The role of gender and race in the rise of the American empire remains debatable do date. Of importance too, is whether the expansionist policies of America were intentional or unintentional, and pecially, if they were driven by economic, religious, military or social motives. Some historian scholars have argued that racism, as propagated by America, was a tangible tool of empire building and racial protection. Others have connoted that racism was unintentional, and that it resulted from the cultural values of male-dominated politics, race and gender (Hoffman-Cobbs, Blum, &Gjerde, 2011, p. 108). Still, others take a neutral view, supporting the two opposing views. Whether one supports any side or remains neutral, it is evidently clear that the two opposing views have a similarity: that gender and race had a great contribution in the rise of the American empire. although the two opposing viewpoints hold water, it is, to a great extent clear that race and gender were intentionally used to propagate racial supremacy, fuelled by Darwinistic belief, to strategically position and expand the American empire.

The argument by Paul Kramer that the US used racism intentionally to expand its empire holds water (Kramer, 2011). A good explanation is on the war of the Philippines. Kramer notes that: .”the US troops were struggling to impose US sovereignty on the forces of the Philippines republic” (123). After the war, Beveridge justified it before the senate, connoting that the US had a heavenly duty of establishing an empire of its principles. The fact the US assumed the role of a world prefect connotes some superiority complex guided by racism, that was only aimed at positioning itself for economic and power gains. As beveredge argued, the US was to create an empire of their own principles (Kramer, 2011, p. 123). Since by doing so they interfered with other territories, they had an intention of controlling the world. In addition, their belief in Darwinian’s survival of the fittest developed an intentional zeal among the US people to rise above the other races, in order to avoid “decadence” (Gendering imperialism: Theodore Roosevelt quest for manhood and empire, 98).

On the other hand, the scholars who argue that the American empire expansion was unintentional due to cultural values surrounding gender race and male dominance in politics can be said to be validly arguing, although to a certain extent. For example, in the essay: “Gendering imperialism: Theodore Roosevelt quest for manhood and empire” (Bederman, 2011), Roosevelt is depicted as being driven by a mentality of racial supremacy and male chauvinism. Bederman observes of him thus: “..he had made himself a national hero-the embodiment of manly virtue-masculine violence and white American racial supremacy” (101). This shows the strong cultural belief that Roosevelt held about masculinity and racial supremacy. Since he went ahead to execute his belief, the result was an expansion of the American empire, a point that can justify the argument made by scholars of the likes of Gail Bederman.

Although the reality can lie in between the two opposing views, the first observation, that the battle for supremacy was intentional seems more credible. The extent of going to war in the pretext of defending racial supremacy cannot just be said to be unintentional. Considering the cost of going into war, the Americans wouldn’t have at last resolved to go to war, were it not for some economic gain and protection. Additionally, a cultural value and belief can be controlled without fighting overseas. The observation that America’s resolution to go to war, in expansionist policies, was motivated by cultural beliefs, and not economic and political reasons, becomes invalid.

Referneces

Baderman, G. (2011).“Gendering imperialism: Theodore Roosevelt quest for manhood and empire”. In Hoffman-Cobbs, E., Blum, E., &Gjerde, J. (2011). Major problems in American History: Volume 2. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. 96-101.

Hoffman-Cobbs, E., Blum, E., &Gjerde, J. (2011). Major problems in American History: Volume 2. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.

Kramer, A. P. (2011). “Racial imperialism: America’s takeover of the Philippines”. In In Hoffman-Cobbs, E., Blum, E., &Gjerde, J. (2011). Major problems in American History: Volume 2. New York, NY: Cengage Learning, 123-131.