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In the two sections from Bradley's Imperial Cruise, the authors’ main point in these chapters in to showcase how Theodore Roosevelt’s naval expansion and imperialist actions led to further problems and even war, while also showing the harmfulness of imperialism in the world.
One such way Bradley highlights these points is by pointing out how normalized the act of imperialism is among predominately White-Christian countries; with Britain alone controlling fifty colonized nations. With only seven counties existing as independent, fully recognized nations, it is astonishing how much of the parts of the world, particularly in Asia, have been become victim to imperialism by predominately White-Christian nations. Bradley also points out that many nations, such as the United States, use the excuse of protecting and securing their borders to justify their imperialism, despite the fact that imperialism itself often leads to war and unrest.
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Secondly, Bradley highlights these points by bringing to light Roosevelt’s often ignored racism and hypocrisy of White Americans during the war.
Roosevelt and other American’s convinced themselves that they were saving Cuba from the control of Spanish, only to exert the same control over Cuba after the war, all while Roosevelt boasted about the superiority of American Aryans. Bradley writes that, after war, Cuban citizens, despite being ‘saved’ by America, were forced under the continued imperialist rule of white men, stripped of all independence, and forced to give up more areas of their land to them, such as Guantanamo Bay. Under these conditions, Cubans were not allowed to consult with other nations about Spain’s surrender, nor were they allowed to sign treaties. These instances show that imperialism is a harmful act that often strips a country of their independence; all under the guise of claiming to be ‘helping’ the ‘inferior’
country. Lastly, Bradley supports his further points by bringing to light American imperialism in the Philippines. Through imperialism, Americans tormented Philippine residents in various ways and treated them as an inferior race in need of saving. Bradley points out Americans dreamed of stripping the Philippines of their identity and turning the ‘inferior Pacific Negros’ into a self-governing society. Under American imperialism, Philippine citizens suffered murders, assault, and destruction by soldiers, all while America fed the general public propaganda that portrayed Filipinos as uncivilized, savage criminals. Through these supporting ideas, Bradley’s main point links back to unraveling the horrors of American imperialism, especially during times of war, and the harm Roosevelt’s naval expansion brought to areas such as Cuba.
In 1898, three big events got in the way of any peaceful resolution in Cuba. The New York Journal received a letter from the Spanish minister in Washington, Enrique Dupuy de Lo...
American taking part in imperialism gained its motion from both economic and cultural justifications that stemmed from America's history of expansion; American imperialism only varied slightly in the first few generations of presidents as we will explore sampling from Theodore Roosevelt's presidency on into Woodrow Wilson's presidency. American's previous western expansion became the breeding grounds for American imperialistic justification. Though cultural justifications were used to keep the public interest in support of imperialism economic justifications were viewed as more important throughout the history of imperialism, even in uniting the similarities of Theodore Roosevelt's and Woodrow Wilson's imperial agendas.
One of the main causes of the war was Great Britains's continued practice of impressment. The ocean was a common and affective way to transport good in order to trade with other nations. Every country has the right to use the ocean; but because Britain was causing America's rights to be restricted by capturing American ships and enslaving their seamen, it caused many problems between the two countries. Document 1 is a congressional report that describes Britain's violations of our right " to use the ocean, which is the common and scknowledged highway of nations, for the purposes of transporting, in their own vessels , the products of their own soil and the acquisitions of their own industry." The report calls Britain's impressment and seizure of ships is a
For four hundred years Spain ruled over an immense and profitable global empire that included islands in the Caribbean, Americas, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. After the Napoleonic Wars (1808-1815) many of Spain’s colonies followed the US’s lead, fighting and winning their independence. These revolts, coupled with other nations chipping away at Spain’s interests, dwindled Spain’s former Empire. By 1860, only Cuba and Puerto Rico were what remained of Spain’s former Empire. Following the lead of other former Spanish colonies, Cuban fighters started their campaign for independence, known as the Ten year war (1868-1878). This war developed into a Cuban insurgency which fought a guerilla war against the Spanish occupation.2
Long before our involvement, the Cubans had been leading revolts and revolutions against Spain. The Spanish empire considered Cuba to be its jewel, not only for its beauty but also for its economics. Cuba’s main source of income was from its expansive sugar plantations that greatly contributed to its wealth (more so to the Spanish Empires wealth). Ironically, even due to the high regard to Cuba, it was neglected and oppressed, as the Spanish Empire began its decline in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Empire was falling due to it slowly loosing its control over its territories, closer to the US then to Spain, because of a lack of industrializing. The Spanish would claim ownership, but never contribute back to their land. This opened the door for what is known as the 10-year war and the struggle for Cuban Independence. The United States never got directly involved, but it sympathized greatly with the Cuban’s cause, for ...
The U.S.’s relationship with Cuba has been arduous and stained with mutual suspicion and obstinateness, and the repeated U.S. interventions. The Platt agreement and Castro’s rise to power, served to introduce the years of difficulty to come, while, the embargo the U.S. placed on Cuba, enforced the harsh feelings. The two major events that caused the most problems were the Bays of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis.
Comment on the consequences for the United States with regard to the statement made by Eric Foner in the text, “Thus, two principles central to American freedom since the War of Independence – no taxation without representation and government based on the consent of the governed – were abandoned when it came to the nation’s new possessions. The struggle of Cuba to gain its independence from Spain, which began in 1895, has captured the attention of many Americans. Spain’s brutal repressive measures to halt the rebellion were graphically portrayed to the U.S. public by American newspaper publishers, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. This caused the national mood to shift. Hearst and Pulitzer exaggerated the actual events in Cuba and how the Spanish brutally treated their prisoners by adding sensational words to catch the emotions of readers.
The United States finished fighting for Cuba’s independence from Spain, and then turn and take control over the Philippines attempting to civilize them and force them into a more Americanized lifestyle. America’s rule was worse then Spain's in many aspects. In the short 48 years the U.S. Annex the Philippines over 1.5 million Filipinos died, far less died in the 300 year Spanish rule. Furthermore, the United States tried to justify the annexation because they helped educate them, however if they were able to read the Philippines could accuse America of hypocrisy against our own Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The Constitution stating, "all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights of which . . .
For 113 days during the summer of 1898, the United States was at war with Spain. Neither the president of the United States, nor his cabinet, nor the the queen of Spain, nor her ministers wanted the war wanted the war. It happened eventhough they made their best efforts to prevent it. It happened because of ambition, miscalculation, and stupidity; and it happened because of kindness, wit, and resourcefulness. It also happened because some were indifferent to the suffering of the world’s wretched and others were not (O’Toole 17). By winning the war the United States proved the the rest of the world and to itself that it could and would fight against foreign nations. For many years, world power had been concentrated in the countries in Europe. Nations such as Great Britain, France, Germany, and Spain had the most influence in global affairs. But a shift in power was gradually taking place as the United States matured. The young nation gained wealth and strength. Its population grew immensely, and many people believed it would become a major world power (Bachrach, 11) Spain was one of the many European countries that had territory in the United States. Spain controlled mostly some islands off the coast of Central America. The most important of these were Cuba and Puerto Rico. The United States was led to believe that the Spanish mosgoverned and abused the people of these islands. In fact, Spain did overtax and mistreat the Cubans, who rebelled in 1868 and again in 1895. Thus, the American people felt sympathetic toward the Cuban independence movement. In addition, Spain had frequently interfered with trade between its colonies and the United States. Even though the United States had been a trading partner with Cuba since the seventeenth century, Spain sometimes tried to completely stop their trade with Cuba. In Spain doing so, this sometimes caused damage to U.S. commercial interests. The United States highly disagreed with Spain’s right to interfere with this trade relationship. (Bachrach, 12) The United States was also concerned that other trading and commercial interests were threatened by the number of ships and soldiers Spain kept in the area. If the United States had to fight a war with Canada or Mexico, these Spanish forces could quickly mobilize against the United States.
From western expansion to foreign imperialism the United States has always been an expansionist country. Early America’s focus was to conquer the natives and obtain western land within North America, but in the latter of America’s history, specifically in the nineteenth and twentieth century, foreign imperialism became the new focus. America’s activity in foreign imperialism was a continuation and departure of the United States’ early expansionism. It was a continuation in terms of manifest destiny, the spread of Christianity, and by the concept of “the city on a hill” and a departure in terms of foreign involvement.
In Cuba many citizens have a strong sense of Nationalism. Jose Marti had a strong impact on Nationalism in Cuban society. He states “If the republic does not open its arms to everyone and move forward the benefit of everyone, the republic will die” (Krauze 17). This statement shows how Marti believed that every Cuban was equal and that no matter of race or ethnicity they are all together in their soon to be republic. This shows how Marti believed that all people of Cuba are together and this strengthens their Nationalism. His push for independence from Spain shows that he believed Cubans were strong enough to become a strong, connected country independent of any outside influence. Marti’s belief that all people living in Cuba are Cubans plays an important role in Cuba’s fight for independents. Weather they are black, Spanish, indigenous or white they are all Cubans and should be free from others control. This idea of Nationalism laid the foundation for what is now modern day
Immediately following the war with Spain, the United States had both the political will to pursue imperial policies and the geopolitical circumstances conducive to doing so. But the way in which these policies would manifest was an open question; was the impulse to actively remake the world in America’s Anglo-Saxon image justified? Hence, there were several models of American imperialism at the turn of the twentieth century. In the Philippines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Samoa, the United States asserted unwavering political control. In Cuba, and later throughout most of the Caribbean basin, the economic and political domination of customarily sovereign governments became the policy. Ultimately, the United States was able to expand its territory
In 1895, American citizens took notice of a Cuban revolt against their corrupt Spanish oppressor. The Cuban insurgents reasoned that if they did enough damage, the US might move in and help the Cubans win their independence. Not only did Americans sympathize with the Cubans upon seeing tragic reports in the newspaper, but they also empathized that the US once fought for their own independence from Britain. If France didn’t intervene, the Americans probably would not have won their freedom. As if this did not rally enough hate for the Spanish among the American Public, fuel was added to the flame by the Spanish General (“Butcher”)
In 1915, the United States began its often forgotten nineteen-year long occupation of Haiti. Justified by the Roosevelt Corollary of 1904, the proposition that established the United States as a self-proclaimed international police power, the occupation was framed by the American government as a “progressive intervention” meant to benefit the Haitian people. Haitians, however, despised the occupation as it deprived them of the autonomy they struggled to obtain from their French colonizers, and subjected them to Jim Crow racial values that considered all dark-skinned Haitians as inferior beings. In reality, despite the American government’s claims of wanting to help the Haitians, it willfully ignored the Haitians’ needs and demands simply to
However, the US played a much larger role in Cuba’s past and present than the building of casinos and the introduction of the first taints of corruption. In the past, even before Batista, Americans were resented by Cubans because the Americans made a lot of Cuba’s decisions. Under Batista, 80% of Cuban imports came from the US, and the US controlled at least 50% of sugar, utilities, phones and railroads. If Cuba was a business in the stock markets, then the US would have been close to owning 50% of its shares. When combined with a long history of US-backed leaders, and US involvement, it is understandable that Cubans begrudged the Americans....