The United States Involvement Of The Spanish American War

In the book, America’s Great War: World War I and the American Experience, Robert H. Zieger discusses the events between 1914 through 1920 forever defined the United States in the Twentieth Century. When conflict broke out in Europe in 1914, the President, Woodrow Wilson, along with the American people wished to remain neutral. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century United States politics was still based on the “isolationism” ideals of the previous century. The United States did not wish to be involved in European politics or world matters. The U.S. goal was to expand trade and commerce throughout the world and protect the borders of North America.

Immediately prior to the turn of the twentieth century the United States began to engage in a more assertive foreign policy. There have been numerous speculations of why that the United States decided to engage in a more aggressive foreign policy, but the main factors are clear. The United States required a stronger foreign policy because of the economic, strategic, and political interests that the United States held in foreign markets. Theses interests were necessary in order to continue the strong economic growth the United States had been experiencing immediately prior to the turn of the century.

Until the end of the nineteenth century, American foreign policy essentially followed the guidelines laid down by George Washington, in his Farewell Address to the American people: “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is—in extending our commercial relations—to have with them as little political connection as possible.” By avoiding

It was an age of empire, and by the 1900s Europe’s powers had taken control of more than 10 million square miles and 150 million people. In the closing years of the nineteenth century, foreign policy assumed a new importance for Americans. Political and business leaders have been preoccupied by internal matters and began to look outward in order to advocate a more activist approach to world affairs. Not wanting to be left behind, the United States emerged as a great power exercising imperialism; two of the countries which experienced this exercise was, Hawaii and Cuba.

By the year 1901, the United States possessed one of the largest navy’s in the world, a growing empire, and the respect of the world as a growing power. It gained these achievements by being involved in the growing imperialism of this era along with Britain, France, Germany, and Japan. However America did not gain its power spontaneously. During the Gilded Age and prior America established policies and precedents that would lead America into the discussion as a world power. Although the United States expansionism in the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries was a continuation of the social and cultural continuation of the past, it was also resulting from the departure from the methods of the past in the government’s pursuit of new economic and political endeavors.

I would like to congratulate and acknowledge you for you becoming President of the United States of America. You proved your worthiness and dedication when you made life-risking decisions on the battlefield for the Spanish American War. You volunteered as part of the cavalry and brought upon leadership and encouragement. In the handout, Teddy Roosevelt in His Own Words, you even recite, “...in the great battle of life, no brilliancy of intellect, no perfection of bodily development, will count when weighted in the balance against that assemblage of virtues, active and passive, of moral qualities, which we group together under the name of character;...” I am confident you will lead our country with that same leadership, enthusiasm and encouragement we need after such a cruel war. The Spanish American War as I remember began after we were having some conflict with Spain. The horrific part that made the chain reaction explode was on February 15, 1998. The USS Maine was no more. Yellow Journalism then took place, spreading rumors the Spanish had put a mine on the ship to blow it apart and saying “Remember the Maine!!” That night mixed with all the conflicts of the Spanish began the Spanish American War. I remember being on the field with you and your men, working

The 20th century brought with it a plethora of technological advancements that acted as a catalyst for an important and lasting shift in the United State’s perception of its role in the world. Technological advancement in travel and communication changed the American people’s views of the world, therefore changing the direction of American foreign policy. This shift in foreign policy would eventually lead the United States into the grips of two horrific wars on the European continent. However, these wars would provide the necessary environment for the country to establish itself as the leader of the international system – a title it would desperately need tin order to attempt to create a new, less conflict-ridden global order. Though World War I set the stage for the United States to assume a global leadership role, which then set the stage for a second world war, it is not to say that the United States ever wanted anything to do with a European war in the first place. I argue that the U. S. failures to prevent World War I and World War II was due to a series of actions and events beginning at the turn of the century (a domino effect) that made it impossible to avoid joining either war once they began.

On April 19th, 1898, The United States impulsively waged a war with imperialist Spain that would forever change our country for better and for worse. There are many different factors that led to the war, but in my opinion, one key cause is of much greater importance than the others. As a result of the war, American became known as an imperialistic nation and a world power. How could such a “little” war have such a large impact on American society at the turn of the 20th century?

The United States began getting more deeply involved in world affairs in the second half of the 20th century moving forward. The United States is called by some the "World Police."

The start of the Spanish-American war also marked something bigger- American entry into world affairs. Since then, the U.S. has continued to have a significant hand in various conflicts around the world, and has entered many other treaties and agreements. In 1914, at the start of World War I (WWI), President Woodrow Wilson, in a declaration of neutrality, vowed to keep America out of the war. Inspite of this, Americans were spurred on by German aggression, violation of international law, and protecting economic interests. The U.S. had entered the war, creating a major turning point. The war ended with Germany's defeat. As a determining force in the victory of the war, America became almost soley in charge of creating a post-war agenda. But,

“Until early in [the twentieth] century, the isolationist tendency prevailed in American foreign policy. Then, two factors projected America into world affairs: its rapidly expanding power, and the gradual collapse of the international system centered on Europe” . President Woodrow Wilson was the leader who would initiate the ideologies of American diplomacy in the twentieth century. Up until his Presidency, American foreign policy was simply to fulfill the course of manifest destiny, and to remain free of entanglements overseas. Although he could not convince his fellow politicians on Capitol Hill of the probable success of his ideas, he did persuade the fellow writers of the Treaty of

"American imperialism in 1898 was not a sudden abandonment of anti-colonial tradition but was a logical extension of commercial expansion, something the US had been doing throughout its history" (SparkNotes: The Spanish American War, 1898-1901,: Effects of the Treaty). President McKinley was not interested in wars of conquest or of territorial aggression. His interest in expansion was "to make the United States first in international commerce and as a means to implement its humanitarian and democratic goals" (Faragher, J., Buhle, M. J., & Armitage, S. H. ,2008, Out of Many, A History of the American People, 6th ed., Vol. 2, p. 561). McKinley would eventually be forced to act in a humanitarian effort for the people of Cuba and to protect

The ended of the 19th century showed the quick industrialization of the United States both economically and militarily. With revolution stirring up in Cuba Theodore Roosevelt built up our navy and was key in the Victory over Spain. With a booming economy and a strong army and navy the U.S. was beginning to make its mark as a world power. However even after the Spanish American War 1898 the United States still remained isolationist but did trade with European nations as well as Latin America.

During phase 1, from 1918 to 1939, the US was marked by isolationism in military and diplomatic domains, yet still exercised economic power in order to defend its economic interests; though integrated in international affairs, they chose not be at directly involved in international organizations/conflicts as we will see through their economic power, diplomatic power and military power

The demand for raw materials was greater after the Second Industrial Revolution. People through out the states had wanted to expand to Caribbean and Pacific lands. After the Spanish-American War the U.S. was seen, their military had grown in strength and foreign countries witnessed this. According to dictionary.com, internationalism is the principle of cooperation among nations, for the promotion of their common good, sometimes as contrasted with nationalism, or devotion to the interests of a particular nation. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt had just begun his presidency. Unlike George Washington and Thomas Jefferson's belief of not getting entangled in alliances. Theodore said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." He had gained the respect of foreign countries toward the United States. The U.S. proved its military was strong, it took care of it's oversea business, built the Panama Canal and was seen as a leading power. I prefer the foreign policy of internationalism because of how much our economy can benefit from