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American Imperialism: A Splendid Little War

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The height of American imperialism showcased when United Sates waged the Spanish-American war. The war transpired between the countries of Spain and the United Sates and linked by historians to America’s imperialistic expansion concepts. The war was known as “A Splendid Little War”, due to the short duration it took for the United Sates to defeat the Spanish. The war ended with 1898 Treaty of Paris, which compelled the Spanish to abdicate claims of Cuba, and surrender the sovereignty of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines over to America. During the chaos of the war, the United Sates annexed the Hawaiian Islands leading the United Sates to institute its supremacy in Caribbean region and to pursue its economic gain in Asia. The Philippines …show more content…
Other countries present in the capital Caribbean area such as Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti and the Dominican Republic faced United Sates invasion either through the U.S Protectorate or Quasi Protectorate to spread the blessings of democracy and civilization. Despite United Sates ideals of its spreading of blessing of democracy and civilization, America, in the process of becoming a world power, was a ruthless expander, who oversaw the affairs of its suppressed nations and barbarously treated its inhabitants.

The territories and nations, United Sates had allegedly acquired were lands that were falsely acquired for the purpose of imperialism. The intense debate about the status of the annexed nations and their rights were decided in what is known as the insular cases. One such case, Batzac.V.Puerto Rico declared that the annexed American land shall be considered “unincorporated” and residents of annexed nations shall not be granted any rights listed in the constitution (Doc B). The Treaty of Hawaiian Annexation in 1898 provided that the currently present laws of the constitution …show more content…
The ruthless expansion that occurred in America during the time period of 1875-1920, as a time of New Manifest Destiny. America acquired the land of Hawaii (now a state), Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Island (all still territories). Two were fought back to back to acquire these lands. The Spanish-American war led the acquisition of Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Island. The Pilipino-American war led to official annexation of Philippines as a territory and was granted independence in 1946. The barbaric acts carried out by the United States to prove power clearly characterizes America as a ruthless expander. Furthermore, the interference in the affairs in the affairs of other nations such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Panama showcases the American imperialism that kept trade and the Caribbean out of the reaches of the world powers, to secure the position of a world power. The idea of Manifest Destiny similarly treated the Native Americans in a barbaric state and constantly invaded the natives’ affairs. American ruthless expansion is represented by its uncivilized manner of native treatment and constant meddling in meddling in neighboring nations affairs through the excuse of spreading democracy and

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