Gabriela Pena
Period 5
Mr. Jackson
US History
11/22/09
American Expansionism:
Some people may think that American Expansionism was a good thing when it wasn’t. America expanded in the late 1800’s. It intervened in Latin America and Mexico. Americans annexed Hawaii, the Philippines and Puerto Rico after the war with Cuba and the Philippines. The United States took control over Cuba which made it a protectorate. Also, it exerted influence in China and Japan that caused the Russo-Japanese war. As a result the United States becomes a world power. Expansionism was a bad thing because it caused war, made an American rule and they control some islands.
On February 9,1898; the journalist published a letter written by Enrique Dupuy De Lome to the United States. The de Lome letter blame McKinley for being “weak and catering to the rabble.” That made many Americans mad and declare war with Spain. It happened when Spain refused, congress declared a state of war on April 25, 1898 the Spanish- American war had begun. The war lasted about four 4 month with Cuba and the Philippines. Cuba had fought with the Buffalo soldiers and the Rough riders. Therefore, Spain also turned control of the Philippines over to the United States in exchange for a $20 million payment. The United States paid a heavy toll for the was about S250 million.
The Essay on The importance of this particular war in American history
1. The most important historical event that occurred between 1492 and 1865 was the American Civil War. Sparked by issues such as states’ rights and the many aspects of slavery, it was a four-year war in which the country split in two and fought against each other for principles each side strongly believed in. The importance of this particular war in American history cannot be emphasized enough. ...
Americans formed an Anti-imperialist League in June 1898. Americans feared that annexing the Philippines would open doors to a flood of new immigrants. The American rule had to do debate in order to annex the Philippines. On the other hand Philippines were angry because they have been fighting independence from Spain for a long time. Emilio Aguilando was setting a government and declared himself as president. He warned the United States that he was prepared to face military action on the United States if they wanted to control the Philippines. It made the Filipinos break out war on the United States. After the war the Filipinos had rights. They could vote to choose both houses and their legislature. As a result In July 4, 1946, the United States finally gave independence to the Philippines. Overall, American Expansionism was a bad thing for the United States.
After the Spanish-American war, the United States wanted to take control over Cuba. The United States forced Cuba to include the platt Amendment as a new part constitution. It made Cuba to have limited to sign treaties. It gave the United States right to receive Cuba’s land for naval and cooling stations. The USA made Cuba a protectorate under the control and protection. The United States governed Puerto Rico as a territory. The Foraker act made Puerto Rico had the upper house of its legislature. Thus, I think that the United States American Expansionism was bad because it cause many problems in the late 1800’s.
Puck magazine made humor of American Expansionism. For example, they used to make fun of how a Hawaiian girl will marry Uncle Sam. Her appearance made her seem a very dark skin color which looked like an African American. The United States got into many wars, made new laws and it took over two islands for a long time. In Conclusion, American Expansionism was a bad strategy that had a huge effect.
