The Filipinos had been told by the US that they would receive their freedom after Spain was removed. However, this was far from the case - racial prejudices and a thirst for economic gain kept the US in the Philippines long after the time when they should have left. The US troops had orders to enforce order in the Philippines, but to the Filipinos, the Americans were simply another group of unwanted leaders. They saw fighting back as necessary - another revolution for freedom.
b. How was this a different kind of warfare for American forces?
Rather than organized fighting against a set army, the battles that the American forces were fighting in the Philippines were against guerilla soldiers who blended into the countryside and did not listen to conventional "honorable" rules of warfare. Torture, random killings, and holding civilians captive were all techniques utilized by both sides. This war was bloody and brutal, unlike the more "civilized wars" that the US had become involved in in the past.
2. Why were many African-Americans strong critics of the war against Filipino nationalists?
One reason that many African-Americans criticized the war in the Philippines was the fact that racist white Americans often failed to differentiate between African-Americans and Filipinos - to these white, racist Americans, the blacks were just as barbaric and savage and uneducated as the Filipinos were, so what was the difference?
b. How was this a different kind of warfare for American forces?
Rather than organized fighting against a set army, the battles that the American forces were fighting in the Philippines were against guerilla soldiers who blended into the countryside and did not listen to conventional "honorable" rules of warfare. Torture, random killings, and holding civilians captive were all techniques utilized by both sides. This war was bloody and brutal, unlike the more "civilized wars" that the US had become involved in in the past.
2. Why were many African-Americans strong critics of the war against Filipino nationalists?
One reason that many African-Americans criticized the war in the Philippines was the fact that racist white Americans often failed to differentiate between African-Americans and Filipinos - to these white, racist Americans, the blacks were just as barbaric and savage and uneducated as the Filipinos were, so what was the difference?
Also, although they served incredibly bravely in the army, they still faced huge amounts of discrimination. They were still excluded from certain restaurants and public facilities, just as they had been back in the US.
3. Explain two reasons why the United States lost some of its enthusiasm for imperialism in the early 1900s.
a. Things were going badly in the Philippines - soldiers were being killed and tortured by the thousands, and the US was not earning money off the islands as had been promised. Americans were beginning to see that imperialism did not always work out to plan.
b. Anti-imperialists grew very vocal during this time period, especially around the time of reelection. Mark Twain in particular was very influential. People were ready to listen to new ideas, and this was a side that was presented well.
4. What were the positive effects of American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba?
Especially in Cuba, American technology and administrative knowledge began to spread throughout the land. Yellow fever disappeared, sanitation improved, telephones were implemented - massive steps forward in the island's welfare were made. In Puerto Rico, the same developments were being made. On top of this, Cuban and Puerto Rican citizens were granted US citizenship, giving them many more options in the world.
5. After the Spanish-American War, the United States insisted that Cuba only receive independence after agreeing to several limitations set forth in the Platt Amendment. Four restrictions on Cuban independence set forth in the Platt Amendment were:
a. The US had the right to oversee the Cuban economy
b. The US could veto any foreign policy decisions made by Cuba
c. The US could build a naval base in the southern part of the island
d. The US could intervene in Cuba's affairs at any time
Was the United States justified in making these demands? Explain your reasoning.
The US was most certainly not justified in making these demands. What claim ddi America have over Cuba? Just because it was near America geographically does not grant America the right to use Cuba as it sees fit. The Platt Amendment was really a catch-22: without it, Cuba would not be granted official independence, but with it, Cuba was not really all that free anyways. The Platt Amendment was certainly manipulative, using something that the Cubans were desperate for (independence) in order to keep American interests alive and well in Cuba. It is hard to believe that America really had Cuba's best interests in mind here; it seems that all America was really focusing on was helping itself and spiting Europe.
6. Do you believe the United States was imperialist? Why or why not?
3. Explain two reasons why the United States lost some of its enthusiasm for imperialism in the early 1900s.
a. Things were going badly in the Philippines - soldiers were being killed and tortured by the thousands, and the US was not earning money off the islands as had been promised. Americans were beginning to see that imperialism did not always work out to plan.
b. Anti-imperialists grew very vocal during this time period, especially around the time of reelection. Mark Twain in particular was very influential. People were ready to listen to new ideas, and this was a side that was presented well.
4. What were the positive effects of American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba?
Especially in Cuba, American technology and administrative knowledge began to spread throughout the land. Yellow fever disappeared, sanitation improved, telephones were implemented - massive steps forward in the island's welfare were made. In Puerto Rico, the same developments were being made. On top of this, Cuban and Puerto Rican citizens were granted US citizenship, giving them many more options in the world.
5. After the Spanish-American War, the United States insisted that Cuba only receive independence after agreeing to several limitations set forth in the Platt Amendment. Four restrictions on Cuban independence set forth in the Platt Amendment were:
a. The US had the right to oversee the Cuban economy
b. The US could veto any foreign policy decisions made by Cuba
c. The US could build a naval base in the southern part of the island
d. The US could intervene in Cuba's affairs at any time
Was the United States justified in making these demands? Explain your reasoning.
The US was most certainly not justified in making these demands. What claim ddi America have over Cuba? Just because it was near America geographically does not grant America the right to use Cuba as it sees fit. The Platt Amendment was really a catch-22: without it, Cuba would not be granted official independence, but with it, Cuba was not really all that free anyways. The Platt Amendment was certainly manipulative, using something that the Cubans were desperate for (independence) in order to keep American interests alive and well in Cuba. It is hard to believe that America really had Cuba's best interests in mind here; it seems that all America was really focusing on was helping itself and spiting Europe.
6. Do you believe the United States was imperialist? Why or why not?
America was most certainly imperialist. All of its actions from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and even before can be classified as imperialist - seeking to further American power by using military or political force. America was ruthless when it came to getting new lands for itself, and often behaved rather like a bratty child. There was a great feeling of entitlement running rampant in America in this time; for this reason, America pushed its way into the world, striving for any land it could get its hands on in the hopes to snatch land before Europe could get to it. Although it claimed to have other nations best interests at heart, American often abused and broke promises to the nations it took over. Why? All in the name of power and business! America is a prime example of an imperialist nation: from Hawaii to Cuba, Guam to the Philippines, Puerto Rico to Asia, the US took whatever land it could possibly attain. Especially during this time period, the US was highly concerned with asserting itself as a world power, and furthering its reach in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment