Spanish American Participation Case Study

Improved Essays
During the imperial period the United States, along with many other European countries rushed to obtain the maximum amount of land possible. Two present day countries President McKinley involved himself in were Cuba and the Philippines. Prior to the Spanish-American war the Spanish controlled both of these countries. Once the United States won the war, they faced the decision of what to do with these newly acquired lands. First, they decided Cuba could have their freedom on the condition that they signed the Teller Amendment. This Amendment stated: the U.S. could intervene and restore order in the case of anarchy, the U.S. could trade freely with Cuba, and the U.S. was allowed two naval bases in Cuba. Secondly, the United States remained in control of was to keep the Philippines, but pay twenty million dollars for them. The United States’ involvement in countries such as the Philippines and Cuba in the 1890s was equally caused by racism, nationalism, commercialism, and humanitarianism. …show more content…
The people of the Philippines and Cuba were of the darker races, subsequently the United States felt obligation to help them by determining decisions for them. When the U.S. entered Cuba they introduced the systems of slavery and segregation established by race. They banned black people from using any educational, economic, cultural, or recreational facilities. Meanwhile in the Philippines, President McKinley set up the Philippine Commission to improve the living conditions in the Philippines. When President Taft was in office, he had the same system, but he referred to the Filipinos as his “Little Brown Brothers”. The Americans’ “desire” to rule over the lesser race brought slavery and derogatory statements to these

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Was Imperialism an appropriate foreign policy for the U.S. to follow at the turn of the 20th century, or not? Even though I believe imperialism is morally wrong; from an economic standpoint imperialism was a very good idea for the U.S. to do leading into the 20th century. The foreign policy that the U.S brought into the 20th century saved countries and benefited millions. It also improved the country 's health conditions; while, giving both countries steady income. This is why I believe imperialism an appropriate foreign policy for the U.S at the turn of the 20th century.…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When Americans started to expand its territory, they didn't look after Native Americans and ignored them. A decade later, with the "criminal aggression" in the Philippines, racism was reflected in new expansion. The American Anti-Imperialist League asserted that the blood of the Filipinos was on American hands, and Americans resented the betrayal (Doc D). Josiah Strong, a prominent Congregationalist minister from Ohio, thought that America needed to claim as many of the unoccupied lands of the world, as it could, in order to further the Anglo-Saxon race (Doc B). At this time, president Roosevelt employed the foreign policy using his new naval Power.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Equally important was the rationale of easier trade and business opportunities in Asia because of the annexation. Once again, it is unrighteous to own people in order to do business with them. All in all, the United States as a major power did not have the right to exploit the Philippines through the excuses of Christianity, business opportunities, and protecting takeover by other countries. The United States in fact used it for their own benefit, mostly to increase their naval…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In China, the US wanted to have an open door policy for trade. It was easier for the U.S. to uphold this policy and trade with China since the U.S. had control over the Philippines.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During 1898 there was a war with Spain which was because of how they treated the Cuban’s by the Spanish masters. The United States luckily had a lot of power around the whole world. The Filipino insurgents have always tried to attack the Spanish to have independence for many years which they wouldn’t receive it. They believed that the Americans might free them from the Spanish. Since America won the war they had three choices they had to make which was to give the Philippines independence, give the islands back to Spain, or annex the Philippines.…

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    US Expansion In The 1800s

    • 115 Words
    • 1 Pages

    The U.S. expansion in the 1800s was not very justifiable, especially because the Americans’ best reason for doing so is Manifest Destiny. Whether by controversially expanding the country through democracy or by force, Americans and Mexicans alike saw that the US expansion into areas such as Florida and Texas were invasions permitted by God, instead of the stronger federal army’s strength. Especially during the Mexican-American War, President Polk used a few Americans’ deaths along patrolling the Rio Grande an act of terrorism, prompting years’ worth of bloodshed. Additionally, US expansion often included expensive purchases for lands such as the Louisiana and Gadsden Purchases, which perpetuated the country into further debt along with the…

    • 115 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The trajectory of U.S. foreign relations was well in place prior to the Mexican-American war, but was pushed further by the actions that took place therein. America was guided by a resurgence of the Monroe Doctrine under President Polk. This resurgence and in the spirit of Manifest Destiny, the American people, most notably expansionist democrats, pushed to expand the nation westward, and take control of the lands from coast to coast. This control was gained with a victory over Mexico in the aforementioned war, and with a peaceful resolution between President Polk and Britain, over the land in the Oregon Territory. Once both of these were completed, America stretched from “sea to shining sea”.…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Spanish-American War began on April 25, 1898. The war ended with a victory for the United States on December 10, 1898. The signing of the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the U.S. gave Cuba their independence from Spain, and the U.S. control over Guam and Puerto Rico. The United States also purchased the Philippines Islands from Spain for twenty million dollars. All of these events led to the United States becoming a major powerhouse and let the rest of the world know the authority that they had.…

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When discussing education as it relates to Mexican Americans, educational levels are important to consider as these levels may impact the value of education, the role of education, and educational systems. For example, the systems of education are much different for those who are in kindergarten as opposed to systems of education for those who are in college. According to Altschul Mexican American children tend to have lower academic achievement than others, even other immigrants. This is indicated by lower test scores (2011, para. 2). Additionally, Mexican Americans are less likely to finish high school or attend college (2011, para. 1).…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In creating the Constitution, the founding fathers of the United States sought to outline a strong foundation upon which their new country would be formed. Establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquillity, and securing the blessings of liberty are among the most important values these men highlighted in the Preamble to the American Constitution. While incredible change has occurred since the constructing of the Constitution in 1787, American citizens still maintain these ideals, and the United States government still conceives policies based off of these core values. Although United States foreign policy should mirror these American identities of fairness, peace, and freedom, presidents do not always base their decisions upon them. While…

    • 1200 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the process of invading and taking over the Philippines, the US created many reason that, to them, would make them feel glorified. Since this war had evolved from the previous war with Spain, America was able to say that it had taken away two different territories form a very prominent country during this time. Both Cuba and the Philippines were firmly clasped in the hands of the US. Adding to that, America was able to successfully take over the Philippines before another country, such as Japan or Germany, was able to. There were many other imperial powers that may have had their eyes on the Philippines for the same reason as the US.…

    • 1006 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was one of the organizations emerged in the late 1920s. Such association looked for improving the position of Mexican Americans in the United Sates. The main goal of this association consisted of fighting against the discrimination of Mexican American citizens and consequently reaching full participation into American culture and society. Nonetheless, LULAC did not favor Mexican American identity as it was expected. Since this organization was made up of mostly Mexican Americans from middle-class, this one was the only class which was represented.…

    • 129 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the early twentieth century, the United States set its eyes upon Asia. It was looking for an Open Door Constituency trading policy that was laid out by U.S politicians such as, Teddy Roosevelt, John Hay, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Alfred T. Mahan. After failed attempts to trade with the Japanese during the mid nineteenth century, the United States gained a foothold in Asia by annexing the Philippines, which it had gained in the Treaty of Paris (1898) from Spain as a result of the Spanish defeat in the Spanish-American War. The people of the Philippines were excited, at first, about annexation because they wanted U.S liberation, protection, and freedom. The United States Government received push back from its own citizens for going to the Philippines.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The primary source by William McKinley, The Acquisition of the Philippines, were written instructions. The twenty fifth president of the United States wrote these instructions on August 12, 1898, with a purpose. McKinley’s words were meant to reach the American peace negotiators that were to be convening in Paris with Spanish commissioners. Hence, his basic purpose behind this text was to create lasting peace between the nations involved. However, this reasoning only skims the surface of McKinley’s motive.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States of America should become anti-imperialists and not annex the Philippines. This is because the Spanish-American War has just concluded. Americans must decide whether to emerge from the war as an imperialist power or as an anti-imperialist power. According to pages 626-628 of American Nation, for three months, America has fought alongside the Philippines for their independence against the Spanish. This was was caused by harsh ruling of the Spanish colonies.…

    • 1480 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics