Camille Georges Essays - , Term Papers, Research Papers

Camille Georges 8-402 SS8 Unit 4 Terms: Imperialism Imperialism occurs when a strong nation takes over a weaker nation or region and dominates its economic, political, and cultural life. After the Industrial Revolution , this became a common practice of European nations seeking new sources of raw materials and markets to sell manufactured products. Imperialism affected many countries. For example, China, India, Africa, and South America were all affected by imperialism. Causes of imperialism are nationalistic motives, military motives, economic motives, and missionary motives. Many nations wanted to expand their territory, their army, and develop a more successful trade with no limitation. Imperialism began in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Due to economic, political, and social forces including the Industrial Revolution, trade, and military conditions. The U.S. was the little brother but played the biggest role in imperialism. They concurred many countries and territories and also brought down t he spanish empire which concord the world for over 500 years. The Industrial revolution developed new ways of communication like the telegraph and the telephone. It also helped means of transportation with providing planes, cars, and trains. "Imperialism in ancient times is clear in the history of China and in the history of western Asia and the Mediterraneanan unending succession of empires", ("Imperialism", britannica.com ) The Spanish-American War was a relatively short war, it lasted less than four months. The United States fought Spain in and around the Spanish colonial possessions of Cuba and the Philippines. The United States had deep historical and emotional reasons to support the cause of Cuban Independence. The Spanish-American War marked the beginning of the United States' rise as a leading military power. The United States Navy defeated the Spanish in both the Cuban and in the Philippines. General Weyler was responsible for the death of thousands of Cuban peasants. The peasants died of starvation and disease in concentration camps after being placed there by General Weyler and his troops. The Cubans fought to gain independence from Spain after suffering under oppressive Spanish rule. The Spanish government sent over 100 thousand troops to Cuba in an attempt to put an end to the rebellion. The Cubans continued to fight for independence. The United States sent a battleship, the USS Maine, to Cuba to protect U.S. citizens and property on the island. The Maine was destroyed in the Havana Harbor by an underwater explosion some believed to be a Spanish torpedo. Two hundred and sixty-six American soldiers were killed in the explosion. The loss of the Maine provoked many Americans to support war against Spain. They considered this short little war to be "splendid". There are many theories about what happened to the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba in 1898. A very popular theory was that somehow the Spanish snuck into the harbor, and exploded the huge boat and sending its soldiers into the deep waters. The Americans were helping the rebels in Cuba, and technically, at that point, enemies of the Spanish. Knowing that the USS Maine was an American ship, everything could have gone just right for the Spanish, and the opportunity could have happened by itself. Either way, someone was responsible for the Blow up of this ship and as of today we don't know who was behind it. When William McKinley became president in 1897 he faced a growing crisis in Cuba. Questions of war and empire were a main topic in McKinley's term in office. In Cuba a rebellion against Spain, which began in 1895, outraged many Americans who demanded for war with Spain. Using diplomacy and the threat of military intervention, McKinley secured some compromises from Spain, but when it would not give up Cuba, he led the nation into war in 1898. He personally directed the war effort and made the decisions that brought the United States an empire in the Caribbean and the Pacific. His administration suppressed armed Philippine resistance with tactics similar to those Spain had employed in Cuba. " It was foreign affairs that would determine McKinley's presidential legacy, beginning with an ongoing conflict in Cuba, where Spanish forces were attempting to repress a revolutionary movement. Though the American press and public were outraged by the bloodshed, McKinley hoped