Thesis Statement
(Miguel)
Late-nineteenth century America is most often characterized by expansionism, a desire for growth and power as a nation, development of reputation, needed fulfillment of economic necessities, and imperialism for self-benefit; methods and timeliness used to acquire territories abroad defined the nation's changing character as a whole.
Influences
(Steven and Alexa)
The Spanish-American War was a result of yellow journalism, the United States government felt pressured to intervene in the Cuban conflict between Cuban rebels and their Spanish commanders. America's attempts to aid Cubans and declare them as their own country lead to the United States sending their battleship, the U.S.S. Maine, to Cuba. President McKinley avoided declaring war, and wished to end this conflict peacefully. However, his hope for peace ended when the U.S.S. Maine was destroyed as a result of an explosion. The destruction resulted in the death of 268 men. The De Lome letter was also an incentive for McKinley to declare war on Spain.
Yellow Journalism and the sinking of the Maine was caused in part by an intensified control of Cuba as time progressed. As a result of a second insurrection established by the Cuban rebels, Spain ordered General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, also known as "The Butcher," to calm the rebels and put an end to their resistance. Yellow journalism placed strain on Grover Cleveland and William McKinley to end the clash in Cuba. The United States attempted diplomacy and compromise, but the Spanish government was too frail to create reforms in Cuba. The rebels wanted nothing less than independence. The U.S. then sent the USS Maine to Havana, Cuba on January 24th. Three weeks later, there was an explosion on the Maine’s board, killing 268 men.
Yellow Journalism and the sinking of the Maine was caused in part by an intensified control of Cuba as time progressed. As a result of a second insurrection established by the Cuban rebels, Spain ordered General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, also known as "The Butcher," to calm the rebels and put an end to their resistance. Yellow journalism placed strain on Grover Cleveland and William McKinley to end the clash in Cuba. The United States attempted diplomacy and compromise, but the Spanish government was too frail to create reforms in Cuba. The rebels wanted nothing less than independence. The U.S. then sent the USS Maine to Havana, Cuba on January 24th. Three weeks later, there was an explosion on the Maine’s board, killing 268 men.
The Pullman Strike was caused by a variety of different issues that workers were facing during this time. The Pullman Company Town was a town established for workers of the Pullman Factory; this was a town where all workers who worked in the factory had to live and go about their daily lives in as well. When they noticed that most were on the same page regarding their low wages, they turned to the American Railway Union (A.R.U.) for help. This, however, was unsuccessful. The workers then took matters into their own hands when protesting and boycotting, all in an attempt to have their voices heard as loudly as possible.
The Annexation of Hawaii played a key role in American imperialism during the period of 1878 to 1900. The annexation served as a strong symbol and representation for exactly how over-confident and powerful the United States had become. Taxes on sugar were expensive, and there was a surplus of it in Hawaii. The United States did not have any intent in paying too much to acquire to sugar, and this refusal eventually led to the overthrowing of the Queen, Queen Lili'uokalani. This was the primary reasoning for the annexation and what eventually led to the success of the acquisition.
The primary ideals and foundation of the election of 1892 were centered around the stabilization of American currency. Cleveland had previously run for President in the year 1884, and won, despite the scandals regarding his affair with Maria Halpin. When he ran for re-election, he was defeated by Benjamin Harrison as a result of the electoral college votes rather than the popular vote. He then ran in the election of 1892, when he came President and continued attempting to bring about reform and progression in American lifestyle as a whole.
The Annexation of Hawaii played a key role in American imperialism during the period of 1878 to 1900. The annexation served as a strong symbol and representation for exactly how over-confident and powerful the United States had become. Taxes on sugar were expensive, and there was a surplus of it in Hawaii. The United States did not have any intent in paying too much to acquire to sugar, and this refusal eventually led to the overthrowing of the Queen, Queen Lili'uokalani. This was the primary reasoning for the annexation and what eventually led to the success of the acquisition.
The primary ideals and foundation of the election of 1892 were centered around the stabilization of American currency. Cleveland had previously run for President in the year 1884, and won, despite the scandals regarding his affair with Maria Halpin. When he ran for re-election, he was defeated by Benjamin Harrison as a result of the electoral college votes rather than the popular vote. He then ran in the election of 1892, when he came President and continued attempting to bring about reform and progression in American lifestyle as a whole.
Results of the Election
Events
(Miguel)
The Spanish-American War was a major turning point in United States expansionism. In 1898, the United States went to war against the European country of Spain, and the United States' victory left the Spanish isolated from their own homeland. The United States called the war on as a response to the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, a United States battleship located in Havana, Cuba, as well as the struggle for Cuban independence, and used it as an excuse to fight. This event can be characterized as a turning point because it established the United States' reputation as a major military power that others should watch out for in general. The war also helped to speed up the construction of the Panama Canal under Roosevelt's administration.
Large amounts of yellow journalism in response to the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was one of the largest contributors to American public opinion during this time of expansionism as well as the war with Spain. Publishers such as Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst exaggerated stories of the Maine's explosion, and of current events during the time as a whole. This made Americans call out requests for war repeatedly, and led many to believe that the reason why the Maine sunk was because the Spanish blew it up themselves. During this time, yellow journalism was at its peak, and, because of this, many turning-points ensued. The growing requests for war caused the country to declare one on Spain; this was an excuse with very little evidence to back it up. The explosion eventually turned out to have absolutely nothing to do with Spain.
The Pullman Strike took place in the year 1894; workers at the Pullman's Palace Car Factory, located in Illinois, walked out because of unequal forms of pay. During the time, big-business factory owners viewed payments as dependent on one's skill level: the higher one's skill, the higher their pay. Unskilled workers were disposable at incredible ease, thus causing their wages to be ridiculously low. The workers desired a negotiation regarding their extremely low wages in an attempt to see if they would be able to earn more money. These requests were ignored, time after time, however. It was only a matter of days when about one-hundred-twenty-five thousand workers had already joined the boycott against the factory. Traffic and car-production was at a declining performance level, and a dilemma on wages was at its extreme high during this time.
At the time when the Hawaii territory was annexed by the United States, the U.S. was becoming increasingly more serious about its expansionism and imperialism as a whole. There were a few places where annexation seemed realistic at the time, and Hawaii was among those countries. The primary reasoning and motive behind this annexation is greed; the United States knew that acquiring this territory would make taxes and circulation of money a bit easier in comparison to what its state was at the time. The McKinley tariff on Sugar raised taxes on foreign sugar, and sugar growers knew that acquiring this territory had the potential to immediately solve the problem. After a few interventions in the territory, the acquisition became successful and the queen was overthrown.
At the time when the Hawaii territory was annexed by the United States, the U.S. was becoming increasingly more serious about its expansionism and imperialism as a whole. There were a few places where annexation seemed realistic at the time, and Hawaii was among those countries. The primary reasoning and motive behind this annexation is greed; the United States knew that acquiring this territory would make taxes and circulation of money a bit easier in comparison to what its state was at the time. The McKinley tariff on Sugar raised taxes on foreign sugar, and sugar growers knew that acquiring this territory had the potential to immediately solve the problem. After a few interventions in the territory, the acquisition became successful and the queen was overthrown.
The election of 1892 between Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland and Republican candidate Benjamin Harrison changed American politics in ways that it never had been changed before. It introduced scandals and political rivalry at a much higher level than it previously had. This was the first time a Democrat was elected into the White House since Abraham Lincoln, which was definitely a change for the American government during the time after such a large time-gap of almost a quarter of a century. Cleveland was involved in a huge paternity scandal; at the time rumors were circulating that Cleveland had a child with someone who he wasn't married to. This was used in an attempt to destroy Cleveland's career and use it against him during the election; however, his election nonetheless was successful when he became the 24th President of the United States of America.
Top 10 Most Important People
(Yenni)
#1. William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States from March 4th, 1897 until his assassination in September 1901. The Spanish-American war occurred under his administration.
#2. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States; he was also the leader of the Republican Party and founder of the Progressive Party.
#3. General Valeriano Weyler was a Spanish general nicknamed "The Butcher." Weyler was sent down from Spain in the late 1800s to put thousands of Cubans into harsh treatment camps. He killed thousands of Cubans, which made the United States intervene.
#4. Captain Alfred T. Mahan was an American naval officer who believed in a strong navy in order to conquer overseas land in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
#5. Joseph Pulitzer and William R. Hearst were rival newspaper publishers who exaggerated their publications and unnecessarily influenced the Spanish-American War. Their news quality was known as "Yellow Journalism."
#6. George Dewey was significant in his role in annexing the Philippines during the Battle of Manila Bay. President Roosevelt provided secretive orders to invade the Philippines prior to the sending of soldiers to Cuba to battle the Spanish.
#7. Emilio Aguinaldo was the first President of the Philippines in the late 19th Century until 1901. He led the Philippines forced against Spain and the United States until he was finally captured.
#8. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He was the first Democrat to be elected after the Civil War.
#9. Upton Sinclair was an American author who exposed Robber Barons through his books. One of the popular muckraking books he wrote was The Jungle, which exposed Meatpacking Industries.
#10. The Rough Riders was the name given to the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt. They fought in Cuba on the side of the United States.
#2. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States; he was also the leader of the Republican Party and founder of the Progressive Party.
#3. General Valeriano Weyler was a Spanish general nicknamed "The Butcher." Weyler was sent down from Spain in the late 1800s to put thousands of Cubans into harsh treatment camps. He killed thousands of Cubans, which made the United States intervene.
#4. Captain Alfred T. Mahan was an American naval officer who believed in a strong navy in order to conquer overseas land in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
#5. Joseph Pulitzer and William R. Hearst were rival newspaper publishers who exaggerated their publications and unnecessarily influenced the Spanish-American War. Their news quality was known as "Yellow Journalism."
#6. George Dewey was significant in his role in annexing the Philippines during the Battle of Manila Bay. President Roosevelt provided secretive orders to invade the Philippines prior to the sending of soldiers to Cuba to battle the Spanish.
#7. Emilio Aguinaldo was the first President of the Philippines in the late 19th Century until 1901. He led the Philippines forced against Spain and the United States until he was finally captured.
#8. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He was the first Democrat to be elected after the Civil War.
#9. Upton Sinclair was an American author who exposed Robber Barons through his books. One of the popular muckraking books he wrote was The Jungle, which exposed Meatpacking Industries.
#10. The Rough Riders was the name given to the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt. They fought in Cuba on the side of the United States.
Effects
(Kim O. & Alexa)
The Spanish-American war changed the American mindset toward imperialism for the long-run. The American victory led the states to believe that something which, at the time, seemed virtually impossible, could be done. Surrounding countries now showed a greater deal of respect toward the States as a military power, and gained even more respect once the building of the Panama Canal was complete. Without this victory, the confidence to successfully execute this project may have may been non-existent. Additionally, the Treaty of Paris issued in 1898 brought the war to an end. Expansionism and the standings of the United States as a country was then defined in a completely different light.
As a result of yellow journalism, the United States was victorious in the Spanish American War- all which eventually led to Cuban independence; the Cuban government felt as though it was obligated to grant the United States something in return. This was the permanent lease for Guantanamo Bay: a prisoners camp under United States control. An additional result of the American victory was the Foraker Act, which allowed the United States to gain control of Puerto Rico, a useful naval base. The sinking of the Maine as a result of yellow journalism jump-started most of what is now known as American imperialism.
As a result of yellow journalism, the United States was victorious in the Spanish American War- all which eventually led to Cuban independence; the Cuban government felt as though it was obligated to grant the United States something in return. This was the permanent lease for Guantanamo Bay: a prisoners camp under United States control. An additional result of the American victory was the Foraker Act, which allowed the United States to gain control of Puerto Rico, a useful naval base. The sinking of the Maine as a result of yellow journalism jump-started most of what is now known as American imperialism.
The Pullman Strike came along with a variety of different direct results. As a result of the Pullman Strike, the federal court issued an injunction that demanded the union halt the boycott, and the strike as a whole collapsed. Although the strike itself did not immediately result in the type of reform workers would have liked to see, it did bring a significant amount of awareness toward the cause. Big business owners now knew how seriously workers felt about their conditions and wages, and although it might have been left on the back-burner, it was still there, and change would eventually come.
The annexation of Hawaii had several political, economic, and social affects as a whole. Politically, there would now be a military presence on the island that would be controlled by the U.S. government; this militarized Hawaii immediately. Higher employment rates, more "civilization," and a changing culture all defined the new Hawaii that was now a part of the United States as a result of the annexation. Hawaiians now had to deal with American issues such as state-hood; it was clear that Hawaiians would have very much preferred to remain an independent country, but did not because of American greed. Natives of the land were now treated in a much different way, and many other burdens came along with the annexation until it became a state after World War II.
A lot came from the election of 1892. Americans on a general level now held a different view of the electoral college because although many had already disagreed with it beforehand, seeing the role that it was now playing in this election and elections that came directly before it caused a spark in public opinion. One of the largest effects of the election of 1892 was the change of gold to silver in U.S. currency- this would allow for less inflation and a healthier circulation of money around the country. This election also called for the government ownership of railroads, which made farmers' shipments much less inexpensive. The general standings of the country were changed, and the American public was now starting to see the country evolve in ways that it hadn't done so before.
The annexation of Hawaii had several political, economic, and social affects as a whole. Politically, there would now be a military presence on the island that would be controlled by the U.S. government; this militarized Hawaii immediately. Higher employment rates, more "civilization," and a changing culture all defined the new Hawaii that was now a part of the United States as a result of the annexation. Hawaiians now had to deal with American issues such as state-hood; it was clear that Hawaiians would have very much preferred to remain an independent country, but did not because of American greed. Natives of the land were now treated in a much different way, and many other burdens came along with the annexation until it became a state after World War II.
A lot came from the election of 1892. Americans on a general level now held a different view of the electoral college because although many had already disagreed with it beforehand, seeing the role that it was now playing in this election and elections that came directly before it caused a spark in public opinion. One of the largest effects of the election of 1892 was the change of gold to silver in U.S. currency- this would allow for less inflation and a healthier circulation of money around the country. This election also called for the government ownership of railroads, which made farmers' shipments much less inexpensive. The general standings of the country were changed, and the American public was now starting to see the country evolve in ways that it hadn't done so before.