USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

[SOURCES]
Before 1898, most American had opposed imperialism. Why did imperialism suddenly become more popular in the US by the end of the century?

(A) Americans felt it was against the principles of democracy to rule over others.

(B) ** Americans wanted to sell goods to new markets and buy raw materials for new industries.

(C) Americans wanted to rule others because America had once been a British colony.

(D) Americans feared imperialism would bring the United States into conflict with other powers.

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -Why did imperialism suddenly become more popular in the US by the end of the century? Americans wanted to sell goods to new markets and buy raw materials for new industries.

Concept note-2: -The reasons were Economic (new markets and resources), as well as Political (to spread democracy) and Cultural (to spread Christianity). The island of Hawaii was America’s first foray into Imperialism. Hawaii was ideally situated for a naval coaling station. American planters took the government over.

Concept note-3: -The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere and secured the position of the United States as a Pacific power.

Concept note-4: -One of the earliest examples is US intervention in Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain, which led to the Spanish-American War in 1898. Encouraged by sensationalist American journalism about the Cuban conflict and the mysterious sinking of the US Navy battleship.