Changes

Victory for America was swift in Cuba, and it produced a future president:  Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders."  They heroically conquered a hill during brief fighting in Cuba, which was nothing compared to John McCain's 7 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, but the media played up Roosevelt's conquest as much as possible.

Victory for America was swift in Cuba, and it produced a future president:  Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders."  They heroically conquered a hill during brief fighting in Cuba, which was nothing compared to John McCain's 7 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, but the media played up Roosevelt's conquest as much as possible.

The fighting in the Philippines was much fiercer, and cost far more lives and money. In 1898, Commander George Dewey sneaked into Manila Bay in Philippines and destroyed the entire Spanish Pacific Fleet.  The United States thereby defeated Spain quickly there, but some Muslim natives of the Philippines and surrounding areas intensely rebelled for three years, using "guerrilla" or terrorist tactics that became more familiar to the world a century later.

The fighting in the Philippines was much fiercer, and cost far more lives and money. In 1898, Commander George Dewey snuck into Manila Bay in Philippines and destroyed the entire Spanish Pacific Fleet.  The United States thereby defeated Spain quickly there, but some Muslim natives of the Philippines and surrounding areas intensely rebelled for three years, using "guerrilla" or terrorist tactics that became more familiar to the world a century later.

This type of unrelenting resistance was a precursor to the difficult Vietnam War, and fighting terrorists in the 21st century.  Finally the United States Army simply killed nearly all the insurgents.  But Muslim fighting to establish Islam as the primary religion in the Philippines and neighboring territory continues to this day.<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/fighting_the_moros.html</ref>

This type of unrelenting resistance was a precursor to the difficult Vietnam War, and fighting terrorists in the 21st century.  Finally, the United States Army simply killed nearly all the Filipino insurgents who continued to attack Americans.  But Muslim fighting to establish Islam as the primary religion in the Philippines and neighboring territory continues to this day.<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/fighting_the_moros.html</ref>

After the fighting stopped in the Philippines, the issue was presented to President McKinley as to what to do with the territory.  Newspapers opposed an American return of the Philippines to Spain, fearing Spain would mistreat the Filipino people.  President McKinley agreed with the newspapers and kept the Philippines as an American territory.  It remained a U.S. territory until 1946, when the United States granted it independence shortly after World War II.

After the fighting stopped in the Philippines, the issue was presented to President McKinley as to what to do with the territory.  Newspapers opposed an American return of the Philippines to Spain, fearing Spain would mistreat the Filipino people.  President McKinley agreed with the newspapers and kept the Philippines as an American territory.  It remained a U.S. territory until 1946, when the United States granted it independence shortly after World War II.

After the Spanish-American War, the United States granted Cuba independence on the condition that it insert the "Platt Amendment" into its constitution.  This Amendment gave the U.S. the right to intercede in Cuba whenever necessary, and allowed the U.S. to keep a naval base (called Guantanamo Bay) on the island.  More than a century later, the Bush Administration imprisoned terrorists there after they were captured in Afghanistan following 9/11, and liberals have complained about continued use of that facility for this purpose.  President Obama promised to move these suspected terrorists to United States jails and try them in American courts, but public opposition to his plan prevented this from happening.

After the Spanish-American War, the United States granted Cuba independence on the condition that it insert the "Platt Amendment" into its constitution.  This Amendment gave the U.S. the right to intercede in Cuba whenever necessary, and allowed the U.S. to keep a naval base (called Guantanamo Bay) on the island.  More than a century later, the Bush Administration imprisoned terrorists there after they were captured in Afghanistan following 9/11, and liberals have complained about continued use of that facility for this purpose.  President Obama promised to move these suspected terrorists to United States jails and try them in American courts, but public opposition to his plan prevented this from happening.

The Treaty of Paris in 1898 ended the Spanish-American War based on Spain leaving Cuba, the United States buying the Philippines for $20 million dollars, and the United States also acquiring Guam and Puerto Rico.   

The Treaty of Paris in 1898 ended the Spanish-American War with Spain leaving Cuba, the United States buying the Philippines for $20 million dollars, and the United States also acquiring Guam and Puerto Rico.   

'''Debate:  Was our imperialism driven by business interests, such as sugar in Cuba and Philippines?  Many critics said so, calling our foreign policy "dollar diplomacy" (diplomacy motivated by profit-making).'''

'''Debate:  Was our imperialism driven by business interests, such as sugar in Cuba and Philippines?  Many critics said so, calling our foreign policy "dollar diplomacy" (diplomacy motivated by profit-making).'''

In 1900, the Foraker Act was passed by Congress to give some self-government to Puerto Rico, which by then was a U.S. territory.

In 1900, the Foraker Act was passed by Congress to give some self-government to Puerto Rico, which by then was a U.S. territory.

In 1901, the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty between the United States and England authorized the U.S. to build a neutral canal in Central America.  This led to the building of the Panama Canal, which linked efficient shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and became a huge success, much as the Erie Canal in New York had about 90 years earlier.  The first ship passed through the Panama Canal in 1914.

In 1901, the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty between the United States and England authorized the U.S. to build a neutral canal in Central America.  This led to the building of the Panama Canal, which linked efficient shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and became a huge success, much as the Erie Canal in New York had about 90 years earlier.  The first ship passed through the Panama Canal in 1914.  However, Democratic President Jimmy Carter gave the canal to Panama in a 1977 treaty (with narrow Senate approval over much opposition by conservatives), and China runs the Panama Canal today.

'''Debate:  Was imperialism all bad?  Was any of it bad?'''

'''Debate:  Was imperialism all bad?  Was any of it bad?'''