American Pageant Ch 27: Significant Questions

Front 1

explain why the US suddenly abandoned its isolationism and turned outward at the end of the nineteenth century

Back 1

The US was feeling more belligerent, there was a lot of patriotism and public emotions aroused over yellow journalism. There were also economic opportunities to be reaped.

Front 2

indicate how the Venezuelan and Hawaiian affairs expressed the new American assertiveness as well as American ambivalence about foreign involvements.

Back 2

America was ambivalent in many cases. Part of the reason was the president (McKinley and Hawaii). However regarding the Venezuelan issue, Cleveland was all for defending the Venezuelan territory under the Monroe Doctrine.

Front 3

describe how America became involved with Cuba and explain why a reluctant President McKinley was forced to go to war with Spain

Back 3

America became involved with Cuba partly because of the yellow journalism of Hearst and Pulitzer who told of countless atrocities of the Spanish on part of the Cubans. Also, there was the fact that Cuba's clamoring for independence was one of the causes that the American public sympathized with. President McKinley was reluctant to go to war with Spain, because he had already seen enough bloodshed as Civil War general. He also had Wall Street and Hanna on his side, demanding that the US abstain from declaring war in order to avoid any destabilizing effect on the economy. However, he was forced to go to war because the people wanted it, and therefore it was "inevitable" and also for the good of his party.

Front 4

state the unintended consequences of Dewey's victory at Manila Bay

Back 4

The unintended consequences of Dewey's victory at Manila Bay was the beginning of America's imperialistic policies. After the treaty with Spain was signed, America obtained possession of Guam and Puerto Rico and maintained control over Cuba and the Philippines. It also gave America more respect from the European nations

Front 5

describe the easy American military conquest of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Back 5

America was able to easily conquer both Cuba and Puerto Rico, because the Spanish navy was disorganized, obsolete, and outnumbered. Cervera was blockaded and Shafter and the Rough Riders were able to win the battle. The Spanish warships were obliterated. After the conquest of Cuba, Puerto Rico fell easily into the hands of the Americans, because they were seen as liberators.

Front 6

explain McKinley's decision to keep the Philippines and list the opposing arguments in the debate about imperialism

Back 6

McKinley said that after prayer, he decided to keep the Philippines in order to Christianize and civilize the people. The opposing people said that America was being contrary in pursuing imperialistic policies. Also, the Filipinos were being acquired without their majority consent. Some referred to this as despotism, and said that if America was a despot abroad, it could easily become a despot at home.

Front 7

analyze the long-term consequences and significance of the Spanish-American War

Back 7

In the long term, the Spanish-American War increased America's prestige abroad in the Far East and among the European countries. The Spanish-American War also gave America a taste of what being imperialistic was like. The War also bridged the chasm between the North and the South.

Front 8

What were the causes and signs of America's sudden turn toward international involvement at the end of the nineteenth century?

Back 8

One of the causes was patriotism and the pure desire for annexation of other countries. Besides that, there were always economic reasons such as coaling. Signs of America's suddent turn toward international involvement was its assertion of the Monroe Doctrine in the boundary dispute between Britain and Venezuela.

Front 9

How did the United States get into the Spanish-American War over the initial objections of President McKinley?

Back 9

The United States got into the Spanish-American War mostly because the public wanted it.

Front 10

What role did the press and public opinion play in the origin, conduct, and results of the Spanish-American War?

Back 10

The press stimulated people's emotions and sympathies for the Cubans' fight for independence. Public opinion caused McKinley, the "ear to the ground politician" to acquiesce to their demands.

Front 11

What were the key arguments for and against US imperialism?

Back 11

For: US imperialism would expand the US' markets, it would offer us more natural resources.
Against: the US would become entangled in the political and military conflicts that were not its own (as in the Far East). Also, wouldn't despotism abroad fuel despotism at home?

Front 12

What were some of the short-term and long-term results of American acquisition of the Philippines and Puerto Rico?

Back 12

Short-term: people were happy, Congress gives Puerto Ricans a limited amount of popular government; through the Foraker amendment, the citizens of Puerto Rico gained citizenship; health and control
Long-term: investment and immigration to the United States causes problems

Front 13

How was US overseas imperialism in 1898 similar to and different from earlier American expansion across North America, or "Manifest Destiny?" Was this "new imperialism" a fundamental departure from America's traditions, or simply a further extension of "westward migration"?

Back 13

It was a fundamental departure from mainland migration and the imperialism of Alaska and Hawaii, because by acquiring the Philippines, America was acquiring a population of around 7 million with a distinct cultural identity. Also, the motives for acquiring the Philippines were different. They were different, because the professed motive for acquiring the Philippines was in order to Christianize and civilize those there. Natural resources also played a part in the quarrel. Also, the Anti-Imperialist movement sprang from McKinley's expansionist moves. and btw, the Philippines were not close in proximity either to the United States. It says in the book, "All previous acquisitions had been thinly peopled and capable of ultimate statehood. But in the Philippines, the nation had on its hand a distant tropical area, thickly populated by Asians of alien race, cluture, tongue, religion, and government institutions." The fact that the Filipinos wanted freedom, but the Americans were annexing the Philippines was seen as an act of despotism and a violation of the Declaration of Independence philosophy of consent of the governed.

Front 14

As America continues its economic development and becomes an increasingly powerful nation on the international stage, how do we apply that power in the pursuit of national objectives?

Back 14

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