The Spanish-American War and Imperialism

Q5-How did the Spanish-American struggle swordplay into a war of royal expansion? Shawn Lannin 2/26/2013 The Spanish-American War originally started off as The United States protecting Cuba from its Spanish rulers essentially, plainly quickly evolved into colonial expansion. The war became a war of imperial expansion in the late 1800s due to Americas new outward focuses on global markets and growing concerns of economic contender/expansion from other world powers. America, once a colony itself was at once looking to expand its influence into other parts of the globe as its European cousins had been doing for quite some time.Before, during, and after the war Americans had growing concerns somewhat the Pacific and East Asia. These foreign markets possessed vast amounts of natural resources and fat lands for the taking many expansionists had differing reasons for imperialistic expansion. Some argued religious purposes, some the allot of the White-Anglo-Saxon race, (White Mans Burden) while others stressed economic and war machine reasons to expand abroad. Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, a naval strategist, believed in a strong navy and that America should turn its focus outward and expand its influences into the world.Mahan also urged the acquisition of Pacific islands for military and naval superiority. Islands such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, The Philippines, and Guam soon became targets of Americas imperialistic aim. These islands could be used strategically to protect merchant fleets in thoroughfare from Asia and also for military and economic purposes, for example the natural harbor put in in Hawaiis Pearl Harbor served as a great naval base and served as a stepping-stone to Asia, while the fertile volcanic soils were perfect for sugar plantations. magnificationists also sought to protect their employment rights and foreign policies such as The Open Door Policy, which gave free dispense rights in East Asian markets. China was in turmoil at the time an d other world powers were exhibiting land grabs while trying to forge out spheres of influence to control trade in Chinese markets. Expansion in the Pacific would not only secure our rights to trade but would protect our interests over seas as well.Nations across the world were colonizing weaker countries through the supposition of Social Darwinism and America didnt want to fall by the course side so to speak. We had to keep up with the world powers and protect our topper interest. It was a time of empires and after decades of isolationism, America decided it was time to line of battle the world our power. By 1898 America had defeated Spain and with its defeat came the annexation of some(prenominal) island nations that we used to our benefit for years to come.