Question

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Critical Thinking Question:
Stephen E. Ambrose, Historian, said “Jefferson had a mind that encompassed the continent, and he envisioned the creation of a great nation that would stretch from sea to sea, that would be bound together by a political concept - the idea of liberty and he wanted to spread that liberty all the way out to the west coast.”
Develop an argument that either supports or refutes this claim that America wanted to expand in order to spread freedom. Use your general knowledge of US history to help compose your argument.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

America really wanted to expand to spread freedom and was committed to that goal, but that commitment encompassed the freedom of Americans alone, as America became involved with imperialist and oppressive concepts towards other peoples during its expansion.

The Americans based themselves on the idea that it was a divine obligation for them to dominate new lands, however, this domination was done without any regard for the people who already inhabited those lands, which caused the American government to invade, exploit and limit the freedom. These are factors that the Americans criticized in their territory, but used in their imperialist campaigns, becoming as tyrannical as the British system that got rid of.