Was The United States Justified Research Paper

Was the United States justified in acquiring an overseas empire? The United States had various motivations for conquering land overseas. Richard Hofstader, an American historian and professor, argued that the U.S. had imperialist and political reasons for acquiring an overseas empire. On the other hand, Walter Lefeber, a history professor, argued that the country’s motivation for acquiring an overseas empire was imperial and economic. Some people argue that the United States was justified because they were attempting to help Cuba gain independence, and relations with other nations had economic benefits. These arguments can be refuted when one considers yellow journalism and Japanese military activity following the Treaty of Kanagawa. Others argued the country was not justified because international …show more content…
It was essentially the easy way out of facing the economic crisis head on. In addition to the unjustified use of foreign affairs to distract Americans from internal issues, the U.S. also was not justified in building an overseas empire because the U.S. did not plan on setting Cuba free once they gained independence from Spain. Additionally, America was not justified in acquiring an overseas empire because the U.S. did not set Cuba free once they gained independence from Spain. When the U.S. made their decision to join the war, they claimed that their goal was to help Cuba gain independence, but then leave directly after. But, this did not transpire in the way they originally planned. Lefeber wrote: “Mckinley discovered a classic solution in which the United States enjoyed the power over, but supposedly little of the responsibility for, the Cubans” (96). Lefeber is referring to the Americans’ choice to remain in Cuba after the war ended. The U.S. militarily occupied Cuba until 1902, and then they passed the Platt Amendment which allowed them to stay heavily involved with Cuban affairs after independence was