Big business in the United States was a driving force in United States Foreign Policy, in several ways in the late 1800’s through the early-mid 1900’s. One example of the effect of big business on United States foreign policy can be seen in the way in which the United States justified its entry into the Cuban War. Another example is that the United States imperialized the Philippines during this time in order to expand markets and create opportunities to gain natural resources. The things the United States wanted and used their resources for is yet another example of the power Big Business held over the United States Government during this time. The United States entered into cuba because of the value they saw in being a part of its future.
…show more content…
The United States felt that their trade with Cuba would drastically decrease if Spain were to take complete control of the island. In fact, President McKinley described the justification behind United States involvement in the war was that trade and commerce with the country was seriously hindered by the war, in particular the seventy million dollars in trade the United States had lost since the beginning of the war(4). In addition, the United States recognized the opportunity that was posed to them when the Cubans went to war with Spain, because if they were to offer their assistance to the Cubans and help them gain their independence, they would have have developed an immense amount of gratitude and goodwill with Cuba. The United States went to help this country not out of morals, but out of self interest and the aftermath of the war only furthers this point. After the war, the Cuban constitution was amended to include the fact that land would be leased to the United States in order to preserve the independence and safety of Cuba(5). The United States was able to attain land to mine coal and open a naval base on their island, this base became known as Guantanamo bay(5). The United States assisted cuba in order to gain access to the resources available on …show more content…
The United States wanted to an ever stronger and more impressive economy and the ability to export to countries on the other side with more ease was of course appealing to the United States. The United States imperialized the Philippines because it created a more direct means of doing business with China, a country that for a long time has been one of the largest countries in the world. The United States stayed there because the Phillipines allowed the United States to trigger the expansion of the United State’s trade and it gave them access to new markets(7). In fact, according to Senator Henry Cabot, “It will also be seen that our exports to China, Kong, and Japan in 1899 over 1889 was 246%, and it almost all came in the last years of the decade”(6). .Another reason the United States maintained control of the Philippines was because of the natural resources that were abundant in the area; the United States felt as though these distinct aspects of the Philippines held great value to a great naval and commercial power such as itself(6). Thirdly, the United States also saw the value in developing a country as doing so would generate ienumerable funds for the United States. It would increase business, commerce and need for foreign imports from the United States(6). The United States saw the opportunity to develop their own consumer and they took advantage of this
The United States felt that their trade with Cuba would drastically decrease if Spain were to take complete control of the island. In fact, President McKinley described the justification behind United States involvement in the war was that trade and commerce with the country was seriously hindered by the war, in particular the seventy million dollars in trade the United States had lost since the beginning of the war(4). In addition, the United States recognized the opportunity that was posed to them when the Cubans went to war with Spain, because if they were to offer their assistance to the Cubans and help them gain their independence, they would have have developed an immense amount of gratitude and goodwill with Cuba. The United States went to help this country not out of morals, but out of self interest and the aftermath of the war only furthers this point. After the war, the Cuban constitution was amended to include the fact that land would be leased to the United States in order to preserve the independence and safety of Cuba(5). The United States was able to attain land to mine coal and open a naval base on their island, this base became known as Guantanamo bay(5). The United States assisted cuba in order to gain access to the resources available on …show more content…
The United States wanted to an ever stronger and more impressive economy and the ability to export to countries on the other side with more ease was of course appealing to the United States. The United States imperialized the Philippines because it created a more direct means of doing business with China, a country that for a long time has been one of the largest countries in the world. The United States stayed there because the Phillipines allowed the United States to trigger the expansion of the United State’s trade and it gave them access to new markets(7). In fact, according to Senator Henry Cabot, “It will also be seen that our exports to China, Kong, and Japan in 1899 over 1889 was 246%, and it almost all came in the last years of the decade”(6). .Another reason the United States maintained control of the Philippines was because of the natural resources that were abundant in the area; the United States felt as though these distinct aspects of the Philippines held great value to a great naval and commercial power such as itself(6). Thirdly, the United States also saw the value in developing a country as doing so would generate ienumerable funds for the United States. It would increase business, commerce and need for foreign imports from the United States(6). The United States saw the opportunity to develop their own consumer and they took advantage of this