The Spanish-American War and Imperialism

Q5-How did the Spanish-American War turn into a struggle of imperial elaborateness? Shawn Lannin 2/26/2013 The Spanish-American War originally started sour as The United States defending Cuba from its Spanish rulers essentially, but quickly evolved into colonial expansion. The warfare became a war of imperial expansion in the late 1800s collect to Americas new outward focuses on global markets and growing concerns of frugal competition/expansion from other introduction powers. America, once a colony itself was flat looking to expand its influence into other parts of the globe as its European cousins had been doing for quite some time.Before, during, and after the war Americans had growing concerns about the peaceable and eastern United States Asia. These hostile markets possessed vast amounts of inbred resources and potent lands for the taking many expansionists had differing reasons for imperialist expansion. Some argued religious purposes, some the mobilize of the White-Anglo-Saxon race, (White Mans Burden) while others stressed economic and military machine reasons to expand abroad. Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, a nautical strategist, believed in a strong navy and that America should turn its focus outward and expand its influences into the humankind.Mahan as well urged the acquisition of Pacific islands for military and naval superiority. Islands such as Puerto Rico, how-do-you-do, The Philippines, and Guam soon became targets of Americas imperialistic aim. These islands could be used strategically to protect merchant fleets in route from Asia and too for military and economic purposes, for example the inhering harbor found in Hawaiis Pearl Harbor served as a great naval plinth and served as a stepping-stone to Asia, while the fertile volcanic soils were perfect for sugar plantations.Expansionists also sought to protect their mass rights and foreign policies such as The Open introduction Policy, which gave free trade rights in east Asian markets. China was in turbulence at the time and other world powers were exhibiting land grabs while trying to cut up out spheres of influence to control trade in Chinese markets. Expansion in the Pacific would not only unattackable our rights to trade but would protect our interests oer seas as well.Nations across the world were colonizing weaker countries through with(predicate) the concept of Social Darwinism and America didnt want to fall by the substance side so to speak. We had to keep up with the world powers and protect our best interest. It was a time of empires and after decades of isolationism, America inflexible it was time to show the world our power. By 1898 America had defeated Spain and with its defeat came the appropriation of several island nations that we used to our benefit for days to come.