Transcript Why did the US want an empire?

Spanish-American War
-Amber Kilkenny
Why did the US want an empire?
There were many reasons why the US would
want an empire.
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Money played a big role in the US wanting an empire. By building an empire wherever we
are, we sell goods to the people living there and they buy it, which makes us money.
We wanted to build military bases in other countries. By befriending other countries in
other places we have more friends than we do enemies which would help us during battle.
We believed we were superior to other races, cultures and nationalities. We felt it our right
to control.
The USS Maine
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The USS Maine was built between 1888 and 1895. It was a
second class battleship and it was sent to Havana, Spain in
1898, protecting America during the Spanish-American
war. The ship sank because of explosions from gunpowder.
75% of the crew died as a result of the explosion. America
blamed Spain for the Sinking of the ship. Therefore, they
went to war.
The de Lôme Letter
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The de Lôme letter was a letter
written by the Spanish
Ambassador to the United States,
Señor Don Enrique Dupuy de
Lôme. It was written to the United
States, criticizing president
William McKinley and calling him
weak. The letter helped the United
States gain public support in
getting rid of Spain.
What Happened:
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The Spanish-American war
was a war between America
and Spain. It was a very
small, brief war, and lasted
about four months. It began
in 1898. The war ended in
the victory of the US.
Why did America Intervene?
America intervened in the
Spanish American war because
in America we believed that we
were superior to other races and
that it was our job to civilize
people of other cultures by
showing them our own. We felt
it was our duty to make other
countries like us.
America’s relationship with
Cuba
America kind of controlled Cuba during
the war. We passed a Teller Act,
saying we had no intention of taking
over Cuba. There was also the Platt
Amendment in 1901. It said Cuba
could not make treaties, we reserved
the right to intervene in Cuba, Cuba
could not go into debt and we cod buy
or lease land for naval or refueling
stations.
Did the US do the right
thing?
In personal opinion, I do not believe US did the right
thing in imperialism and the Spanish-American war. I
do not think that America should have the right to
intervene in any foreign countries unless those
countries are in need of help and ask for it. There’s no
need for changing culture or religion because it’s
what we think is right, in the end that country may
know what is best for them.
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