its influence continues to be seen today by the popularity of American sports, media and other features of American culture outside of the United States’ boundaries. This allowed America to spread its influence throughout much of the world without having to resort to formal military intervention, although this also proved to be an effective means of expansion in multiple cases, as did dollar diplomacy.
ReplyDeleteDuring the period of 1890 to 1920 all three aspects dollar diplomacy, Americanization and formal empire played a role in America’s expansion. While each aspect played a specific and important role, Americanization was undoubtedly more effective in achieving the expansion aims. Through a series of avenues such as technology, sport, the arts and food America sought to extend their influence and relations with other countries by promoting their own culture and essentially selling the American dream. With Americanization highlighting one of the more peaceful attempts at building their empire Americanization was successful in building positive and beneficial international relationships, and as such the scope and influence of Americanization is still being noticed today.
ReplyDeleteAlthough dollar diplomacy and formal empire assisted in rapid American expansion, Americanization appears to be the most effective strategy. The growth of American businesses abroad has contributed to the dissemination of American products whilst simultaneously allowing the American economy to grow. The interplay of elements of American culture furthers this expansion. For example, American films encourage the visibility of American brands -such as food and fashion- alongside cultural aspects of American society such as the importance of sport, thus promoting American enterprises as well as asserting prominent American ideals and consequently, furthering the expansion.
ReplyDeleteExpansion, between 1890 and1920, was focused on capitalising on the wealth being generated by the United States. Formal strategies of empire proved useless when America attempted to assimilate the Phillipines with American principles. Instead, the United States opted for strategies of ‘soft power’ in the hope of building new avenues of commerce. Used for nations in the Caribbean, like Cuba and Haiti, informal empire strategies including Americanisation and Dollar Diplomacy were used as substitute. By conforming markets and audiences in these foreign nations with those back home, the United States were able to expand their economic opportunities abroad.
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ReplyDeleteFormal empire, Dollar Diplomacy, and Americanization were all effective methods of achieving American expansion during 1890-1920. It is difficult to determine which method was most effective as they share interconnected success, however, I think the most common measure of achieving expansion was Americanization, as it tends to incorporate both formal empire and economic growth in a more effective and more accepted manner. The spread of American products, sport, art, and culture not only created and strengthened informal ties to other nations, but it expanded America’s presence in the global sphere in a much less controversial way than that of formal empire and Dollar Diplomacy.
ReplyDeleteDuring this period (1890-1920), a combination of dollar diplomacy and Americanization was most effective when the US was expanding abroad. Dollar diplomacy was used to ensure what essentially became the economic dependence/reliance on the US by nations like Puerto Rico and Cuba, allowing the American's to continue their 'informal empire' expansion by having some control over these countries without actually annexing them (which was frowned upon by the American public). Americanization further extending American influence in a 'more appropriate manner' by exporting the American culture into other nations and giving an example of "how to be the best like us".
ReplyDeleteDuring the late nineteenth-early twentieth centuries, American expansionism was achieved through means of economic, political and military intervention, as well as through the growing prominence of American culture. While territorial expansion was a crucial link in America’s chain of growth, it was the “informal empire” (“dollar diplomacy” and “Americanization”) that was the most commonly used method of growth and which ultimately came to characterize and cement the America’s place in the world, as the United States expanded its financial and cultural influence and adopted a position of power. Commercialization helped to grow the nation’s cash reserves, and to perpetuate and popularize American ideas (i.e. capitalism, corporatism etc.) throughout the world and to increase US influence on the world stage. However, (as was the case in the aftermath of WWII) it was usually when America attempted expansion through a combination of military intervention and mass-cultural distribution that is saw it’s greatest growth.
ReplyDeleteThe past weeks of the American Century have focused on dollar diplomacy, Americanisation and formal empire. I think a combination of all three forms have been influential and effective in the expansion of the nation. The American popular culture has expanded into almost every country in the world including the example of mcdonaldization, whilst dollar diplomacy was a successful way of international expansion for the US because it spread American commercialism. Empire spread expansion through Hawaii, Cuba and the Philippines spreading America influence past state borders. The most common strategy of American expansion in my opinion is Americanisation. Expansion was helped through the promotion of American Ideals through products, sports and theatre.
ReplyDeleteOver weeks 7-9 we learnt that the most common method for American expansion was Americanization. It provided expansion of American ideology, commercialization and culture. Americanization further led to Americas influence over other states and reinforced the idea of American exceptionalism. During the period of 1890-1920, America had been able to establish influence in the Philippines, Cuba and the Dominican Republic through dissemination of sports and pop culture, i.e. Baseball and Coca-Cola products (although not in North Korea and Cuba for Coca-Cola). In all fairness, Americanization was not solely responsible for this end result; it was also a combination of dollar diplomacy and formal empire. Americanization effectively changed the American influence of culture and society, however dollar diplomacy was an integral part of changing the American economy.
ReplyDeleteAmericanization was and continues to be the most overwhelming force in neo-colonialism in the modern world as well as the periods we discussed in recent weeks (19890-1920) Dollar Diplomacy is not a new concept (Banking in Renaissance Italy as well as Chinese investment in Africa, calls for problem nations to 'clean house' to be allowed in the EU) it is a method of coercion more powerful than force, which has a significant role to play in the Americanization of the global community. By influencing culture through commercial products and lifestyle, Americans from different groups (Investors, Politicians, Product innovators etc) receive the benefits of formal empire in the form of material wealth and prestige - without the hassle that comes from managing colonial outposts.
ReplyDeleteFormal empire and dollar diplomacy were common strategies that were quite effective, however I regard Americanisation as the most prevalent and most successful strategy for American expansion abroad. American products, productions and sport were introduced to break down foreign barriers and allow American society to expand into overseas regions. This ability to use such devices to spread American culture, lifestyle and ideals without using hard power techniques, and without appearing to be overly forceful, threatening or controlling, made Americanisation more widely accepted in foreign states in comparison to other strategies. The effectiveness of the strategy was demonstrated through successes such as the popularity of American products and the adoption of baseball in countries including Cuba and Japan. The ongoing global influence and presence of elements of Americanisation work to validate the strength and continuing impact of the original strategy.
ReplyDeleteThe most common and effective strategy for American Expansion overseas would be a combination of Formal Empire, Dollar Diplomacy and Americanization. There has rarely been a moment in the last century where the US hasn’t been involved in all three of these techniques.
ReplyDeleteAll three are just as important as each-other, considering the effects of sports, culture including movies and music for Americanization there has been massive influence when creating the image of what western civilization is.
Dollar Diplomacy has also had its place considering the numerous countries that have trade with US, the near global reach it has and the intertwining of local and external production which can be seen in effect with the Global Financial Crisis. The ability of the US to bring down the financial economy, for better of for worse, shows the degree of infiltration US companies have overseas.
And Formal Empire, though unaccepted by most Americans no doubt, holds a special place in both current and past US adventures. Their ability to dominate militarily has been put to use in some less than desirable places, however the usage of formal empire by the US is evident, and has gone far into expanding their influence and dominance overseas.
While Americanization seems to be the growing force (currently anyway) for US expansion, it is simply impossible to say that any of the three have particularly more effect than the other, since they’re all proved time and time again the influence that the US can wield.