Dbq Spanish American Independence

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In 1923, President James Monroe gave a routine speech to congress. But hidden within the flowery words was an important declaration to the world. Less than 50 years after the Unites States declared itself a independent country, the world was not a safe place for a fledgling democracy. The imperial powers of Europe including Prussia, Austria, and Russia had formed an alliance to protect monarchism. The monarchy of Spain was being restored, and our greatest ally in our fight for independence had just suffered the rise of Napoleon and been defeated in the Napoleonic wars. Even more so was the threat of colonial expansion by these powers. Knowing that the safety of the US depended greatly on our distance from such powerful potential adversaries, it was apparent that if they were allowed to gain a foothold in the western hemisphere it would allow them to threaten the US directly. The …show more content…

Ironically, it was the naval might of our former adversary and now ally, Great Britain that gave it weight. Very little came from this policy until it was used by President Tyler in 1842 to justify our own imperial colonialism with the annexation of Hawaii, and then again in 1870 when President Grant attempted the same with the Dominican Republic. The biggest use, however, was the 1898 Spanish-American war over Cuba. Not only was it used as justification for involvement, but it led to further expansionism when the US demanded ownership of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines in addition to temporary control of Cuba as part of the peace treaty with Spain. The Platt amendment of 1901 expanded this Doctrine, making Cuba a protectorate and dictating that they could not incur large debt or enter any treaties that may threaten their independence. The US had the right to send troops if these terms were violated, and were also given a lease for a naval base at Guantanamo

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