Imperialism's Bitter Fruit

1. After the Spanish were forced out of the Philippines, why did fighting break out between American and Filipino forces?
a. After the Spanish were forced out of the Philippines, fighting started to break out between the American and Filipino forces because tension between the U.S. and Filipino forces was building. The Filipino's had believed that they would be granted independence after the departure of Spanish. But the U.S. troops had orders to establish control over the islands. There also was a shooting accident between an American soldier and a Filipino, where the American soldier shot and killed the Filipino. Later after this incident fighting had spread around the area Manila. The Filipino's believed that they were fighting for their independence.

How was this a different kind of warfare for American forces?
b. This was a different kind of warfare for American forces because unlike any other conflict that the U.S. had been in, there was no confronting an organized army, U.S. soldiers had faced a quick-striking guerrilla movement. Both the U.S. and Filipinos tortured their prisoners and killed them in many gruesome different ways.

2. Why were many African-Americans strong critics of the war against Filipino nationalists?
Many African-Americans were strong critics of the war against Filipino nationalists because they were discriminated against there just as they were at home. They were also extremely offended by the racist attitudes that typified the military's view of the Filipinos. Officers had enlisted Filipino's as "niggers". The African Americans also were prohibited from restaurants, barber shops, and other facilities marked, "white only."

3. Explain two reasons why the United States lost some of its enthusiasm for imperialism in the early 1900s.

a. The numerous amounts of legal questions about the status of the Philippines before The United States could annex these islands.

b. The realization of the difficulties of occupation. People, even Theodore Roosevelt, realized they weren't prepared to accept the burdens of the empire.


4. What were the positive effects of American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba?
The positive effects of American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba were that by dominating Puerto Rico they used this land as a territory. Also in Cuba, roads and telegraph lines were built, finances reorganized, schools opened, sanitation improved, and yellow fever stamped out.


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 U.S. had the right to oversee the Cuban economy


b. The U.S. had the right to exercise veto power over Cuban policy


c. The U.S. could intervene whenever necessary "for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty."


d. The United States was also allowed to build a naval base on the southeastern tip of the island at Guantanamo Bay.

Was the United States justified in making these demands? Explain your reasoning.
I don't really think that the United States was justified in making these demands. The United States took advantage of Cuba, and definitely did not need all of these benefits. I think that they got a little cocky and weren't focusing on the necessities of making their economy, and country overall better. The United States should have focused more on foreign trade, and also the people of these places that they swore they would care for.


6. Do you believe the United States was imperialist? Why or why not?
I do believed that the United States was imperialist. They had taken control of Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Philippines, and also taking over Hawaii. Though the push for imperialism slowly died out, America did attempt at imperialism, and still got control of these countries that benefited them and made their economy stronger.