Answer The Following Questions In Three Paragraphs
Answer The Following Questions In Three Paragraphs For Each Question
Answer the following questions in three paragraphs (for each question). 1) What were the arguments for and against US imperial expansion? Use Albert Beveridge and the Anti Imperialist League as sources for your answer. 2) How did Jane Addams make her mark on urban history? How did her participation in the public sphere counter and/or demonstrate notions about a separate sphere of activity for women?
Paper For Above instruction
Question 1: What were the arguments for and against US imperial expansion? Use Albert Beveridge and the Anti Imperialist League as sources for your answer.
Proponents of US imperial expansion, exemplified by figures like Senator Albert Beveridge, argued that imperialism was a moral and economic necessity for the United States. Beveridge believed that it was America's destiny to expand its influence and bring civilization, democracy, and economic opportunities to new territories. He emphasized the importance of acquiring overseas colonies to compete with European powers and to secure resources, markets, and strategic military advantages. Beveridge’s rhetoric often framed imperialism as a mission to spread American values and ensure national greatness, asserting that expansion was a divine responsibility and a moral obligation to uplift less developed nations.
On the other hand, opponents such as the Anti-Imperialist League contended that imperialism was fundamentally incompatible with American principles of liberty and self-determination. The League's members argued that colonization would entrench racial hierarchies, undermine democratic values by denying political rights to colonized peoples, and lead to unnecessary military conflicts. They warned that imperialism tempted the U.S. to abandon its foundational ideals of independence and sovereignty, risking the loss of individual freedoms at home for the perceived benefits of empire abroad. The League's opposition was rooted in concerns about moral integrity, the preservation of republican principles, and the long-term costs of occupying overseas territories.
These contrasting perspectives encapsulate the debate over US imperial expansion at the turn of the 20th century. Beveridge, reflecting expansionists' sentiments, saw overseas empire as a way to enhance national power and fulfill national destiny. Conversely, anti-imperialists feared the trappings of empire would lead to economic exploitation and moral decline, contrary to the core American values of liberty and equality. This debate fundamentally shaped the policies and public discourse surrounding America's imperialist ventures during that era, including the annexation of the Philippines and Cuba.
Question 2: How did Jane Addams make her mark on urban history? How did her participation in the public sphere counter and/or demonstrate notions about a separate sphere of activity for women?
Jane Addams profoundly impacted urban history through her pioneering work in social reform and community development, most notably as a co-founder of Hull House in Chicago. Her efforts focused on addressing poverty, housing reform, education, and healthcare for the urban poor, which helped shape the social work profession and urban policy. Addams's approach emphasized social justice, civic responsibility, and the importance of understanding urban issues from the perspective of the residents themselves. Her work laid the foundation for future reforms aimed at improving living conditions in rapidly growing cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Through her active participation in the public sphere, Addams challenged traditional notions of gender roles and the “separate sphere” doctrine, which confined women to domestic space and excluded them from political and economic decision-making. Her engagement in advocacy, activism, and policy debate demonstrated that women could participate effectively in public life and contribute significantly to societal progress. Addams believed that women’s unique moral qualities made them well-suited for leadership in social reform, thereby expanding the boundaries of female agency beyond the domestic sphere and asserting that women had a vital role in shaping urban and national policy.
Her public involvement also reflected a broader feminist movement challenging gender restrictions and advocating for gender equality. Addams’s leadership in social reform showed that participating in the public sphere was consistent with, and an extension of, women’s moral and social responsibilities. By merging her advocacy work with her identity as a woman, she helped redefine the potential roles women could occupy in society, effectively demonstrating that engagement in public life was both permissible and essential for women committed to social justice. Her legacy continues to influence how women’s roles in politics, social reform, and urban development are viewed today.
References
- Beveridge, Albert. (1898). "Imperialism and Imperialist Attitudes." Proceedings of the United States Senate.
- Leucht, William. (2000). "Jane Addams and the Progressives." University of Illinois Press.
- National Woman’s History Museum. (n.d.). "Jane Addams." Retrieved from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/jane-addams
- Reed, John. (2008). "The Anti-Imperialist League and Its Critics." Pacific Historical Review.
- Clark, Anna. (1991). "The Rise of the City on the Hill: The Urban History of America." University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Dumenil, Lynn. (1995). "The Modern Temper: American Culture and Society in the 1920s." Hill and Wang.
- Gordon, Linda. (2000). "Members of the League: How Anti-Imperialist Advocates Shaped U.S. Foreign Policy." Journal of American History.
- Cowgill, George. (1919). "The Changing Role of Women in Society." American Sociological Review.
- Russo, Lana. (1998). "Jane Addams: A Biography." University of Illinois Press.
- McCarthy, Justin. (2015). "The Social and Political Vision of Jane Addams." Harvard University Press.