Americas Democratic Beacon - 1553 Words

In the 20th Century, the strongest case that could be made for the U.S. as a democratic beacon rather than an imperialist capitalist juggernaut is it participation in the world wars that prevented Germany from controlling Europe an authoritarian Germany in the First World War and Nazi Germany in the Second. To be sure, the genocidal crimes of the Third Reich were qualitatively and quantitatively worse than those of any imperial power in 1914-18, but after both world wars the U.S. did play an important part in establishing and supporting democratic governments in Europe. Its leaders like Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman expressly claimed that the U.S. was not an imperial power in the classical sense and this was partially correct. In the developing world or the so-called Third World, however, the countries that were mostly colonies up until the 1940s and 1960s, it has more of a mixed record. From 1898 to 1933, American interventionism in Asia and Latin America was o ften overt and direct, simply landing troops on the shores of some prospective banana republic and installing a friendly government there. This is exactly what happened in Hawaii, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic in some cases more than once. President Theodore Roosevelt was hardly shy about admitting that he sent troops to Puerto Rico and the Philippines, taking Panama from Columbia or landing in person with the army in CubaShow MoreRelatedEssay on The American Mission747 Words   |  3 Pages(McKenna Feingold 2011, 18). I believe that McClay and Zinn provide a persuasive argument elaborating their notion of the validity of America’s â€Å"unique† mission. However, I am inclined to agree with Professor McClay in his assertion in the mythical nature of American exceptionalism that has promoted social cohesiveness and propelled America as the â€Å"beacon of liberty and democracy† (McKenna Feingold 2011, 14). The existence of present-day America developed after a period of empirical practicesRead MoreThe Evolution of American Exceptionalism Essay726 Words   |  3 Pagesof the uniqueness of American in relation to other nations to differentiate what was American from what was democratic. He believed it was America’s Calvinist piety, commercial focus, and availability of free land in the West – not its democracy – that had caused Americans to neglect the pursuit of science, literature, and the arts. He meant that other countries could operate on democrati c principles without giving up more learned and refined culture. In 1845, John L. O’Sullivan combined AmericanRead MoreEssay on US Constitution870 Words   |  4 Pagesbedrock of democracy and lay the foundations for democratic political systems across the world. Since 1789, America has progressed in ways that would have seemed unimaginable at the time. Politicians and their political ideas have been and gone, World wars have been fought, equality is no longer a wishful dream but stringently expected and the American flag was even planted on the moon. However, one aspect of America has stayed the same. Its democratic values. Made possible by the actions of the FoundingRead MoreAmerican Political Culture And Its Representation Of Democracy, Equality, Individualism, And Liberty1485 Words   |  6 Pagesproperty to evaluate one’s worth. Nonetheless, the nation has maintained the democratic principles that lay at the heart of Americanism, as evidenced by abolition, the expansion of suffrage to women and African Americans, and the Civil Rights Movements among other occurrences. Hence, America reflects no single ideology, but rather, a multitude of traditions that when juxtaposed, accurately depict the complexity and less democratic aspects of American political culture. This defining, yet conflicting convolutionRead MoreU.s. Department Of State And The United States Agency Of International Development Essay915 Words   |  4 Pagesin twenty-first century U.S. foreign relations. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States and held the office from 1913-1921. He became known as â€Å"the Crusader† and earned the label for his passionate belief that America should be a beacon of liberty and aggressively pursue the spread of democracy throughout the world. Wilson felt America could prosper economically and develop a community of international security through the promotion of democracy to other nations. In his book DiplomacyRead MoreThe Liberal Side Of The Immigration Debate1013 Words   |  5 Pagesher back to the world, we did it with her light shining as a beacon to the world. And whether we were Irish or Italians or Germans crossing the Atlantic, or Japanese or Chinese crossing the Pacific; whether we crossed the Rio Grande or flew here from all over the world — generations of immigrants have made this country into what it is. It’s what makes us special. (Immigration.). But, the Obama Administration believes that Americaà ¢â‚¬â„¢s immigration system is broken and has introduced its plan to helpRead MoreCause And Impact Of The Cold War Essay1556 Words   |  7 Pagescountries could unite, albeit a distanced union to help defeat the Nazi and restore Europe back to its former glory. The Soviet Union were more focused on restoring their own country and territories, but knew there might be more causalities without America’s help. Once the war was over and Americans began to see the postwar expansion of the Soviet empire combined with the existing distrust of a Communist government, many Americans began to distrust an alliance and feared that the Soviet Union wouldRead MoreThe Cornerstone Of America s Political System1123 Words   |  5 PagesThe cornerstone of America’s political system is the right for citizens to elect their representatives and heads of state through voting. The participation of citizens in America’s political landscape is what has kept the United States strong for the past two hundred and thirty-eight years. Over the decades, voting has adapted and conformed to times. New political and social ideologies have allowed different ethnics to participate in the electoral process. The idea of one person equaling one voteRead MoreEssay on The National Archives And Records Administration1476 Words   |  6 PagesFederal records. During the past two decades, NARA has proven itself to be essential and priceless resource within the Federal Government. It has lengthened its role as the nations record keeper and advanced its public synopsis as democracys beacon. Every year, the National Archived becomes to holding area of more Government records to maintain and manage. Also, a larger portion of those records are electronic records that are the products of a progressively more digital Government. In additionRead MoreEgypt s Press Freedom Issue And How The Government Is Responsible1533 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Once a global beacon, the American press has suffered from scandal, unpopularity and government crackdowns†. In this paper, I will be explaining Egypt’s press freedom issue and how the government is responsible. Egypt is an Arab country located in the corner of North Africa, close to the Middle East. Egypt is a diverse country with many religions, mainly Islam and Christianity. Egyt has a population of over 82 million. Ever since the Arab Spring started in Egypt, attacks on press freedom increased