American Foreign Policy in the 1890s American foreign policy in the 1890s was based on many factors, each of which served as an individual justification for the behavior of our country as a whole. Racism, nationalism, mercantilism, and humanitarianism each had their roles in the actions America took against other nations. Most Americans were extremely racist during this time period. The predominant culture in the country was white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, or WASP. They despised the now free blacks and all the European immigrants who came to our nation. They gave anyone who had the slightest difference a hard time, whether they were an American citizen or not. If they did such things to their fellow countrymen, their reactions towards foreigners would be greatly amplified. They criticized Europeans for their foreign practices, especially when it came to imperialism. But when they understood the ideas of the Europeans, they distorted the concept to suit their own needs. That's when the other major justifications for their foreign policy come into play. Humanitarianism was the main justification used by the Americans when establishing their territories. Americans may have avoided European actions to conquer colonies solely for power and prestige, but they certainly would not have allowed Europeans to be the only ones to implement what they considered a good idea. It was then that Americans reversed their racism. to meet their needs. They felt like the white race, ...