1. Effects of the Spanish-American War
American Imperialism

2. Quick Cost-Benefit Analysis
Global power
Asian trade
U.S. gained Cuba, Philippines, Puerto
Rico, and Guam
Eased divisions,
which existed in
1890’s America
Nearly 6,000 dead
-over 5,000 from
disease
Cuban and Filipino
rebels resist U.S.
conquest
-Filipino Guerilla
War lasted until 1902
(4,300 U.S. dead)

3. The U.S. won the “Splendid Little War” easily
Results of The
Spanish-American War
The U.S. won the “Splendid Little War” easily
and swiftly, yet the outcomes were significant,
both for domestic and foreign policy:
-U.S. became more like European nations
-No longer a republic equal in all its parts
-Created a psychological effect on many people

4. Anti-imperialist leader
U.S. Became More Like
European Nations
The U.S. acquired Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island, and Puerto Rico
The additions drew angry protest from anti-imperialists
McKinley needed to justify the new acquisitions
Edward Atkinson,
Anti-imperialist leader

5. McKinley’s Options Return the island to Spain
Sell the islands to a European power
Leave them to govern themselves
Keep them for ourselves
McKinley rejected #1-3 on moral grounds; he reasoned these options would lead to more upheaval and devastation

6. McKinley’s Moral Justification
“There is nothing left for us to do but take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and to uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace to do the very best we could by them as our fellow men for whom Christ also died.”
-There were economic and strategic benefits involved, but McKinley down-played these justifications in favor of moral justification.

7. No Longer a Republic Of Equal Part
The acquisition of “uncivilized” and “inferior” peoples brought change to the concept of equality for people living under the U.S. flag.

8. Anti-Imperialist League -William Jennings Bryan
Although a popular war, many found the use of economic and military forces to conquer and control foreign nations morally reprehensible.
Famous Members:
-Edward Atkinson
-Carl Shurtz
-Benjamin Harrison
-Grover Cleveland
-William Jennings Bryan
-Andrew Carnegie
-Mark Twain

9. -Senator hoar, debate on Treaty of Paris (1898)
“This Treaty will make us a vulgar, commonplace empire, controlling subject races and vassal states, in which one class must forever rule and other classes must forever obey.”
-Senator hoar, debate on Treaty of Paris (1898)

11. The Insular Cases (1901-1904) The Supreme Court decided fourteen
cases regarding the Constitutionality
of imperial conquest
-Is acquisition of territories by treaty legal?
-Is a conquered land “foreign territory”?
-Does the Bill of Rights apply to conquer
peoples?
The court, reflecting popular opinion,
expanded the imperial powers of
Congress

12. Created a Psychological
Effect on Many People
Two modes of thought dominated
America
-Fatalism: giving oneself over to fat
-Optimism: hoping that things will change for
the better
It’s possible to possess both beliefs. Many Americans did.

13. Fatalism Many Americans believed it was not
only our destiny, but duty, to expand
its power
This movement is best seen in the definition of manifest destiny
-1840’s-50’s: No outside influence or foreign
power could resist U.S. expansion
-Post-1898: Not even Americans could stand
in the way of America’s growing power and
influence

14. Fatalism in Literature
Fatalism was a dominant theme in the era’s
literature, as well as political rhetoric
-Jack London and Frank Norris (Octopus 1901)
In such works, individuals are at the mercy of larger of forces
“Men were mere nothings. Force only existed. Force that brought men into the world, force that crowded them out of it to make way for future generations.”
-F. Norris, Octopus

15. Optimism
Journalists and religious leaders stated progress was possible
America’s easy victory in the Spanish-American War was further proof that God favored us

16. The Fusion of Fatalism and Optimism
William Stead, a British journalist, best captured the American spirit in The Americanization of the World (1901)
-Stead predicted the gradual Americanization of the world,
especially the spread of American culture and thought
-Stead stated the advance was inevitable, and European
resistance was futile

17. William T. Stead on Americanization:
“The advent of the United States of America as the greatest of the world’s powers is the greatest political, social, and commercial phenomenon of our times.”
The actions and policies of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson would go a long way to advance Stead’s theory.