Chp 27 How was U.S. overseas imperialism in 1898 similar to and different from "manifest destiny" and the settlement across North America? Was overseas imperialism merely an extension of manifest destiny or was it a departure from American traditions?
Clemmer  
 

In 1898, America was beginning to expand its horizons. But unlike Manifest Destiny over a half century before, they were now seeking out overseas lands. Realizing the great increase in the cost of exports, America was put in a compromising position. With a booming increase in wealth and industrialism, the nation was prepared to take on new challenges outside of its boundaries. Other elements also stimulated the imperialist attitude. The “yellow press” and missionaries made the behavior glorified and reinforced the sentiments of aggressively undertaking new challenges. These actions were similar to those of the Manifest Destiny era. During that era, America was under divine guidance to control the North American continent from coast to coast. It would appear that the new imperialistic behavior was a mere extension of the ideas that led Americans west; now, they were traveling South and East.

            The overseas expansion began in 1898 with the Spanish-American war. Now impulsive, and rash to act, America used the explosion of the Maine to ignite a war with Spain. As the Rough Riders engaged in battle in Cuba, the American dominance overseas was beginning to be realized. Another successful campaign occurred in the Philippines, where the capture of Aguinaldo led to their victory. Although many believe that the victory in the Spanish-American War supplanted them as a world power, the war solidified the reality that they had always been a world power. The imperialistic victories of America throughout the world gave notice to that they were not afraid to act. As time progressed, America began to grow as the Pacific islands were becoming possessions of America.

            Differences between Manifest Destiny and later imperialism included the different state the nation was in. Fifty years earlier, the nation was still attempting to control the lands surrounding its boundaries. But by the turn of the century, they were prepared to reveal their dominance as a world power. No longer were they boys fighting amongst men. Having control over native lands, America sought out new endeavors. Creating a new empire, just as world powers had done before. America established itself by traveling abroad and successfully overtaking their enemy. But more importantly than the successes on the battlefield, were the new changes made to the policy of the nation’s government and the military. Among them were the Root reforms, which orchestrated a newly structured military that would be prepared to continue America’s expansion efforts. The imperialistic actions at the turn of the 20th century revealed similar circumstances to Manifest Destiny, but it illustrated the new prowess of America and its policy.

Fodor  
 

From 1895 to 1898 Americans were very sympathetic to the Cubans, who were revolting against their Spanish oppressor.  Spain was governing and treating the Cubans very poorly, causing the United States to be very angry at Spain.  This is because the United States was willing to support patriots fighting for their freedom.  The United States also had a large investment in Cuba and was a trading partner with this revolting nation.  The American public asked their government to assist Cuba, but Cleveland refused to since he was an anti-imperialist.  However the new “yellow journalism” aroused feelings of hatred toward the Spanish by falsely writing about how bad conditions were in Cuba.  On February 15, 1898 battleship Maine mysteriously exploded in Havana harbor in Cuba.  Americans, looking for a reason to go to war with Spain, blamed this on the Spanish.  However later it was discovered that the explosion occurred because of problems with the ship rather than because of Spain.  At the end of the Spanish-American war, Cuba was set free and the United States obtained the Pacific island of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. 

            The overseas imperialism that occurred after this war was both similar and different to manifest destiny.  It was similar since the United States believed they were fulfilling their duty by expanding throughout North America.  It was also similar because McKinley was supposedly instructed by God to take the Philippines and to Christianize them.  Manifest Destiny was also supposed to have been given to people of the United States by God.  The overseas imperialism was different first of all because the fighting was done in the sea, rather than on the land.  It was also different because during Manifest Destiny Americans were not fighting to help save people, since the land they obtained was mainly uninhabited, except by Native Americans.  However in 1898 the United States was trying to save Cuba from Spain.

            People had different feelings about overseas expansion during that time.  There were many people who were anti-imperialists, some including the philosopher William James, the writer Mark Twain, and presidents of Harvard and Stanford Universities.  A Harvard philosopher stated the he “could not believe that the United States could ‘puke up its ancient soul in five minutes without a wink of squeamishness.’” (655).  This man believed that the overseas expansion was a departure from American culture.  However people also believed it was an extension to Manifest Destiny since the obtained nations were going to be very helpful to the United States because of their usefulness in trade.             

Ortiz  
   
Ponder  
   
Proto  
  The Great West, as it was called, was a very large expanse of and, covering thousands of miles of land, that was uninhabited by people (besides the native Indians.) By 1890, however, the entire land area had been separated into states and territories. Never before had such a large area been transformed into a settled area in such a short duration.
Indians were the only people in the way of the westward expansion. Thus, the war between the whites and the Indians was inevitable. The interfering settlers devastated the Indian’s vast food supply. Spanish settlers introduced horses to the Plains Indians, which completely revolutionized their way of living. The Plains Indians thus became more warlike. The white settlers also devastated the Indian population because of foreign disease. The white men to the Indians easily spread smallpox, cholera, and typhoid. White settlers also decreased the amount of bison- the Indians’ one main food source. Because of the lack of food, the Plains Indians fought amongst themselves out of pure hunger and rage, and lack of hunting area.
The government attempted to appease the Plains Indians by signing many treaties with Chiefs of the tribe. After the treaties many of the Indians lived on reservations. The Americans attempted, however, to basically be futile. They did not understand the Indian government at all, nor did they understand their different way of life. As a result the Plains Indians thus became more warlike. The white settlers also devastated the Indian population because of disease. The white men easily spread smallpox, cholera, and typhoid. White settlers also decreased the amount of bison-the Indians main food source. Because of the lack of food, the Plains Indians fought amongst themselves out of pure hunger, and lack of hunting area.
The Government attempted to appease the Plains Indians by signing treaties with chiefs of the tribes. After the treaties most Indians lived on reservations. The American attempts, however, were basically futile. They did not understand the Indian government, nor did they understand their way of life; they refused to accept the fact that the Plains lived a very transient life, devoid of a large concentration in one area. In the 1860’s, the US government strengthened the idea of social confinement. They confined the Indians into smaller locations, called the “Great Sioux Reservation.” Many of Indians were forced into these confinements, and gave up their land because they were promised that they would be unmolested and left with supplies.
Unfortunately, many of the federal agents were evil. Quite often, they didn’t ration the supplies often enough, and they ignored treaty agreements. Thus, fighting between Indians and white men intensified much more.