Today is Friday! Tomorrow is the long anticipated UNI Dome football championship! As we all know, we are playing Pella. Their mascot is apparently the Dutchman or something like that. Zach wasn't quite prepared for his blog topic so Mr. Bruns filled in with his own presentation.2.) Discuss the causes of the Spanish-American War.The Spanish-American War really began when the United States set a few war goals. One of these goals was to liberate Cuba from Spanish control. Many people from the U.S. had plantations in Cuba. A group lead by Jose Marti went out and destroyed much of the U.S. owned property in Cuba. They did this in a way that made it appear as though Spain was behind the attacks and destruction. Of course this infuriated Americans and we went to war with Spain.The newspapers and media took these accusations and took them to the next level. They convinced many Americans that Spain was attacking these plantations and that the Spanish army was being led General Valeriano Weyler. They made it seem as though this general was killing thousands of Cubans into concentration camps.These camps were pretty much just large prison camps for the Cubans who were making too much trouble. The General was ahead of this operation. Many people died from starvation in these camps and the newspapers made it sound like the General was systematically killing these people off.This form of newspaper attack and propeganda is known as "Yellow Press". One event really set the newspapers off, and fed off of American's anger by demanding war with Spain. The USS Maine was sent down to Cuba to protect American Property. A large explosion caused the ship to sink and killed 258 U.S. military sailors. Newspapers claimed that the ship was sunk by a Spanish mine. Today, it seems that the sinking was an accident. As you can guess, the ill-informed Americans demanded war with Spain.Enrique Dupay de Lome was a Spansih Ambassador to the United States. The Yellow Press intercepted a letter written by de Lome that was meant to go to President McKinley. The letter called McKinley a weak president who easily submitted to the whims of others. This along with the sinking of the Main sparked the war.Jingoism played a large part in the Spanish American War. People felt that they had to act against Spain so that America would not seem weak. Even though Spain had done everything that America had asked, like firing Weyler and du Lome, apologizing for the sinking of the Maine, and even offering to free Cuba. With all of the momentum of these events, America ultimately pressured McKinley into declaring war on Spain. The war really could have been completely avoided.The American military was really poorly equipped to fight the war. The army was sent down to Cuba to fight the war. The troops were issued wool uniforms. This in and of itself is a completely terrible decision. The heat of Cuba made the wool clothes nearly unbearable. The troops were fed rotten food which killed many troops. The horses for the Cavalry was also forgotten in Florida. The US Navy did a great job and greatly helped their land-based kin. The only reason that America really won the war was because they were facing a weak army/nation.Cuba won its independence with strings attached.3.) Discuss the effects of the Spanish-American War. Know which countries were acquired as territories or gained independence as a result of this war as well as casualties and other points of the Treaty of Paris,4.) Why did imperialism and colonization come about and why did the US stay isolationist until the early 1900's?5.) Discuss the the development of the Panama Canal.6.) Discuss the following US foreign policies:7.) Big Stick Diplomacy--"Speak softly but carry a big stick"8.) Roosevelt Corollary and Monroe Doctrine9.) Dollar Diplomacy10.) Missionary DiplomacyTags:
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