Introduction
The scholars put forth several possible options about the way the USA embarked on the wars with Philippines and Cuba. The main focus of the first essay is the imperialistic approach, applied to America. While the second one aims at explaining the other approach, i.e. the spread of the American ideology and the interest of the nation. The first essay explains the intentions of war to be promoted by Theodor Roosvelt, the leading proponent of the theory. It gives an idea that TR was influenced by the cultural concepts of gender and race and was sure that the American race was to lead worldwide. His vision of the picture of the world was dual in nature, both imperialistic and nationalistic. Thus, he saw certain changes, which needed t be done in the world, with American nation, leading on behalf of the humanity. The second essay sees the problem from quite another angle. Anders Stephanson goes deeper into explaining the historical context, taking place at that time. His arguments concern the era of imperialism, where the USA was not at all at the leading position, though very powerful nation. He seems to find a reason why it was needed to get into the rules of the game, mentioning the nation against nation principle, which introduced several consequences. One of them is the leading West, an ideological one and another, the extension of the policy, the political one.
Analysis
Then the type of expansion is being viewed by each of the authors, though differently. While the first essay claims that America sought the interests only in the expansion, subduing the countries under its reign, being after imperialism among the other nations, the second essay emphasizes that it was not only due to imperialism, that America involved itself in wars, though it took some part in their political agenda too. Among the reasons for the war to unfold, the second essay brings the spread of American ideology beyond its boundaries. Moreover, the second essay states of the high complexity of the situation all over the world, which enables scholars to make assumptions rather than state something for sure. Stephanson gives an insight into the view of the world perception TR, mentioning that he saw the domination of the US to make the barbarian countries turn out to be civilized countries one day. Though the inevitable step to move on to the civilization is despotism. On the whole, that was a good idea of Roosevelt’s.
The essays represent the same period of time, namely imperialistic one, where the world lived according to the pattern nation against nation, which brought up some consequences, like the country expansion on the cost of anther country. All the scholars agree upon this argument. Still, there some assumptions made, which claim the United States involvement in the wars was not only due to their political agenda, but also to the expansion of the ideology, which was the other reason to fight. While the first essay claims America to be imperialistically and nationalistically focused at the time, the second one puts ideological aspect within their intentions, claiming that America sought two goals to perceive, expanding their nation.
The documents under consideration belong directly to the time of imperialism. The one introduces the president’s ask for war in Cuba, the other one introduces the Anti-imperialistic nature of the politics, provided within the USA. These documents might be viewed as good source of information on the imperialistic intentions of the USA and give some important insights into the historical situation and reasons that urged America to act.
The first document, where President McKinley asks to start the war for Cuba liberation, states the pretext of the war, why it should be started in a compiled list of reasons. The president arranged them gradually, starting with the focus on the future virtues, which Cuba is going to receive from this war and ending the list that Cuba is a potential menace to the United States and its source of money waste. The second one, which denounces anti-imperialistic Policy within the US, condemns the war, held by the USA in Philippines. While both documents give a clear picture of the intentions of the US and the historical context is also rendered within them, they still have different views on the situation. So, the first document reveals the tense situation between America and Cuba at that time. And the second one reveals the injustice of war held by the US in Philippines, it calls to recollect the nature of the politics of the American nation. It calls for peace. In this relation, the documents are very different, as one asks for war for good cause, the other one is a pacifistic writing, which calls to stop the military deeds. Though seemingly different, they argue about the same argument, the imperialistic one. The documents propose different arguments for the reason to start and stop war. The first document clearly states that without a war, there is some potential menace for the state, while the pacifistic denounce notes about the policy, held within the United States, it calls to remember the cornerstone of the Liberal Ideology.
It is interesting to note, that both documents’ claims are taken for granted. So, whether it be war, which is to be proclaimed, or the peace, which is to be gained, it is rather stated, than assumed within documents. The documents find the relation to the essays, mentioned above. The issues brought up in the essays have the reflection in the claims stated in those documents. The imperialistic approach finds its reflection in the first document, which is after war. The second, document, however, discovering the reasons for the peace creation, contradicts the principles, stated within both essays.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is vital to understand that the documents, provided at the time of imperialism for the USA, say about the historical context of that era, explore the reasons, they state either to make war or peace. The first document comes up with a gradually arranged list of reasons, why the war should be started, thus reflecting the thought, stated in the essay by Stephanson. The other document, calling to make peace, contradicts both essays, stating that the politics of the USA is against any military power, which subdues the weaker nation. It is still hard to judge about the subtext of the documents, taking the complexity of the historical situation in the consideration. Nevertheless, the one, who makes a research, based on the documents of the time is able to put forth some assumptions about the historical situation taking place as well as about the imperialistic inclinations of the American nation.