The explosion of the USS Maine, a naval battleship located outside of the major port city of Havana, Cuba, was not only one of the major causes of the Spanish American War, but was also a trigger of a national public opinion of resentment toward Spain. This was due to the yellow journalism, where stories were exaggerated and sometimes fabricated by the press in order to bring about public outrage, as well as influence from President McKinley. McKinley urged United States intervention and said, “we owe it to our citizens in Cuba to afford them that protection and indemnity for life and property.... The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people…” (“President McKinley’s Call for War Against Spain”). Due to the supposed attack on America by the Spanish and the Cuban outcry for independence, the United States engaged in a war with Spain in 1898 that would prove to be one of the keys to developing American imperialism with the claimed intent of benefitting others. The Spanish American War resulted in the United States suddenly becoming an overseas empire by gaining control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, with or without the consent of the native people. The United States first became involved with building the Panama Canal when American traders sought to find a way to shorten the trade route between North America and South America. The United States was also motivated by the desire to obtain a two-ocean navy. The United States quickly authorized the building of a canal that would be fair and open to all nations. When the United States offered $10 million to build the canal, as well as $250,000 per year to operate the canal, Colombia, which owned Panama, hastily rejected. The people of Panama revolted against the Colombian government, and the United States recognized Panama as independent just three days after the revolt occurred in November of 1903. Because of the United States’ support for Panamanian independence from Colombia, the United States was able to accomplish its goal of gaining the access to build the Panama Canal. Many years prior to the period of American imperialism, President James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine of 1823. …show more content…
The Doctrine prevented the nations of Europe from interfering with American territory, and is often referred to as “the best known U.S. policy toward the Western Hemisphere,” warning “European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs” (Monroe Doctrine). The Roosevelt Corollary, created by and named after President Theodore Roosevelt, was added to the Monroe Doctrine to justify certain interventions by the United States. The Roosevelt Corollary allowed America to involve itself in Latin American affairs. Yet the people of Latin America resented U.S. involvement, or “Yankee imperialism.” Their animosity toward the US grew dramatically. By the turn of the century, “the United States… established an undisputed sphere of influence throughout the hemisphere” (“The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America”).
There was considerable internal opposition to United States involvement, causing an increase in anti-imperialist groups who felt that “a self-governing state cannot accept sovereignty over an unwilling people. The United States cannot act upon the ancient heresy that might makes right” (Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League). In 1853, Matthew Perry traveled to Japan to pressure the Japanese government to open their ports to allow trade. Before this, Japan had been in a state of isolation, rejecting trade or involvement with other countries. As a result of the eventual consent to trade, the Japanese and American gained economic success. Japan became increasingly powerful worldwide, as did the United States. But the