During the 19th century the idea of imperialism was spread all over the world. An imperialist was someone who wanted to take land and spread their beliefs through colonies they took over. An anti-imperialist is someone against imperialism. These two beliefs are different in many ways but they are also similar in one way.

The imperialists wanted to spread their ideals to “lesser” races. They believed in making colonies with their eyes on Africa and Asia. When taking over, they thought they were doing the “lesser” races a favor.Imperialists were also looking for new trade like wood, oil, and other materials. Imperialists thought more colonies brought more money, more jobs in factories, and more soldiers. All that would come from new trade and markets from the colonies. Imperialists were just trying to get bigger and stronger.

Anti-imperialists they were the opposite of imperialists. They did not agree with their ways. Anti-impiralists claimed that imperialists acted against the constitution. Anti-imperrealists only cared about what happened inside the U.S and wanted nothing to do with other countries’ affairs. Anti-imperealists feared that if everyone was an imperialist taxes would go to pay for the military and there would be less pay due to expansion. They also believed America would lose focus on its own problems while dealing with other things in their colonies.  The anti-imperialists strongly believed in staying in its own business, or in other words they were isolationists.

Imperialists and anti-imperalists are surprisingly alike in one way. Both thought they were the “superior” race. Imperialists believed they were burdened with the duty of spreading their ways, specifically Christianity. They thought the “savages” could not handle themselves so they had to “cleanse” or erradicate them. Anti-imperrealists had a similar idea. They thought “others” could not govern themselves. They rejected the “other races” in the U.S and tried to keep them out.

Over the course of many years, imperialists and anti-imperialists have played their parts and have changed our future. These changes may have been positive or negative, but, their contributions have made the U.S. we live in today.