The sequence of historical events, including the conflicts with Native Americans, the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War, raised the question of American imperialism, taking into consideration the rapid growth of the country. Talking about the second half of the 19th century, it is hard to disagree that the US became a vast Empire. The key element here is that during the period of quick expansion, the US not just took possession of the continent’s territory but did it by force. Taking land from Mexico and Native Americans should be considered an imperial acts. These were decisions caused mostly by the will to expand. The movement West was not only the act of discovery but also the act of violent intervention which made local communities suffer significantly.
Nowadays, it is rather hard to call the US an empire in a direct sense. Many previously repressed nations have gained their freedom and sovereignty, like the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico. However, throughout the 20th and 21st century the US global policy had various imperialistic features. They include the involvement in local conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, which many people cannot describe as peaceful. Moreover, there are many followers of the idea, that right now the American culture is the dominant one and it strongly affects the minor cultures, sometimes appropriating them. The term empire states that there is a supreme side and the subordinate one. This may lead to the abuse of authority, which sometimes sets aside the principles of democracy. Democratic relationships might be only equal and based on mutual respect.