Session #5: America Looks Outward & The Spanish American War & the Acquisition of an Empire

1890s expansion

• Involved island possession

• Intended less for settlement, used for naval bases, commercial for trade routes

• Commerce and international trade

• Viewed as colonies not as states in the making

Social Darwinism

species were evolving based on the principles of survival of the fittest and natural selection, applying theories to human society and culture

John Fisk

argued that anglo sax were racially superior in the result of natural selection, bringing the advances of commerce and democratic institutions

Josiah Strong

• published “Our Country”

• argued for exporting trade and religion and by doing so, americans would civilize and christianize inferior races around the world

• argued that as anglo saxans americans were members of a god favored race 

Alfred Thayer Mahan

• Argued US needed to expand, strengthen navy, and annex Hawaii

• The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890)

  • Overseas markets involved distant ports and merchant vessels to deliver the product

    • Need a powerful navy to protect, needed coaling stations, needed colonies

Yellow Journalism

Sensational reporting practice by handfuls of journalists in NYC to increase sales, does not report much real news with facts. It uses shocking headlines that catch people's attention to sell more newspapers

The real cause of the Spanish American War

the differences over Cuba between Spain and America

The USS Maine

• an explosion believed to be caused by a spanish mine

• U.S. declared war on Spain

“Smoked Yankees”

hoped to ease black oppression in the United States by serving in the regular and volunteer armies during the Spanish-American War and fighting for the white man in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines

Battle of Manila Bay

American troops accepted the surrender of manila and with it the Philippine islands - May 1, 1898

Battle of San Juan Hill

Defenders were pinning down american troops but in the confusion of the battle Teddy R. and troops charged directly charged into spanish guns, 89 rough riders were killed or wounded, most famous battle

Died of disease

• Many couldn't fight or do anything for being so sick

• Yellow fever, malaria, typhoid

Treaty of Paris

• Cuba recognized as independent

• Spain assumed Cuba’s debt

• Spain ceded Guam to US

• Spain ceded Puerto Rico to US

• Spain ceded Philippines to US: America paid Spain $20 million

Major debate

the status of the Philippines

The American Anti-Imperialist League

oppose the United States' annexation of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War, argues violated american principle to annex an independent nation

The Philippine American War (1898-1902)

• Gorilla tactics, gorilla warfare, suddenly attack and melt back into the jungle

• March 1902 americans took alguanado prisoner, eventually gave up

William Howard Taft

• march 1902 named governor of the Philippines

• Built new schools, provided education and vocational training, built roads and bridges, reformed tax system, introduced sanitation programs