Changes

==Foreign policy==

==Foreign policy==

Foreign policy entered the national spolight during the McKinley Administration. His administration was notable for the [[Spanish-American War]] of 1898, which McKinley reluctantly entered after a large amount of public and media pressure. McKinley signed a joint resolution of Congress annexing [[Hawaii]] on July 7, 1898.  

[[File:Columbia4.jpg|thumb|320px|Columbia is a sailor in President McKinley's navy, and is trying on "world power" on April 6, 1901; the feather is smoke representing expansion into the Pacific and caribbean]] Foreign policy entered the national spolight during the McKinley Administration. His administration was notable for the [[Spanish-American War]] of 1898, which McKinley reluctantly entered after a large amount of public and media pressure. McKinley signed a joint resolution of Congress annexing [[Hawaii]] on July 7, 1898.  

By far the gravest issue during McKinley's presidency concerned relations with [[Spain]]. For some years interested Americans in and out of Congress had demanded American intervention in [[Cuba]] with an eye toward seizing the island and other Spanish territory. Apparently McKinley had no objection to the creation of an American empire, but he was personally opposed to a war to obtain one. Unlike President Cleveland, however, he responded to pressure and intervened in Cuban affairs. After the insulting De Lome letter and the [[Battleship Maine|destruction of the U.S.S. ''Maine'']] in Havana harbor in February, 1898, McKinley sent an ultimatum to the Spanish government demanding the abandonment of the ''Reconcentrado ''policy in Cuba and the institution of an armistice. After some delay Spain promised to meet most of the demands. McKinley, however, had already succumbed to the pressure for war and had written a message virtually asking for hostilities. Ignoring the Spanish answer, he submitted the message to Congress with the statement that he had "exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable condition of affairs" in Cuba. Congress quickly declared war and this culminated in an easy victory over Spain, though woefully bad administration discredited both the War and Navy departments. By the treaty of peace, Spain evacuated Cuba and ceded [[Puerto Rico]], [[Guam]], and the [[Philippine Islands]] to the United States.  

By far the gravest issue during McKinley's presidency concerned relations with [[Spain]]. For some years interested Americans in and out of Congress had demanded American intervention in [[Cuba]] with an eye toward seizing the island and other Spanish territory. Apparently McKinley had no objection to the creation of an American empire, but he was personally opposed to a war to obtain one. Unlike President Cleveland, however, he responded to pressure and intervened in Cuban affairs. After the insulting De Lome letter and the [[Battleship Maine|destruction of the U.S.S. ''Maine'']] in Havana harbor in February, 1898, McKinley sent an ultimatum to the Spanish government demanding the abandonment of the ''Reconcentrado ''policy in Cuba and the institution of an armistice. After some delay Spain promised to meet most of the demands. McKinley, however, had already succumbed to the pressure for war and had written a message virtually asking for hostilities. Ignoring the Spanish answer, he submitted the message to Congress with the statement that he had "exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable condition of affairs" in Cuba. Congress quickly declared war and this culminated in an easy victory over Spain, though woefully bad administration discredited both the War and Navy departments. By the treaty of peace, Spain evacuated Cuba and ceded [[Puerto Rico]], [[Guam]], and the [[Philippine Islands]] to the United States.  

On the vexing question of whether this nation should take the [[Philippines]] and thus become involved in Asiatic power politics, McKinley apparently had no strong convictions. He waited for a considerable time and then decided in favor of the acquisition.<ref> The story that he listened to God on the matter is probably apocryphal, but he did pray a great deal.</ref> During the rest of his first term he busied himself with the reorganization of the War and Navy departments, with an effort to win the [[Open Door]] in China, and with the problems growing out of the newly acquired territory.

On the vexing question of whether this nation should take the [[Philippines]] and thus become involved in Asiatic power politics, McKinley apparently had no strong convictions. He waited for a considerable time and then decided in favor of the acquisition.<ref> The story that he listened to God on the matter is probably apocryphal, but he did pray a great deal.</ref> During the rest of his first term he busied himself with the reorganization of the War and Navy departments, with an effort to win the [[Open Door]] in China, and with the problems growing out of the newly acquired territory.