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,
From there on The United States gained total control of the island of Puerto Rico and “ undertook a sustained Americanization campaign designed to make Puerto Rico in its sympathies , views, and attitude toward life and toward government essentially American” ( Morris 7 ). The United States claimed that their intention of possessing the island was to free the island from the Spanish but, Puerto Ricans soon learned that they would just be a controlled possession of the United States , this made some natives very unhappy. In just a short period of time Puerto Rico went from being a possession of Spain to the possession of the United States . Going through these sudden changes has caused many issues in the political , economic, and social status of Puerto Rico. With all this drastic changes occurring “ the U.S pre... ... middle of paper ... ...d the jíbara, as lazy pleasure seekers and "loose" or rather "sultry and seducing", would lead to negative implications for racism and stereotyping of Puerto Ricans in the future.
The Spanish American War, also known as “The Splendid Little War,” was a short-lived conflict between the United States and Spain in 1898. This war was a pretext for the Philippines War. During this time period Spain had control over several territories within the Caribbean because they were still a colonial power. Although Spain had control of the territories of Cuba and the Philippines, the inhabitants began to grow more and more rebellious as time passed. With the tension building between Spain and its territories, the United States was in a position to become their ally and help them fight to win their independence and gain territory within the Caribbean and Pacific at the same time.
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.
Settlers asked for American intervention, which led to a group of Marines running ashore and raising the American flag over the islands. The question of annexation of the islands became a huge platform in the election of 1896, whereby the winner; President McKinley promised annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. Cuba had been an island under Spanish control for years, fighting for independence. Under the control of Commander Weyler, the Cubans were detained with the policy of 'reconcentration.' With help from the press exaggerating much of cruelties, the American public called for intervention.
Accept American rule? Comment on the consequences for the United States with regard to the statement made by Eric Foner in the text, “Thus, two principles central to American freedom since the War of Independence – no taxation without representation and government based on the consent of the governed – were abandoned when it came to the nation’s new possessions. The struggle of Cuba to gain its independence from Spain, which began in 1895, has captured the attention of many Americans. Spain’s brutal repressive measures to halt the rebellion were graphically portrayed for the U.S. public by American newspaper publishers, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer which caused to shape the national mood of agitation against Spain. Hearst and Pulitzer exaggerated the actual events in Cuba and how did Spanish brutally treated their prisoners by adding sensational words to catch the emotions of readers.
At the time Cuba was a Spanish colony, but it was in the midst of a revolution. The Cuban people were fighting for independence from Spain. During this Cuban revolt against Spain and the American battleship Maine dropped anchor in the Havana harbor to protect American interests in Cuba. Many Americans regarded the Spanish as tyrants and supported the Cubans in their struggle. This immediately made Americans jump to the Conclusion that Spain blew up the Maine.
To provide a better understanding of the revolution and the United States’ involvement in Nicaragua, the historic setting is necessary. The first case of US involvement in Nicaragua was the Walker Affair, of 1856. William Walker ventured to Nicaragua from the United States in 1855 on the invitation of Nicaraguan Liberals, who hoped his assistance could help them win a war against the Conservatives of Nicaragua. Walker easily defeated the conservatives because of his “aid of private American financing, superior firepower, and no small amount of luck” . At the end of this war, however, instead of handing over the regime to the liberals he had helped, he made himself the president of Nicaragua .
The Spark that ignited wide spread revolt was napoleon's invasion of Spain. He ousted the Spanish king and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. Latin American leaders saw Spain's opportunity to reject foreign domination and demand independence from colonial rule. Two places that were influenced by the enlightenment were Haiti and South America. Toussaint L'Ouverture was also influenced by the enlightenment.
The Spanish-American War, the United States' Open Door policy, and the control over the Panama Canal zone make it unclear if the United States was pursuing its own self-interest or was inspired by Idealism. In the Spanish-American War the United States was supposedly fighting for Cuba's independence from Spain. Though Idealism might have been present in the United States' reasons for war, there is evidence of America's self-interests in the war. The United States did fight to defend the Cubans but it also fought to profit out of the war. When the war ended and the United States won, it offered Cuba self-government only if they agreed to the terms of the Teller Amendment which states, "Cuba should allow the United States the right to buy or lease naval stations".