Ari Gilder, 3-201L

 

1. What are some factors that led the US to emerge from their foreign policy of isolationism?

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, factories needed a place to get a large amount of raw materials as well as a market to sell their products. Also, the Western frontier was closed. This brought America to take interest in other lands to colonize and use for their profit.

 

2. How did Cuba’s fight for self-determination contribute to the Spanish-American War?

The revolution in Cuba against Spain for the right of independence essentially brought about the Spanish-American War. Cubans had launched a successful propaganda campaign in the US rallying much US support and sympathy towards their cause. Eventually on April 19, 1898, Congress voted that the US Navy should be sent to secure the independence of Cuba.

 

3. Do you agree or disagree with the anti-imperialists who argued that in taking the Philippines the US violated the Declaration of Independence? Explain.

I personally disagree simply for the fact that the US can’t really be blamed, since they didn’t know all the facts about the country. They simply made the assumption that “if they’re not American, they’re heathen” – which is completely invalid and most likely would not have been made had the US been more familiar with the Philippine culture. I think that the decision to subject the Philippines to American rule was too hasty and it should have been decided over a gradual course of time, giving them adequate time to learn about the Filipinos.

 

4. How did the US finally acquire Hawaii?

After the revolution in Hawaii, the Hawaiians asked the American minister to be annexed to the US. Due to popular opinion though, Congress abandoned this in 1894. In 1898, the issue was brought up again and they did in fact vote to annex Hawaii.