Final answer:
The Age of Imperialism saw significant infrastructural and economic development alongside cultural erosion and exploitation of colonized areas. Balancing democratic ideals with imperialist ambitions proved challenging for countries like the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Age of Imperialism:
The Age of Imperialism, often associated with the 19th century, brought about both positive and negative changes. The expansion of European empires led to improved infrastructure, the introduction of new technologies, and the spread of Western education and legal systems in the colonies.
However, it also resulted in the widespread exploitation of colonized countries, loss of local cultures and traditions, and political upheaval which can still be seen today. The United States, following in the footsteps of European countries, engaged in imperialism, most notably in the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, attempting to balance its democratic ideals with imperial ambitions.
Imperialism facilitated economic development through the establishment of global trade networks, although these were largely one-sided and often detrimental to the colonized regions. Politically, the influence and power of European nations grew, but this came with significant cultural erosion and created socio-political tensions.
Assessing whether the benefits of imperialism outweighed the costs is complex, as it involves weighing advancements in infrastructure and global influence against the exploitation of nations and the cultural and human cost this incurred.