In American history, post Gilded Age was a time of significant shifts and turmoil. The Spanish American War to World War I saw the United States involved in domestic and international challenges that impacted the country politically, socially, and economically. The increasing development and industrialization that took place was the cause of many social and political issues that the progressive era sought to confront. Through the various obstacles and possibilities, such series of events influenced this crucial time.
After coming from an era focused on economic expansion, America remained isolated for the most part. An overwhelming demand for the United States to interfere was then sparked by the explosion of the USS Maine in Cuba and the Spanish
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Particularly problematic was the US control over the Philippines, which gave rise to bloody clashes with Filipinos that opposed American control. The torturous practices and other cruel measures in the U.S. reaction to the uprising raised concerns over American imperialism, regarding the ethics. Mark Twain is one of the many that expressed disapproval, stating, “It should, it seems to me, be our pleasure and duty to make these people free, and let them deal with their own domestic questions in their own way. And so I am an anti-imperialist; I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land” (Mark Twain “Mark Twain Tells Why He Opposes Imperialism”). He furthers the argument that American officials are more concerned with expanding their control over new territories than they are with serving and aiding the local populations. Therefore, the Spanish American War was a major turning point in America's embrace of imperialism and move toward the empire paradigm as well as a significant military conflict, thirty years after the Civil War, as America fought united toward a common goal. The Philippine-American War then took place from 1899 to 1902 in which the deployment of cruel tactics used by the American soldiers as well as the persecution of …show more content…
Despite being complex, World War I's source may be linked to a number of social, economic, and political issues which include nationalism, imperialism, militarism, alliances, and the assassination of Archduke-Franz Ferdinand (which served as a catalyst). Tensions began to grow with Central and Allied powers which caused conflicts to quickly escalate leading war to ensue and it “was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused” (Wallenfedlt 42). Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey), and Bulgaria comprised the Central Powers while Great Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States made up the Allied Powers (Triple Entente). The United States claimed its neutrality and made efforts to remain out of World War I when it started in 1914. President Wilson backed this by saying “impartial in thought as well as in action,” while avoiding picking a side in the conflict (Wallenfeldt 44). Nevertheless as the conflict went on and conditions in Europe got more severe, America became increasingly involved, through sympathy, German atrocities and submarine warfare, and the role of media, ascending into war in
1. The Spanish American War which took place in 1898 - The Spanish American War portrayed America's rise and decline of the European powers. The war also led to America gaining territories and colonies in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean (the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Marianas and a host of other territories). The possession of the Philippines in particular led to permanent American involvement in Asian affairs.
The Spanish American War was a major turning point in the foreign policy since modern warfare changed things drastically. The wa also gave the United States the Phillippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam, which therefore expanded the United States in the world. Also, with William McKinley as president he pushed for expansion, involving American in the territoral quest for more land. This brought the United States farther into world issues, expanding foreign policy.
They had high criticism for President McKinley's decision to not liberate the Philippines immediately. Americans felt it was hypocritical to reprimand European empires while expanding one of its own. However, as time went on the outlooks of Americans changed. Then, most Americans supported the ideology of Senator Beveridge, seeing expansionism as a good thing that would greatly benefit America.
Prior to the Spanish-American War of 1898, the majority of Latin America already won their independence from Spain, however, Cuba was an exception due to its surplus of sugar, coffee and tobacco plantations. This control imposed by Spain on Cuba left Cuban citizens resenting their rule due to a multitude of issues, particularly their high taxation and Spain’s rule on Cuba repelling Cubans any political representation in their own country. This distaste for the repressive rules that Spain inflicted on Cuba caused many failed attempts for independence, including the Ten Years’ War and the Little War. The United States sympathized with the Cubans and set out to help. The aid of the United States contributed to the Spanish-American War in 1898, which ended the colonial rule of Spain is
Grover Cleveland stated, "...it has been the settled policy of the United States to concede to people of foreign countries the same freedom and independence in the management of their domestic affairs that we have always claimed for ourselves." (Document D) President Grover Cleveland believed that the United States should not be expanding and acknowledged that America did not have the right to control how other nations were governed. Independence was once given to the United States, therefore, other annexed nations should receive that same independence. A reason for the American-Philippine war occurring is the absence of independence for Filipinos which does not reflect the United States principle of independence.
Americans did not want to be dragged into WW2 as they had WW1. However, the growing totalitarianism in Europe threatened American
US military intervention in the war played an important role in tipping the balance of power in Europe, providing a great support to Allied powers to win the war. US involvement demonstrated the country's ability to act as a global power and the essential role of political power The impact of the war was also felt at the domestic level, leading to a rapid change in American ideology. The country's isolationist stance was called into question, giving rise to a new spirit of nationalism and expansionism. The country's citizens became more interested in international affairs, leading to more open leadership and the country's involvement in international affairs.
As the Civil War came to an end, the U.S. entered into the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was characterized by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, but it also consisted of poverty, labor unions, and political and business corruption due to the significant change of industrialization in U.S. society. In order to change and fix the troubles of the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era began in 1897, where progressives believed that it was the responsibility of the government to bring positive change for the working class. As businesses were becoming wealthy and powerful, they were also corrupt due to monopolies and trusts, while also influencing the government, factories also had no cleanliness or safety, and only white men held the majority
A Turning Point in American Foreign Policy: The Spanish- American War The Spanish-American War, which took place in 1898, represented a significant moment in American history that reshaped the course of the nation's foreign policy. This essay aims to analyze the extent to which the Spanish-American War served as a turning point in shaping American foreign policy. By examining its impact on territorial expansion, interventionist tendencies, emergence as a global power, and the Roosevelt Corollary, we can ascertain the transformative nature of this conflict. :
2. The War of 1898 also known as the Spanish American War of 1898 was very important to the United States expansion as a world power. The United States broke precedent by acquiring overseas colonies, victory in war forced the Spanish to renounce claims on Cuba, and sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. Also, because of victory they proclaimed the independent state of Hawaii. Tariff policies implemented in those colonies sparked an economic boom.
For three years, the United States decided to stay neutral; however, it was very clear that the country sided with their allies. President Wilson successfully used propaganda to create a huge sense of nationalism within Americans. Anti-German propaganda showed Germans as deadly monsters whose weakness were American soldiers. In one propaganda poster, it depicted Germans as a huge, fury-filled gorilla dragging a girl by the hair. Posters like this made Americans--men especially--angry and motivated enough to want to be apart of the war effort.
Many liberals noted that imperialism directly contradicted the Farewell Address of George Washington and Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence especially. They saw imperialism as a torture method used by America to hold true American values as prisoner. Louis Freeland Post demonstrates this concept in a political cartoon drawn to support the Anti-Imperialists. The cartoon, much like the Anti-Imperialist ideology proves yet again, however, that these people never attempted to accept the prosperity that imperialism has brought our nation as a result of this glorious
The tension between Spain and America was on the
The world war one was a global war that began in the center of Europe in 1914. It was between Austria- Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, and Germany in one hand against the Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan, and Romania in the other hand. The allies were the Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan, and Romania while the central powers were Germany, Austria- Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ottoman Empire. The United States tried to be neutral, but it joined to the allies in 1917. There was a main reason why it was difficult to remain neutral.
This unknown fact of American being neutral or not, ultimately lead to the United States needing to enter World War I. Although the United States President at the time, Woodrow Wilson, explained the reasoning for the U.S. entering WWI was because of Germany’s submarine warfare, the violence toll that Germany took on America relates back to the concealed matter of the nation of the United States actually being neutral throughout the time before war