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American Imperialism In The 1800s

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While imperialism was valued by one group as a moral and solemn duty that must be carried out, another viewed it as a grave threat to their very way of life. These sorts of polarized opinions were not uncommon throughout history, as people have and always will have different ideas regarding the most efficient method of reaching a specific end. As a facet of life in the 1800s, imperialism is no exception, as it was met with various criticisms as well as commendations, and, just as with other issues, these opinions were typically shared between specific groups. This divide mainly stems from the fact that both groups had different views of not just the method, but of the goal of the method as well. In this case, those who colonized countries …show more content…
This belief stemmed from another belief- the belief that Europeans were the most civilized and right group of humans on the planet, leading them to believe that other cultures and races, which were considered inferior, could only hope to achieve any semblance of civilization with the help of Europeans. Thus, imperialism came to be not just political, but also moral and religious, which only strengthened its support, as it added not just rational justifications, but also justification from a caring and civilized standpoint. From the standpoint of those living in colonized countries, however, imperialism was a scourge that threatened not only the people's lives, but also their very way of life. Many of these countries, which were not modern enough to successfully retaliate against European advances, were forced to submit under European rule and adopt European customs and cultures, which only aggravated natives further. This built up a resentment of foreigners in some countries, which could then manifest itself in the form of hostility and

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