Frederick Funston and Empire Essay

“The Spanish-American War was the defining moment in modern U.S. history. It began the process by which the U.S. would establish itself as a world super power”.

April 24, 1898, marked the start of the Spanish-American War. War is never an easy task to handle. Somebody always wins or loses, unless both parties can agree upon a peace treaty. There is always blood shed, lives lost, or foul play. If you are lucky enough to make it out alive, then you probably have PTSD or some sort of mental health issue.

The rise of the United States as a world power, put the country against other colonial powers such as Britain and Germany.

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” Abraham Lincoln. (Document A). The United States did just this in 1898, when they annexed the Philippines. The Filipino people had been fighting for their independence against Spain for many years before the US intervened. The rebels, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, were grateful for the assistance. The Filipino people thought that the US had come to help free them from Spain. Unfortunately for the Filipino people, they were incorrect. On February 6, 1899, the United States of America annexed the Philippines, much to the disgust of the rebels in the Philippines and many people in America (including Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, and former President Grover Cleveland.) The reasoning behind this was partially for economic prosperity, thinking that the Philippines held the “secret route” to riches by being a trading partner and a jumping

1899 marked the year when America set its sites from the Spanish to the First Philippine Republic plunging American into yet another war ending with the temporary annexation of the Philippine Islands spreading American imperialism to the Far East. Within one year of winning their independence from

     The Spanish-American war not only ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas, but it also “resulted in the U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin

Through the last quarter of the nineteenth century the United States foreign policy set out to gain overseas power in an attempt to obtain the status of a global superpower capable of controlling international trade. The United States attempted to reach that status through military force, international trade and the obtainment of land. An example of this attempt to gain the global superpower status was the Spanish-American War, which was fought from April 1898 to August 1898. The United States achieved victory in this war and gained the ability to control the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico. After this victory the United States was able to set its sights on gaining control in the Asian region of the world, which would have been a huge success and a game changer for the American region.

1898: US defeats Spain, which gives up all claims to Cuba and cedes it to the US.

1902-Phillepene government Act giving the U.S. the rights to run the islands of the Philippines. 1903-Hay Buna Treaty

Accordingly, William McKinley was a great leader. He helped America win the Spanish-American War, which gave America: Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. According to,The Assassination of William McKinley”Spain proved little challenge though, as American forces easily defeated the outnumbered and outgunned army and navy of the old world power.”(Kingseed 1)The statement from Kingseed’s article described how McKinley’s leadership, let American Forces to be able to outgun Spain. Furthermore, William McKinley sent forces to Spain in the first place because the USS Maine suddenly

Instead, the new territories were used as economic gain. The Open Door Policy allowed for the United States to economically benefit from countries in the Pacific and have the key to foreign trade. The US could take financial advantage in China which shows their transition from a country that expressed interest in their citizens and internal trade into a more foreign economy. The Insular Cases support this idea by not granting citizenship to the Filipinos and suggesting that the Constitution does not follow the flag proves that the American government had no intention of adding new equal states, but using the Philippines as an economic interest (Doc 7). This is like when the British in 1600 took over India for financial gain.

The mid-1800s through the early 1900s was known as the Age of Imperialism; dominant nations were all contesting to expand their power throughout much of the world. America was looking to expand out to the Pacific a, “New Manifest Destiny”. America was expanding its trade rapidly obtaining new grounds. In order to gain America as an ally, in 1898 The Cubans tried to inflame the relation between the Americans and Spain and succeeded by fueling American jingoism. America expanded in the late 19th century because of Social Darwinism, Economic Gain, Militarism, and the 1890’s Depression.

The Battle of Manila Bay was a singular demonstration of the daring and decisive application of sea power. In a few hours, Dewey had eliminated any threat that the Spanish Navy might pose to U.S. Far Eastern commerce and placed Spain's centuries-long rule of the Philippines in great jeopardy. A few days later, with the capture of Cavite arsenal, he also gained a repair and refueling base, essential for maintaining his squadron under wartime conditions thousands of miles from home.

In 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the Treaty ended the Spanish-American War. The Treaty involved Spain giving up most of the Spanish empire, especially Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. The Treaty decided to be the end of the Spanish empire and decided to be the beginning of the age of the United States as a world

The 1890s was a decade that brought a new chapter for America. Interests in exploring territories outside of the North American continent, hopes to strengthen the American economy through foreign trade, and pressure for America to prove itself as a nation during an age of European imperialism were all factors that lay the groundwork for American expansionism. Tempted by the prospect of empire, the United States declared war with Spain on the pretense that the purpose was to spread liberty and freedom when it’s true motives and subsequent actions proved the complete opposite. America’s expansionist policies and actions during this decade were driven by aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy through foreign markets and trade and a strong