In the second half of the 19th Century, American businesses began to expand internationally with different brances worldwide. The first American big multi-national concerns had been formed, which allegedly also advanced more aggressive on foreign markets than European companies at that time.Around 1900 US-companies controlled 75 factories outside the States.
Since the 1880es, European press warned against an "American invasion". In 1897 the Austrian-Hungarian Foreign Secretary Graf von Goluchkowski in a circular letter to other European governments proposed common European defensive measures against America´s "economic imperialism".
What does that mean in detail ? How would the United States react towards such measures ? How would that alter the alliances of the early 20th Century ? I think that it would be unrealistic, that the main powers (like Britain, Germany, France, Spain,Italy etc.) would develope a common economic stance towards the US. On the other hand there had been serious diplomatic confrontations between US and Colonial powers in the second half of the Century. Such economic defensive measures could escalate not only to an economic war but also militarily in times of " Manifest Destiny". The Spanish-War was only a year away. The European powers could loose their colonies, if this economic war escalates militarily.
Since the 1880es, European press warned against an "American invasion". In 1897 the Austrian-Hungarian Foreign Secretary Graf von Goluchkowski in a circular letter to other European governments proposed common European defensive measures against America´s "economic imperialism".
What does that mean in detail ? How would the United States react towards such measures ? How would that alter the alliances of the early 20th Century ? I think that it would be unrealistic, that the main powers (like Britain, Germany, France, Spain,Italy etc.) would develope a common economic stance towards the US. On the other hand there had been serious diplomatic confrontations between US and Colonial powers in the second half of the Century. Such economic defensive measures could escalate not only to an economic war but also militarily in times of " Manifest Destiny". The Spanish-War was only a year away. The European powers could loose their colonies, if this economic war escalates militarily.
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