American War Dbq Essay

1. The Spanish American War which took place in 1898 - The Spanish American War portrayed America's rise and decline of the European powers. The war also led to America gaining territories and colonies in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean (the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Marianas and a host of other territories). The possession of the Philippines in particular led to permanent American involvement in Asian affairs.

This finally triggered McKinley to go to war, and it was justified because the Cuban and Filipino people needed protection against the strong Spanish empire. Ultimately, the Spanish were wiped out by the U.S. and the Philippines demanded independence. However, McKinley needed to please the imperialism-loving voters that elected him to office. Therefore, the United States retained the Philippines so the country would not fall into the hands of economic rivals like France or

The expansion of America was desirable, creating a false duty to get rid of barbaric influence from asianic countries to expand America’s empire. After the end of Spanish rule in the Philippines, Senator Albert Beveridge saw potential in recruiting the Philippines as US territory. He writes, “...The Philippines gives us a base at the door of all East”(Beveridge 1). He wanted to expand America's commercial trades with Asia, but in order to do so would need an ally near the east. Knowing that the Philippines had just come out of Spanish rule, Beveridge suggested in the letter that they were not capable of self-governing, and America's intervention would be needed.

I believe this was a perfect storm of sorts. Between the propaganda being circulated throughout the United States, and McKinley’s desire to satisfy the American People war was inevitable. In Jan of 1898 There was a riot in a Havana newspaper office. Mckinley ordered the Navy warship Maine to the Havana Harbor. This was

Many Americans thought occupying foreign countries, like the Philippines after the Spanish American War, was a bad idea because it contradicts the American values of equality found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. (Doc D) However, a majority of America sided with people like Senator Albert J. Beveridge who believed people were chosen by God to expand into China and the Philippines to open more Asian markets. (Doc E) This was a continuation of past expansionism because acquiring land for money Manifest Destiny have been motives for expansionism for

Some Americans believed that the US should acquire the Philippines in order to save them from other countries, to help govern them, and of course, in order to expand and grow our country. Whereas others believed that America should leave the Philippines alone because they should be allowed to have independence, the same way America gained

According to Johnson, "The United States' military victories over Spain demonstrated the nation's strength and capabilities, earning international recognition and respect" (Johnson 372). The successful outcomes of battles such as the Battle of Manila Bay and the Battle of Santiago de Cuba showcased the United States' ability to project power over great distances and achieve decisive victories. The Spanish-American War also solidified the United States' position in the Western Hemisphere and expanded its sphere of influence. Through the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the United States gained control over several territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. These territorial acquisitions allowed the United States to establish naval bases and exert its presence in strategic

2. The War of 1898 also known as the Spanish American War of 1898 was very important to the United States expansion as a world power. The United States broke precedent by acquiring overseas colonies, victory in war forced the Spanish to renounce claims on Cuba, and sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. Also, because of victory they proclaimed the independent state of Hawaii. Tariff policies implemented in those colonies sparked an economic boom.

He argues that it would be dishonorable to give them back to Spain, it would be bad for business to give them to another big country, they cannot be left with no ruling government, and so there is no other option than “to take them all.” As McKinley, a powerful voice to the public, argued for expansion, more simple people came forward in opposition. A Yale University professor, expressed the same views as several Americans for anti-imperialism in a speech in 1899, believing that the U.S. would ultimately suffer the same fate as Spain, as at the “first touch of the test we throw the doctrine away and adopt the Spanish doctrine” (Doc 2). The professor, William Graham Sumner, was skeptical about the idea of using military force as a way of spreading American values. Some felt as though expansion was spreading the U.S too thinly, as expressed in Document 7.

I have made an amazing conclusion after a small talk with President McKinley himself. The man is truly brilliant. I know that not everyone agrees with this, but I believe imperialism is marvelous. We need to build on America, President McKinley told me. “The world is big, and if we let it grow without us, we’ll be left behind and forgotten.

At the end of the Spanish-American War, in 1898, The United States of America acquired many new territories and protectorates, making it a global colonial power. America was able to achieve Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico as protectorates as an outcome of the Spanish-American War. Other nations were also occupied by America. America was able to do this through imperialism; when a nation expands its influence and power through economic, military, and diplomatic means.

“We hold with Abraham Lincoln, that ‘no man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent’... ‘that is despotism (rule by a tyrant),”(document A). Even though he was not alive, Abraham Lincoln posed a great point as to why the Philippines should not be annexed; they did not give their consent. The Philippines was taken over and annexed against their will by the US. Document A also says that annexing the Philippines extinguishes “the spirit of 1776 in those islands”.

Americans learned more about what happened during the Spanish American War through articles that exposed the violent tensions in Cuba. The Americans then felt the need that we should help Cuba against Spain. The Americans in power wanted to remain neutral, while the public wanted to go to war. The U.S. Maine was a battleship that was sent to Cuba to spy on them and understand the situation in person. While the ship was there, it mysteriously blew up, the blame was put on Spain for the explosion.

In 1898 Spain and the United States got into a war. The war would essentially end Spain’s empire and propel the United States onto the world stage. The United States got into a war with Spain because the United States, driven by imperialism and social darwinism, desired to have foreign territories. Imperialism is the policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition and/or by the establishment of economic and political control over other nations. The United States wanted to spread democracy and American ideals, that mentality is imperialism and led to the US challenging Spain for colonies which led to war.

Hostilities grew and President McKinley sent the battleship Maine to protect Americans on the Island. On February 15th 1898, the Maine exploded and sank in Havana and the cause was not determined. McKinley, however not interested with the idea of war, declared war on Spain on April 20th 1898. The war took place in the Philippines, where Secretary of War Theodore Roosevelt led attack of the Spanish in Manila. United States military moved quickly through the Island and took San Juan Hill in July 1st 1898.