Focus+Questions

Focus Questions

1. What is American Expansionism? This was the time when the United States was creating new trades. By the time America was a nation they could no longer expand and take any unclaimed land for it had been seized by other nations like Spain. America expanded through imports and exports with other countries.

2. How did this policy positively affect the United States in the 1800's? (socially, economically, culturally, racial tensions, etc.) Trade helped America prosper after all the hardships when other countries began to look at the country as an independent nation.

3. How did this policy negatively affect the United States in the 1800's? (socially, economically, culturally, racial tensions, etc.) With slavery still existing in the United States in the 1800’s, people were not yet seen as equals. Several enemies were made over this time period creating enemies with America. Especially when they stopped trading with Britain, which caused war.

4. How did American expansionism reveal imperialistic tendencies of the United States? The United States started showing their eagerness to take Spain’s land in the West. They would not have even begun to think about this if they had not expanded creating a stronger and more powerful nation.

5. How did American expansionism affect relations between the United States and other world powers? America asserted its dominance that it wouldn’t back down or bow to other powers, and it would try to force other powers to take their own medicine.

6. What elements of expansionism and imperialism are present in Moby Dick? We see that with whaling, America expands its influence and brings many countries to its side as allies for war, trading, ports, etc.

7. How do these elements contribute to the plot and structure of the novel? This is apparent when the Pequod meets a fellow whaling ship that has wives from a recent rest stop on a tropical island. We also see expansionism with all the different countries on the whaling ship, such as Queequeg and Tashtego.

8. What historic parallels in regards to expansionism and emperialism are present in the novel? The treatment of the lower workers and the sailors from certain other countries shows how America expanded and declared America’s dominance, as in it had superior people, the people were better in all aspects to the subordinates.

9. How do these elements of expansionism and emperialism help Melville to comment on the direction of the United States in the 1800's? Melville could explain how America would claim dominance and grow in economy, as well as prove it was moving to equality within its own country, and its contempt for certain other nations and people. An example would be the crews’ wages, a good harpooner would be well paid but in other countries, pay would be minimal for all.