American foreign policy during the 1890s was based on many factors that each acted as an individual justification for our countrys behavior as a whole. Racism, nationalism, commercialism, and humanitarianism each had its own role in the actionsAmerica took against other nations.Most Americans were extremely racist during this time period. The predominant culture in the country was white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants, aka WASPs. They scorned the now free black people and all European immigrants that came to our nation. They gave anyone with the slightest differences a very hard time, whether they were citizens of America or not. If they did such things to their fellow countrymen, their reactions to foreigners was considerably magnified. They criticized Europeans on their foreignpractices, especially when it came to Imperialism. But when they caught on to the Europeans ideas, they twisted the concept to adjust it to their own needs. Thats when the other major justifications to their foreign policy come in.Humanitarianism was the major justification that Americans used when they established their territories. Americans may have shunned the Europeans actions to gain colonies solely for power and prestige, but they certainly werent going to let theEuropeans be the only ones who practiced what they considered to be a pretty good idea. Thats when Americans twisted their racism around to suit their needs. They felt, as the white race, that they were superior to all other races, and that it was their duty to provide a good life for all those inferior to them. Thats where the humanitarianism applied.Americans figured that when they entered the smaller, weaker, foreign nations and practically took them over, that they were doing that nations people a favor, regardless of whether or not those people were content with their current lifestyle and government. This practice was basically the Americans way of rationalizing the fact that they were nowbecom...
