Should The United States Imperialize Cuba In The Late 1800's?

Late 19th century America, about 100 years since claiming independence from Britain the new idea of imperialism has enthralled the nation. Imperialism, the concept in which a stronger nation spreads their military, economic, and political influence to a weaker nation has become a new world wide sensation. After the annexation of Alaska and Hawaii their interests diverted back to nation of Cuba. Cuba, located 90 miles south of Florida has been in the minds of many Americans for years. In 1854 America attempted to buy Cuba from Spain and failed. Later Cuba tried to pursue independence from Spain and failed, but forced Spain to abolish slavery letting Americans to invest in sugar companies in Cuba. Cuba trying to fight for independence once more got the support of many Americans wanted to join in the fight for the Cuba’s independence. This caused the infamous Spanish American War.

One of the United States most important foreign trading partners was Cuba. The Cuban and the US economy had been intertwined for nearly a decade before the turn of the 20th century with American invests of $50 million in the Cuban economy. Americans owned the most valuable land in Cuba, which were the sugar plantations. More than 90% of Cuba’s sugar was exported to the United States7. Most of the imports to Cuba and the surrounding islands came from the US. If the Cuban market closed the US would lose not only its $50 million in investments, but also millions in lost revenue from not being able to trade with Cuba.

During the Cold War, a new leader of Cuba rose to the top. Fidel Castro threw Barista out of power and began to lead the Cuban people with flying colors. Little did these citizens know, was he was leading them into bad relations with his many Soviet ties. But before Cuba was touched upon by Castro, the U.S. had gained the territory from Spain in 1898, in the end of the Spanish-American War. Gaining Cuba as a territory to the U.S., it was then in charge of the country's affairs and leased its naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Cuba was also one of the largest sugar producers in the century. The U.S. saw the sugar business was essential for trade profit. Between Cuba's agriculture, while growing tobacco Cuba could partner with southern U.S. to harvest and export many

Americans’ presences in Hawaii halved the Hawaiian population through disease and destroyed their religion and culture. In 1898, a disputed annexation of Hawaii was confirmed to restore a dwindling situate in the sugar trade. America wrested a treaty from the Samoa establishing Samoan island Pago Pago as an American naval base. Disputes arose with Great Britain and Germany who also held treaties with Samoa, but the nations agreed to allocate powers. The United States’ disposition on the islands was focused on their own benefit, never attempting to be of assistance to the islands.

Imperialism is the acquisition of new territories by a state and the incorporation of these territories into a political system through diplomacy or military force. The goals of imperialism, as seen by the Europeans and the United States, were to provide raw materials, harbors for vessels, and to purchase the surplus production of farms and factories, but the differences between them were based on motivation, acceptance, time, and ultimately size. The result of the Spanish-American War caused the U.S. to acquire Cuba, which led the U.S. feel that it had the military strength to rival any European colony. After entering into the ideals of imperialism, American imperialism was a far different method that the form of any European nations mainly

The type of imperialism that applies to Hawaii is economic; Hawaii became a protectorate of the U.S. through economic treaties. Americans owned about three-quarters of Hawaii’s

The United States embargo of Cuba has its roots planted in 1960, 53 years ago, when “the United States Congress authorized President Eisenhower to cut off the yearly quota of sugar to be imported from Cuba under the Sugar act of 1948… by 95 percent” (Hass 1998, 37). This was done in response to a growing

Imperialism, the policy of extending a country’s power and influence by taking over land and establishing colonies through military force or diplomacy was one of the many ways that Europeans displayed their wealth and power to the world. Across the Pacific, European powers were steadily extending their control over Asia and establishing their military strength. As a result, despite a previous bad experience under imperialistic policies, America opted to follow imperialism in the early 1900s. After the Spanish-American war, America had freed Cuba and was given Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands, and Guam. With these new additions to American territory, many questioned if imperialism was a proper/legal policy for the United States. On the other

The U.S used Imperialism to become a bigger empire. Hawaii is one of the countries America annexed; which means that America added it to its territory. America’s fruit company called Dole started owning most of Hawaii, and wanted to own the whole island so they could get more money. America then came into Hawaii and lock up their queen demanding that she signed over the rest of her country

The United States found an opportunity to conquer Cuba and gain all it’s resources. But Cuba wasn’t the only country that the Americans targeted.

During the Spanish-American War, more people were becoming Jingoist imperialists who wanted the US to assert its global dominance. Hoping to further US business interests and expand the Navy’s resources, American merchants, businessmen, and imperialists wanted to invest in Hawaii, Samoa, and especially Cuba. Jingoists wanted Cuba because of its

To begin, it is important to know about the history of Cuba to fully comprehend how things came to be as they are today. Since the Conquest and Colonization Era (1492-1898), many of the prominent European countries and the powerful neighbor to the north of Cuba, the United States of America, have attempted to take control of the land. It first began with the Spanish conquistadors, specifically Diego Velázquez, who was the first to explore and settle the land. Up until the end of the 19th century, the Spanish monarch was the authoritative figure overseeing the land and

America soon colonised Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam in it’s search for foreign markets, as well as purchased the Philippines from Spain. Imperialism was an active force in America that dramatically altered it’s rising economy and world status, as it went onto become one of the most notable countries of the time period.

Cuba “held an economical potential that attracted American business interests and a strategic significance for any Central American canal” (Goldfield, Abbott and Anderson, p 638). Cuban rebellion “erupted again in 1895 in a classic guerrilla war… [and] American economic interests were seriously affected” (book pg638). The Spaniards started confining the locals to concentration camps “where tens of thousands died of starvation and disease” (book pg 638). This gained a lot of publicity throughout America as journalist’s were reporting the harsh treatment, which helped persuade our nation to intervene. Furthermore, this led to growing tension between Spain and

expanding it boarders in the early and mid 1800’s. Throughout the world in the 1880’s there was a large need for countries to gain places where they could get natural resources. Almost every Western European Nation was in need to imperialize. Examples of this were the scramble for Africa, and the spheres of influence. The cartoonist Thomas Nast depicts this in his cartoon “The worlds plunder” which appeared in Harper’s weekly in 1885. America’s need to I imperialize was similar to that of Europe. The way the U.S. went about gaining markets was no different then what they had done before to gain land. The U.S. looked to fighting to gain land and when they saw the Cubans wanted independence from Spain the U.S. looked to help Cuba to get land in return. Throughout the war there was yellow journalism to gain support from the American population. Also when the USS Maine got bombed the American immediately blamed it on Spain. Years later it was found the explosion happened internally and Spain couldn’t have bombed it. The U.S. easily defeats Spain and in return for helping Cuba the U.S. gained Puerto Rico, The Philippines, and Guam. After Cuba Got there independence the U.S. wanted to keep their influence in Cuba so they passed the Platt amendment which made Cuba a protectorate and gave the U.S. a naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It also would not let Cuba Make a treaty Without The U.S. The U.S. Justifies their actions for helping Cuba and gaining