[APUSH] LEQ "To what extent did the Spanish-American War mark a turning point in American foreign policy?"

Introduction

The Spanish-American War happened under McKinley's term around the turn of the century and ushered in a period of imperialism and expansionism. To a large extent the Spanish-American War was a turning point in American foreign policy, because while America was very isolationist during the Gilded Age and post-Civil War Era, it was imperialistic and expansionist after the Spanish American War.

Thesis

The war represented the first major military engagement beyond United States borders since the Mexican-American War (1846-48) and led to an assertion of United States interests throughout the Caribbean and into the western Pacific region, laying the groundwork for major shifts in policies, culminating in (and after) the First World War.

Body 1

As a result of the defeat of Spain, the United States eventually established control, or took possession, of the Philippines (1898), Puerto Rico, Cuba, and then Midway, Guam, Wake Island, and (American) Samoa (1899). At the same time the United States formally annexed Hawaii as well.

Body 1 supporting

The war's outcome led to huge increases in the United States naval budget and United States military involvement in the Philippines, resulting in a three-year war (1899-1902) to pacify the Filipino people. The Spanish-American War accelerated policies promoting overseas investments, later referred to as "dollar diplomacy" under President Taft (1909-13). Before that, this expanded policy could be seen in the Open Door policy regarding China (1899-1900). It could also be seen in President Theodore Roosevelt's engineering a revolt in Panama against the Colombian government (1903) and then negotiating for the Panama Canal Zone and construction of the Panama Canal (completed in 1914).

Body 2

The culmination of two decades of policy changes came with President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and assertion of leadership on the world stage following the First World War (1918). Yet the outcome was the general ineffectiveness of the United States at the Versailles negotiations after the war (1919). The subsequent United States retreat to a neoisolationism, a consequence of Americans' disillusionment with its aggressive foreign policies, can be seen as the end of the first phase of the United States major changes in foreign policy as a result of the Spanish-American War.

Body 1 of sample essay

After the Civil War and during the age of industrialization the US was too preoccupied in issues inside the country such as reconstructing the Union and Manifest Destiny to care about the rest of the World. Therefore US foreign policy during this time was very isolationist. Isolationism had in fact been the dominant foreign policy since George Washington had warned against entangling alliances. Apart from the War of 1812, US stayed out of European affairs and only fought to fulfill Manifest Destiny, like the Mexican American War, where the US acquired the Mexican cession meaning the US stretched from "Sea to Shining Sea". Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans, as a superior race, and the right and duty to stretch across the continent. However when Frederick Jackson Turner proclaimed the frontier was closed in the late 19th century, the US could no longer be preoccupied by expanding West. Therefore during the period before the Spanish American War, the foreign policy was isolationism as a result of being preoccupied by Reconstructed; the building of railroads and industrialization and Manifest Destiny.

Body 2 of sample essay

After the Spanish-American War, US Foreign policy entered a stage of expansionism and imperialism, contrasting to isolation. The Spanish American War was caused by the yellow press alleged (COLLEGE BOARD DOESN'T LIKE THIS PART) and the reaction to the sinking of the alleged them "attack" on the USS Maine, while the fighting took place in Cuba , the Philippines (later released by the Tydings-Mcduffre Act), numerous lands, like Hawaii and virtually controlled Cuban affairs with the Platt amendment. The imperialistic Spanish-American war not only ended isolationism but it brought in a period of US dominance of the Americas, with leaders like Theodore Roosevelt and Taf coming in, in the early 20th century.

Body 3 of sample essay

When McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in 1901, the Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt, famous for his "Rough Riders" during the battle on San ___ Hill, became President. TR's foreign policy is commonly known as his "Big Stick" Policy, where he would use his power to interfere in foreign countries for America's benefit. His "Big Stick" policy can be seen in his building of the Panama Canal, where he set up a revolution in Panama so he could build the Canal, which was highly profitable to Americans. During TR's presidency, TR continued to use his aggressive foreign policy to turn the Caribbean into a "Yankee Lake". Also TR was involved in Asian affairs, when he negotiated the Portsmouth Treaty between Japan and Russia over Manchuria, which he later won the Nobel Peace Prize for William Taft, the next president adopted. TR's aggressive foreign policy, and he is famous for "Dollar Diplomacy" which means that the US government will interfere in Latin American Countries commonly known as "Banana Republic", to promote and protect American economic interests. An example of the Dollar diplomacy is in Nicaragua, where US organized a rebellion to put Diaz in power, who liked the American companies.

Conclusion of sample esa

The Spanish American war is a turning point in foreign policy because while before US practiced isolationism US became expansionist.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

US foreign policy regarding Latin American countries stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention.

Roosevelt Corollary (1904)

Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force

B

Russo-Japanese War

A 1904-1905 conflict between Russia and Japan, sparked by the two countries' efforts to dominate Manchuria and Korea.

TR wins noble prize for helping negotiate a peace agreement ending the Russo-Japanese War (1905)

Japan beat down by Russia

The U.S. increasingly concerned over the growing strength of Japan

William Howard's Taft Dollar Diplomacy

Dollar Diplomacy was an economic policy of the United States of America begun during the William Howard Taft Presidency (1909-1913). The policy itself was aimed at furthering the interests of the U.S. abroad by encouraging the investment of U.S. capital in foreign countries, specifically, Latin and South America.

The Spanish-American War accelerated policies promoting overseas investments, later referred to as "dollar diplomacy" under President Taft (1900-13).