How did American attitudes towards other countries generally shift during the imperialist period?

During the imperialist period, American attitudes towards other countries generally shifted to adopt paternalistic views. This means that many Americans perceived themselves as more advanced and thus felt a responsibility to "civilize" and manage the affairs of other nations, particularly those in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. This paternalism often manifested in the belief that the United States had a moral obligation to spread its values, culture, and governmental systems to what were seen as 'less developed' nations.

This idea was closely tied to the concept of the "White Man’s Burden," which suggested that it was the duty of Western nations to uplift non-Western peoples. Such attitudes justified various interventions and occupations, as imperialist rhetoric often described foreign populations as needing guidance and protection from their own supposed shortcomings.

In contrast, views of isolationism, local self-governance, or multilateralism reflected alternative international relationships that were not characteristic of the imperialist mindset prevalent during this period. Most Americans during the imperialist era were not inclined toward isolation but rather engaged in expanding their influence around the globe, leading to a paternalistic attitude rather than supporting local agency.