US events during the Age of Imperialism

The Panama Canal

During the Age of Imperialism in Europe which was promoting a global economy and enhancing commerce, President Theodore Roosevelt had a project of his own going on in Central America. Determined to make an easier trade route for ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific, he set out to finish building the Panama Canal through Central America, which would cut traveling time by a huge amount. The canal would be finished in 1914 and is still an extremely important sea route today. This was very similar to the opening of the Suez Canal through the Middle East during this time. Just as the Panama Canal allowed faster trade to the Pacific, the Suez allowed a much faster trade route to India, Polynesia, and China than had previously existed, and commerce exploded because of it.


The Opening of Japan

During the Age of Imperialism in Europe, the United States employed tactics that were very similar to those of the Europeans in terms of commerce. Just as England came into China and opened their ports with the Treaty of Nanking, the United States Navy, led by Commodore Matthew Perry, came to Japan and used gunboat diplomacy to open Japan's ports to the outside world. This opening of Japan's ports would create a huge amount of commerce in this region. Prior to this point, Japan had been extremely secluded and used isolationist principles to keep foreigners out. Thanks to Perry and his ships, these ways were thrown out and Japan became a major shipping and trade area for the world, and would continue to be up until this day.