The causes of the Spanish-American War

After reading the causes of the Spanish-American War and its outcome, I would like for you to discuss how this episode in American and World history contributed to the United States becoming a world power.  Your answer should provide specifics and leave the discussion open for debate as to whether or not our entry into the war was justifiable.
Support your points with examples or illustrations from the text. Remember to include a lot of details and information from the sources in your initial post, as these are formal and should be treated as such and remember to cite your paraphrased and quoted information with APA in-text citations. You are not required to directly quote, but all information should be paraphrased and cited.
Required Reading: https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/18-introduction
• Chapter 22 Age of Empire: American Foreign Policy, 1890-1914 pages 641-668
• Chapter 23 Americans and the Great War, 1914-1919 pages 669-700
• https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/spanish-american-war-in-georgia/
• Also see attached document labeled “Military Service in World War I”
7 points
Engagement / Interaction engaged in a meaningful and relevant dialog with two or more peers
Participation and Timeliness participated on two or more days and responded to main topic the day of the first post due date
  6 points
Content and Mechanics Civil Discourse forum contributions always addressed the main topic, contained critical thought/analysis. Posts are substantial with quality research from the GMC database and are written in a professional manner, free of grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors and citations/references are in APA format
ENG 201 (MLA FORMAT- 150 words)
Meaningfully respond to the following prompt for this week’s discussion. You can only use the sources provided. No outside sources.
Address the prompt below.
• Focus on one of two major characters of The Aeneid: Aeneas or Dido. First, choose three adjectives that you feel best describe your chosen character, and provide your rationale for these choices. Then, rank the three words you’ve chosen in order of importance/significance to the character. Support your points with textual evidence.
Required Reading:
Also See Attached: The Aeneid (read books 1, 2, 4, and 6 only – I, II, IV, VI)
Civil Discourse Forum participation will be graded using the following criteria:
2 points4 points
Timeliness N/A – no points are available for this criterion Main response posted on or before stated first-post deadline
Engagement N/A- no points are available for this criterion 2 or more days of substantive participation during active course week
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Content Main response content is substantive, but fails to specifically or correctly address some aspect of content instructions Main response content is substantive, relevant, organized, and meets or exceeds 150 words in length
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MAT 200
From the list below, choose one problem, write it down, and solve it in detail (show all of your steps).  Please label your solution with the corresponding question number.  In your solutions, you are only to use the math concepts that have been covered in this course up to this point.
See the syllabus for complete grading information
Problem #10: a) How many ways can an IRS auditor select 3 of 9 tax returns for an audit? Discuss if the order of the 3 tax returns matters or not and how that helped you decide which counting method to use.
b) From 9 kids, you need to select a pitcher, catcher and hitter.  The first one that you select will be the pitcher, the second the catcher, and the third the hitter.  How many different ways can 3 kids be selected from the 9 kids?  Discuss if the order of the 3 kids selected matters or not and how that helped you decide which counting method to use.

Sample Solution

The Spanish-American War (1898) marked a pivotal moment in American history, propelling the nation onto the world stage as a major power. While the war itself was brief and relatively one-sided in favor of the United States, its lasting consequences significantly reshaped American foreign policy and global influence. Here’s a breakdown of how this event contributed to the U.S. becoming a world power:

  1. Acquisition of Overseas Territories:

The Treaty of Paris (1898) formally ended the war and granted the United States control of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. This marked a significant shift from the isolationist Monroe Doctrine and thrust the U.S. into the realm of colonial powers. These new territories provided strategic outposts in the Pacific and Caribbean, expanding American influence and trade opportunities (OpenStax, Chapter 22, pg. 643).

  1. Emergence as a Naval Power:

The war highlighted the importance of a strong navy. The decisive victories of Dewey in Manila Bay and Sampson at Santiago de Cuba showcased American naval prowess (OpenStax, Chapter 22, pg. 644). This newfound respect for American naval power would play a crucial role in future global engagements.

  1. “Manifest Destiny” Revived:

The victory fueled a renewed sense of American exceptionalism and the belief in “Manifest Destiny” – the idea that the U.S. was destined to expand its influence across the globe. This ideology fueled further interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean, shaping American foreign policy in the early 20th century (OpenStax, Chapter 22, pg. 645).

The Debate on Justification:

However, the war’s justification remains a subject of debate:

  • Supporting Arguments: Proponents argue that the war was necessary to liberate Cuba from Spanish oppression and promote American interests in the region. The humanitarian crisis in Cuba due to Spanish policies added weight to the interventionist argument (Georgia Encyclopedia, “Spanish-American War in Georgia”).
  • Opposing Arguments: Critics argue that the war was fueled by expansionist ambitions and jingoism, manipulating public opinion with sensationalized reports of Spanish atrocities. They contend that the U.S. exploited the Cuban struggle for independence to benefit from the spoils of war (OpenStax, Chapter 22, pg. 642).

Conclusion:

The Spanish-American War undoubtedly propelled the U.S. onto the world stage. It secured overseas territories, bolstered American naval power, and revived the ideology of Manifest Destiny. However, the war’s justification remains a topic of debate, with arguments for both humanitarian intervention and imperialist expansionism. The lasting impact of the war on American foreign policy and its rise as a world power is undeniable.

 

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