America, the bully of the World

U.S. history is filled with ruthless expansion, domination and exploitation of smaller, “inferior” nations that it stumbled across. The country they so affectionately call “the land of the free, and the home of the brave” was conquered with complete disregard for the rights of their original inhabitants. As their expansionist tendencies grew, they engaged in numerous battles and wars throughout the entire world and meddled in foreign affairs where their participation was not called for. In the middle of the 20th century, America grew into a dominating world power that is, in the modern 21st century, still enforcing their beliefs, culture and lifestyle on countries, who are in no need of it.

As the first Pilgrims dropped anchor in the land that is now known as Virginia, they never expected to see such a harsh and unpleasant environment. Native Americans, to whom this vast landscape rightfully belonged, welcomed them with open arms, but little did they know, that as the numbers of their pilgrim guests grew more and more rapidly, the need for new territory would be indispensable and it would come at the cost of the natives’ land and lives. Over the next couple of centuries the white people expanded their territory, mercilessly exterminating the natives. They brought new contagious diseases that wiped out entire tribes, they introduced them to alcohol, killed thousands of buffaloes that the Native Americans needed for food and moreover, didn’t see them as people but more like cattle, whom they could kill for their exercise and amusement. Finally, the whites won in the battle of the West and dominated the natives, disregarding the fact that they were the original owners of the land they now called the United States of America.

 In the next chapter of American history, another race of people felt America’s need for colonisation. As Americans set sail towards the African coast they brought home hundreds of thousands of African people and made them work on plantations for wealthy American colonists for over 200 years. They were subjugated, exploited and forced to work in miserable conditions by the “superior” American white race in the land where it was said that “all men are created equal”

America’s expansionist tendencies were driven by the idea that they had: “a God-given right, or destiny, to expand the country’s borders from “sea to shining sea”. Due to this, several wars ensued. As Texas gained its independence from Mexico in 1836 and was later annexed to the U.S., a war broke out as Mexico did not acknowledge the loss of this “breakaway province”. The war resulted in a victory for the U.S and consequently the acquisition of a large northern portion of Mexico, including California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
 1854 was the year that marked the beginning of open trade with Japan. For 200 years Japan had kept her ports limited to foreign trade to a few Dutch and Chinese tradesmen. In their need to replenish coal and other supplies, the Americans sent Commodore Matthew C. Perry with a letter from President Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan, demanding that they allow American trade, threatening force if their demand be denied. As Perry was accompanied by several armed steam frigates, Japan had to accept U.S.A.’s terms or face naval bombardment. This was another victory for America that was achieved by the use of force.

On the edge of the 20th century, another military conflict broke out, this time between Spain and America, again due to strong U.S. expansionist sentiment. This time the American government was motivated to target Spain’s overseas territories of Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Philippines, Guam and the Caroline Islands. (False) accusations that accused Spain of perpetrating atrocities in its colonies got the support of the people, while the accusation that Spain had blown up the USS Maine, with no evidence of Spanish culpability, gave the U.S a good enough reason to invade, conquer and gain ownership of former Spanish colonies of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines,. They abandoned their interest in Cuba, but retained the right to interfere in their affairs. Cuba was occupied by U.S forces until 1902, but later, as Castro eventually came to favour communism, the CIA made 638 failed attempts on the president’s life.

Over the course of the next century, America grew into a world force and interfered, not only in the affairs of their neighbours, but also started to expand their influences worldwide. World War I and the rise of the “Red Scare” flared up a new surge of American patriotism. It was marked by a widespread hatred and persecution of communists, radicals and foreigners. This fear of all things communist was also a reason why the U.S. engaged in military conflicts in Vietnam later in the 1960’s and 70’. They were certain in their mission to prevent the spreading of communism and thus to “support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." (Truman Doctrine) 
 

More recent events bring to our attention, how America still hasn’t gotten over its role as a colonialist superpower. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001 were seen as an incomprehensible act of violence that sparked patriotism throughout the country and brought it together in the largest clean up effort in the U.S. history and a battle on terrorism on a global scale. What followed was an invasion of Afghanistan in order to overthrow the Taliban regime and Bin Laden who were personally responsible for the dreadful attack on U.S. soil. In the years to come, America would give its seal of approval for the invasion of Iraq, dubbed the War on Terrorism. This decision was justified on the grounds of spreading democracy, elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the liberation of the Iraqi people. And though no weapons of mass destruction have ever been found, no democracy has yet been sought for by the Iraqis and their liberation still far from sight, America still persists in the justifiable cause for war. It seems America is on a rampage in the Middle East as the world wonders who will emerge as their next viable target.

 Admittedly, America is not the only country with a bloodthirsty history, but there are differences in comparison to other nations. Firstly, they seem to have always been very proficient in weapons manufacture and military tactics and techniques. They were always one step ahead of the nations they were trying to conquer. Secondly, their conquests never seemed to have been based on victory alone, but on total and complete subjugation. And, thirdly, they were never satisfied with having control over their own internal affairs, but always felt the need to interfere with internal affairs or other countries throughout the globe and exploiting potential crises for their own personal gain. Lately we have been witnessing how America has involved itself in an ever growing military escapade in the Middle East, spreading it with the help of scare tactics and lies. And because they decided to take military action by disregarding U.N. disapproval and on ridiculous and unproven grounds, truly makes America the bully of our time. All eyes and ears now focus on president Obama to see whether he will be able to live up to his promises of peace.
 
 

SOURCES:

1. Key, Francis Scott. The Star Spangled Banner. 1814.
2. Jefferson, Adams, Franklin. The Declaration Of Independence. 4 July. 1776.
3. O’Sullivan, John L. “Manifest Destiny.” New York Morning News 27 Dec. 1845.
4. Truman, Harry S. The Truman Doctrine. 12 Mar. 1947