In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the United States expanded its borders in a series of battles and treaties that drastically expanded the influence of the United States on the world stage, both economically and politically. Overall, I feel like the dramatic expansion of territory was a bad thing, as it stretched the United States across a large area that it would be hard-pressed to defend. Locations like the Philippines were much closer to Asia than to the United States, and it would take a long time for any news, supplies, or troops to travel there or back.
As we look forward towards these next few years under President Trump in an era of conflict at home and abroad, I feel like we should remain anti-imperialist, not taking over territory but still providing help where needed. Some people will argue that if we had just stayed in the Middle East ISIS would not have risen, but if we do stay there it will still be a longer response time to any problems and have more problems with the local people and law enforcement. This is not a time to try and expand US borders, because no matter what it will strain relations with other nations and if we fail we will provide a stronger point for terrorist groups to rise, playing on the emotions and opinions of the people we attempted to rule.
