Essay About United States And High Tariffs

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The United States during the end of the nineteenth century was liberating territories for more than just saving the inhabitants but to create economic growth. Many politicians were using the term liberating as a mask for taking over foreign territories. Along with the Spanish-American War and the annexation of Hawaii, everyone had some vested interest in acquiring new territories. High tariffs created extra expenses for companies which relied heavily on export to the United States. These same companies had people in the United States who shared the same goals of the United States annexing the territories they operated in. In 1893 the monarchy of Hawaii was extinguished to avoid bloodshed with the American soldiers which were stationed in the harbor. Within a month, terms for annexation were delivered to the president Grover Cleveland which were quickly denied. There was a clear goal to quickly annex Hawaii without the consent of any the inhabitants. This refusal to annex Hawaii only delayed the process as the next president, in 1897, William McKinley did so immediately into his presidency. This allowed for tariff free trade and greater wealth for those with vested interests in the businesses. In the Spanish-American War, the United States received territories in exchange for twenty million dollars to the Spanish. This created rapid economic growth for the United States but also ensured that the Spanish would continue to develop and grow the trade centers which the United States took over. In both cases the United States freed the inhabitants form their current rule whether they wanted it or not and established trade agreements which greatly increased the economic growth of the United States.