Transcript Imperialism II - Ms. Mazzini-Chin

Imperialism II
Spanish American War
All the News That’s Fit to Print…or is it?
“What you don’t know about Anti-Depressants can kill
You!”
“Icy Conditions Tomorrow will Endanger the Lives of
Thousands of Commuters…so stay home…unless you must
go out.”
“We are under a blanket alert for a general threat.”
(1)How does the media give us our news?
(2)Can the media influence individuals? The politics of the
nation?
AIM: Can the media influence Americans to go to war?
Vocab
Yellow Press
Nationalism
Rough Riders
De Lome Letter
Treaty of Paris
Maine Explosion
Platt Amendment
Jingoism = intense nationalism with desire for
adventure
Essential Questions:
• How did the Yellow Press influence the country
and our political leaders?
• Why would the U.S. participate in a War with
Spain?
Treaties…
Teller Amendment 1898
•McKinley did not want to go to war – was afraid it would hurt the Wall Street
Economy. Passed the Teller Amendment that said we wouldn’t interfere in
Cuba after we won. (Liar!)
•Lasted only four months
•U.S. won—turned America into an imperial power
Treaty of Paris 1900
– Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines belonged to
US
Cuba gained its independence
– Cuba signed the Platt Amendment 1902
• If Cuba wanted to have any treaties with other countries, it would
have to ask America first.
• allowed America to intervene into Cuban affairs even during times
of peace
• allowed America to keep navy ships in its bay (Guantanamo Bay).
"I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country
needs one" – TR, Rough Riders
• Improved the U.S.
Navy
• 4 months of fighting
• Success at the Battle
of San Juan
• Many deaths –
malaria, yellow
fever, bad
contaminated food
• “A splendid little
War” – Sec of State,
John Hays
Cartoon:
“Uncle Sam Teaches a Class in Self-Government”
In this political cartoon from shortly after the conclusion of the
Spanish-American War in 1898, "Uncle Sam" disciplines a class
of unruly "children," representing Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto
Rico, and Hawaii. The mustachioed figure reading the book at
left is General Maximo Gomez, the military commander in
Cuba's War of Independence, while the figure wearing the "dunce
cap" represents Filipino independence leader Emilio Aguinaldo.
While sarcastic touches, such as the "Map of the United States
and Neighboring Countries" in the background, suggest the
cartoonist may not have entirely approved of the United States'
imperial efforts, his work nonetheless exemplifies the
paternalistic and racist stereotypes with which Americans of all
political stripes tended to view those in the countries that came
under U.S. influence at the time.
http://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/747
Cartoon: Uncle Sam Finds "Something Lacking" In New
Possessions
The outcome of the Spanish-American War had far-reaching
consequences for several of Spain's former colonies. The United
States annexed Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam, while
Cuba became independent but subject to American influence.
This political cartoon from shortly before the conclusion of the
war in 1898 reflects the pro-expansionist view, contrasting the
benefits derived from American involvement by Puerto Rico (in a
shiny new outfit marked "Annexation Suit from Your Uncle Sam")
and Cuba (clutching bread and waving the flag of independence),
with the uncertain status of the Philippines, depicted as mired in
a primitive, "savage" condition. Typically, all three nations are
depicted as children, dependent on a kindly and benevolent
Uncle Sam.
http://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/747
"Showing the Light to the Filipinos”
From 1898 to 1902, the United States waged a bloody war in the
Philippines. Filipinos wanted independence from centuries of
Spanish colonial rule. U.S. leaders, however, saw the opportunity
to control the Philippines and gain access to markets in
Asia. President McKinley argued that the Filipinos could not
govern themselves or defend themselves against other
countries. Many supporters of the Philippine-American war also
believed in the "civilizing mission"—the idea that European
nations and the United States had a moral duty to civilize
"backwards" peoples in other parts of the world by introducing
Western culture and technology.
http://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/747
McKinley was not initially in favor of going to
war…