How did the Spanish-American War contribute to the United States becoming an imperialist nation?

Battle of San Juan Hill, Cuba July 1, 1898 Take the hills surrounding the Port of Santiago

Battle of Santiago, Cuba July 3, 1898 Spanish fleet leaves Santiago Harbor and is destroyed.

Consequences of the Spanish-American War 1 - U.S. takes possession of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines Guam Puerto Rico The Phillipines

Consequences of the Spanish-American War 2 - Cuba has “pseudo” self-rule until 1934 with the change of the “Good Neighbor” Policy. Platt Amendment (1901) … 3 - U.S. adopts role of the “defender of democracy.” 4 - Theodore Roosevelt becomes a national hero.

Annexing the Philippines – President William McKinley telling of how he came to the decision What are the reasons President William McKinley decides annex the Philippines, (based upon his prayer of Nov., 1899)? “I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight, and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed to God Almighty for light and guidance more than one night. And one night late it came to me this way – I don’t know how it was, but it came. One, that we could not give the Philippines back to Spain – that would be cowardly and dishonorable. Two, that we could not turn them over to France or Germany – our commercial rivals in the Orient – that would be bad business and discreditable. Three, that we could not leave them to themselves – they were unfit for self-government – and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain’s was. And, four, that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift them and civilize and Christianize them …”

Handout: What are three major arguments for both Pro-Imperialists and Anti-Imperialists? Select one statement from the “Imperialists” and the “Antiimperialists” that seem particularly provocative (strong response) to you?

Philippine-American War, 1899 - 1902 * U.S. sent 126,000 American soldiers sent to the Philippines. * 4,300 American deaths * 50,000 to 200,000 Filipino deaths

Assassination of President William McKinley, Sept. 6, 1901

“That Damned Cowboy” - Sept. 13, 1901 – While on a camping trip, Theodore Roosevelt has been told he’s now president.

Read pages 436 - 443 [1] Spheres of influence? [2] China: Boxer Rebellion & “Open Door Policy?” [3] President Theodore Roosevelt & the Great White Fleet? [4] U.S. foreign policy in Latin America: Puerto Rico, Cuba, “Panama Canal,” and Mexico?

“Thinking like a Social Scientist” What does it mean to be an American? In what areas has our country made progress? In which areas have we not? More informed voter? More democratic country? Better understand my country?

Jim Crow and Segregation Supreme Court Decision - Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Supreme Court decides the Louisiana law is constitutional. “Equal but separate accommodations” are Constitutionally valid.

Read pages 436 - 443 [1] Spheres of influence? [2] China: Boxer Rebellion & “Open Door Policy?” [3] President Theodore Roosevelt & the Great White Fleet? [4] U.S. foreign policy in Latin America: Puerto Rico, Cuba, “Panama Canal,” and Mexico?