American Empire: Expansionism, Imperialism, and the Spanish-American War

The United States was founded on the principle of being different from European powers like Britain, Spain, and France.
The US Constitution was designed to ensure this difference.
Geographic isolation was seen as a key factor, with few contiguous neighbors.
Isolationism was the default policy, making the later embrace of a global empire a significant shift.

On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, leading to the death of 268 soldiers.
This event was widely publicized through broadsides (large format illustrations) in American households.
The incident occurred amidst rising tensions between the US and the Spanish Empire, particularly regarding Cuban independence.
Cuba was a Spanish colony with a growing nationalist independence movement.
The US previously broke away from British imperialism, inspiring similar movements in the Americas and Europe.

Nationalism was once viewed positively in the US, with widespread patriotism.
The Civil War was the darkest period in American history, shaking national unity, though it was rapidly restored.

The US had a long-standing interest in Cuba due to its proximity to Florida (64 miles).
Cuba's lush environment was ideal for growing sugarcane, a highly lucrative commodity driving imperialism.
Sugar production was historically tied to slavery, with millions of lives lost in its cultivation.
Sugarcane could be grown in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Barbados.

Filibuster: A non-state actor that invades another country and then calls their country to follow them.
Filibuster movements had been active in Cuba for about 40 years prior to the Spanish-American War, aiming to instigate US intervention.
Historical Context: The term comes from a French word related to piracy.
A filibuster involves a non-state actor invading another country, spurring revolt, smuggling guns, and then appealing to their home country for protection of their interests.
Example: Texas, where American settlers were invited to develop the land with slaves, leading to eventual calls for annexation by the US.
The US fought the Mexican-American War to acquire Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona.
Failed Example: William Walker's attempt to build a canal across Nicaragua.
The filibuster figure is a crypto investor and then economic adventurer attempting to make something happen.
Successful Example: The California Bear Flag Republic, where Joseph Freeman invaded a colony of the Spanish empire, occupied it, raised the flag, and then asked to be annexed to the US because of gold and location.

The explosion of the USS Maine, portrayed by the press as a Spanish plot, provided a pretext for invading Cuba.
Yellow journalism: Journalism based on sensationalism and crude exaggeration.
Historical Context: The origin of the term is unclear, but related to tabloids and low quality paper.
The destruction of the Maine ignited public outrage.
Newspapers of the time were heavily biased, promoting specific perspectives.
War hawks used the incident to push for war with Spain, despite a lack of clear evidence.

The concept of provocation in American wars is a sensitive issue.
The Mexican-American War, though initiated by the US, was portrayed as a defense against Mexican aggression.
This narrative aligns with American exceptionalism, where the US is seen as a white knight defending the underdog.

The lecture aims to connect the Spanish-American War (acquiring colonies), the annexation of Hawaii, and the Wounded Knee Massacre.
These events occurred within a single decade (1890s) and shared similar patterns.

The lecture will examine how the concept of expansion, central to American society, gained traction in the late 19th century.
Leaders used history to justify actions, rather than learn from the past.
Expansion was seen as a positive development by many Americans, including war hawks.
The idea of