U.S. Foreign Policy 1900-1941

American society in the early 20th century began what is known as the Progressive Era. A new attitude of national improvement emerged with the aid of more sophisticated technologies, a rise in intellectual inquisitions, and artistic experimentation. A period of reformist impulse grew along with an overall sense that great things were to come in all levels of U.S. gove

rnment. American industry was on the rise. Machines in factories produced greater quantities of goods at record speeds, changing the economic infrastructure by placing a greater demand for sources of raw material and international markets. Capitalism was about to stretch its legs into the Pacific and Caribbean. The United States acquired the Midway Islands for use as a coaling station for U.S. ships. This was also thought to be a step closer to Asian markets. America needed a window of opportunity to spread its economic interests elsewhere. That window came in the form of the Spanish-American War. Spain occupied Cuba under a strict and cruel dictatorship, causing failed revolts and an unstable governing system. Despite political hesitancy, the American people wanted a direct involvement in the fighting. As tensions increased, the U.S. sent it’s fleet to Cuba to protect American economic interests. On the night of February 15th, 1898, the battle ship Main was sunk by a tremendous explosion, causing the deaths of 260 people. This initiated congress to declare war on Spain on April 11, 1898. In the Philippines, another Spanish-owned territory, a fleet was sent under the command of George Dewey. The fleet defeated the Spanish with ease at Manila Bay. The Treaty of Paris ends the war after only four months and America bought the Philippines for twenty million dollars and kept a section of Cuba called Guantanimo Bay. There was opposition to the Spanish cession of the Philippines to the United States. A philosopher by the name of William James argued that acquiring the islands would be a “shameless betrayal of American principles”. After much deliberation, President William McKinley decided to take responsibility for the islands and uplift, educate and Christianize the Filipinos. The Filipinos didn’t take to this well at all, perceiving the Americans simply as new conquerors. Revolts soon followed, some under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo, who led his troops in attacking American soldiers. Congress intervened in retaliation to the uprisings by introducing the Philippine Government Act in 1902 that set up a legislature by popular vote. Not until fourteen years later did America announce its decision to withdraw from the islands once a stable government was established as stated in the Jones Act. This gave the Filipinos governmental control in domestic matters and provided free trade with the U.S. American economic integration spread into the Pacific with the annexation of Hawaii in 1898. Serving as an ideal provisioning spot for American ships and providing a new source of sugar cane production, the acquisition of the tropical islands of Hawaii further enhanced the United States as a Pacific power. Already within Americas possession was Guam and Puerto Rico, while Cuba was under only temporary occupation. In 1901 the Supreme Court declared under what is known as Insular Cases that inhabitants of American possessions were only entitled some of the most rudimentary constitutional guarantees and they did not possess all the rights of citizenship. The American empire expanded into the Caribbean with the expulsion of Spain from Cuba and Puerto Rico in 1898 and the obtainment of the Panama Canal in 1903. The U.S. continued to spread economic influence into the Latin American countries under the Dollar Diplomacy. This policy adopted by the U.S. under the administration of William Howard Taft used economic stimulus to inspire cooperation of Latin American countries with the goals of the United States within any particular country whatever the motives may be. Many of the economic investments in Central America and the Caribbean were more powerful than most of the governments in those regions. For example, The United Fruit Company, a corporation based in the United States that owned dozens of large banana plantations in Central America. This corporation also owned railroads that were used to transport the crop to Pacific and Atlant

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Harding Republicans, War America, President Wilson, Woodrow Wilson, War Spain, Progressive Era, League Nations, War United, Louis Omaha, Europe United, world war, american citizens, 20th century, president wilson, foreign affairs, foreign policy, war america, american people, latin american countries, american countries, allied powers, world war ii, president woodrow wilson, world war america, unrestricted submarine warfare,