Imperialism played a substantial role in the Spanish-American war. Imperialism is the policy of extending a country 's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. As a result of the Spanish-American war the United States emerged as a world power. The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The United States was imperialistic in order to gain more military strength, gain raw materials for economic advancement, and achieve manifest destiny. Commodore Dewey attacked the Philippines one week after the U.S. declared war on Cuba. At the time the Philippines belonged to Spain. The United States wanted control of the Philippines because it gave them possible ports and naval bases. Alfred T. Mahan, …show more content…
The idea of the United States being “special” was known as American exceptionalism. People who agreed with this thought the Unites States was in a class of its own. This idea said that the United States had a unique role to play in the world. Many Americans thought that if they ruled other countries their “special” qualities could help make the country better. In June of 1898, the McKinley administration decided not to return the Philippine Islands to Spain. As a result the next day The American Anti-Imperialist League was started. The group’s members included Republican Senator George Hoar, business owner Andrew Carnegie, writer Mark Twain, philosopher William James, presidents of Harvard and Stanford, and Samuel Gompers. They opposed the annexation on economic, legal, and moral grounds. They argued that the United States was becoming an imperial power. Mark Twain, the groups vice president was very vocal about this thoughts “ I have read carefully the treaty of Paris, and I have seen that we do not intend to free, but to subjugate the people of the Philippines. We have gone there to conquer, not to redeem” (Twain). The Spanish- American War was not necessary but more of a choice, which is why Twain did not agree with the way the United States, was treating the
The late1890s signaled an imperial expansion of the United States. After the victory of the Spanish American War and the Annexation of Hawaii, the U.S. had successfully expanded its borders overseas. Through the Treaty of Paris 1898, the United States acquired territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. For example, the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba were all obtained from the Treaty of Paris. That same year the U.S. also Annexed Hawaii into the Union. This massive expansion into the Caribbean and especially the Pacific created a political clash between Imperialist and Anti-Imperialist. During this time Anti-Imperialist and Hawaiian political leaders argued that the mistreatment of indigenous people was unethical. On the other hand, Imperialist like Albert Beveridge supported Imperialism. In Beveridge’s speech “The March of the Flag” (1898) he expressed imperialism was the Anglo-Saxon way, because it improved the prosperity of these islands and expanded American borders. Also, he stated that it’s America’s
Throughout most of the nineteenth century, the United States expanded its territory westward through purchase and annexation. At the end of the century, however, expansion became imperialism, as America acquired several territories overseas. This policy shift from expansionism to imperialism came about as a result of American's experience in the Spanish American War and the Congressional debates that followed the American victory.
Imperialism is a policy by which a country gains power over the world or other countries. It begun in 1865 and it caused US to expand. America had “Thirst for New Market”. The business in The United States was developing rapidly so it needed more supplies (trade) from other countries. The United States used different methods such as Jingoism/Racism, Economic Expansion and American superiority over Europe, but however, economic expansion contributed most for the US Imperialism. This meant more money and power compare to other countries.
Miller, Stuart C. “Letter from New York-Born Soldier.” Benevolent Assimilation: The American Conquest of the Philippines, 1899-1903. New Haven, CT: Yale University, 1982. 88. Print.
Following the Spanish-American war it thought that it was America’s duty to help them form a civilized society. In reality it was the idea of imperialism that if we did it before with Hawaii why we can’t do it again with the Philippines.
The United States decision to annex the Philippines was extremely controversial and hypocritical. First of all it was extremely expensive for the united states to buy the country. The resources that were available were plentiful, but not worth 20 million at the time, and rather than buy the country the U.S should have set up ports and planned for regulated trade with the Philippines. This would have benefitted both countries, the Philippines would be independent and the U.S would have an abundance of resources close by. The United States had enough to fix within their own country that the money could have funded.
While Puerto Rico was being held under the care of the department of War, the political leaders in the United States capital pondered how to legislate the policies of the new possessions. The Treaty of Paris that was drafted as a means to end the Spanish American War had declared the new possessions, (The Philippines, Hawaii and Puerto Rico among others) colonies of the United States of America. Decisions made by the U.S. regarding one of these countries would evidently influence the policies towards the other. Although they were acquired during the same period of time, the legislation would vary accordin...
In 1897, Theodore Roosevelt and President McKinley discussed taking over the Pacific colony in the event of a war with Spain. When Congress declared war on Spain 5,000 American troops were sent to the Philippines. After the War, McKinley refused to sign the armistice unless Spain gave the United States all of the Pacific islands. Once Spain agreed, he drew up plans for colonial administration. He pleaded to educate the Filipinos and convert them to Christianity. At first, the Filipinos welcomed the American troops but eventually turned on their former alliance and attacked their base. American soldiers described them as gugus and repeatedly insulted and physically abused them. They beat civilians, raped the women and tortured them. They treated them so poorly because they were a group of darker skin than
The Spanish American War started in 1898 and lasted about four months. Although the war might have seemed focused on freeing Cuba from Spain and gaining independence for Cuba and the Philippines, it was actually stimulated by nationalism and commercialism. Commercialism was a major factor when declaring war because the United States depended on Cuba and the Philippines for trade and business with other countries, especially in Asia and Latin America. Another major factor for the war was that the United States wanted to spread its Anglo-Saxon culture around the world and emerge as a world-wide power. Other minor motives for the war include the United States coming to the aid of the Cubans in their revolt against Spain and the feeling that the United States had the right to go into the Philippines because it had a superior culture.
During the Spanish American war, many people were divided over the topic of imperialism. Ultimately, many benefits came with the US territory expanding. Not only did the US get bigger, but many aspects of our nation improved significantly. American expansion abroad was justified because it helped the military and economy advance greatly.
Like previous American expansion, American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was motivated by desire for new economic gains and improvements. However, the social justification, diplomatic and military approach and geographical aspect of imperialist expansionism varied greatly from previous American growth. Therefore, American expansionism underwent more change in this period than continuity.
Imperialism in America At the turn of the century, America and the views of its people changed. Many different ideas were surfacing about issues that affected the country as a whole. The Republican Party, led by William McKinley, was concentrating on the expansion of the United States and looking to excel in power and commerce. The Democratic Party at this time was led by William Jennings Bryan, who was absorbed in a sponge of morality and was concerned with the rights of man.
In 1898, in an effort to free Cuba from the oppression of its Spanish colonizers, America captured the Philippines. This brought about questions of what America should do with the Philippines. Soon, controversy ensued both in the American political arena as well as among its citizens. Throughout its history, America had always been expansionistic, but it had always limited itself to the North American continent. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, however, there emerged a drive to expand outside of the continent. When America expanded to the Philippines, the policy it followed was a stark break from past forms of expansionism. Despite much controversy, America followed the example of the imperialistic nations in Europe and sought to conquer the Philippines as an imperialist colony that they would rule either directly or indirectly.
With the sinking of the USS Maine of the coast of Cuba, the United States people got infuriated with the fact that 260 Americans died and the only culprit at the time was a Spanish ship. The press with its yellow journalism spread the news throughout the states, enraging many Americans with their yellow journalism. The New York Journal at the time went as far as saying that “ ” () President McKinley and the members in Congress at the time were forced to declare war on Spain, fearing the negative effects it would have if they let the matter go. With the declaration of war the United States recruited so many men for the army and navy they didn’t know what to do with them, but inevitably our numbers made us prepared for anything Spain had to through at us. Although most of the battles were fought by the navy like Alfred Thayer said “In order to be a great power like Great Britain the U.S. need to control the seas and dominate international commerce.” (Mahan, A. T.) With a greater naval force then Spain the U.S. was able over whelm them and win almost all the battles they fought in. Alfred also said with in his book “The influence of sea power upon history” that the islands that the United States acquired through the means of imperialism also serve as refueling station for our ships during war or transport. Hawaii especially because of its central location in the
The Philippine War of 1899, was opposed by many Americans and was fought for three years, resulting in tons of deaths and U.S taking over Philippine Island. As an annexation of Philippine was important for U.S economy, I believe that there were other ways to take over the Philippine Island rather than a War.