10.3 Acquiring New Lands
Puerto Rico
- claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' second voyage to the Americas
- in 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War
- Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917
- popularly-elected governors have served since 1948
- in 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government
- in plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose to retain commonwealth status
- three options for the future?
- become US state
- become independent country
- remain a territory
Cuba
- In 1898, Spain gave control of Cuba to the US with the Treaty of Paris
- In 1902, the US granted Cuba its independence as promised with the Teller Amendment
- The US retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability with the Platt Amendment
- The US got control of Guantanamo Bay as well, a naval base we still have control of today
- In 1934, the Platt Amendment was repealed
The Philippines
- McKinley's Dilemma: What to do with the Philippines?
- "there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all...", and christianize and educate them
- Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898
- After the Spanish-American War, the US took over the islands for $20 million in the 1898 Treaty of Paris.
- The Philippine-American War broke out after the Filipinos realized that the US would not give them independence
- it ended with American control over the islands
- 12,000-20,000 Filipinos soldiers dead
- 200,0000-1.5 million Filipino civilians die- some contend US committed genocide
- 4,165 US soldiers dead
- in 1935, the Philippines was granted Commonwealth status.
- plans for independence of the next decade were interrupted by World War II when the Japanese invaded and took them over
- Allied troops defeated the Japanese in 1945
- On July 4, 1946, the Philippines attained its independence
China
- By the late 1800s, it was looking as if China would be carved up like Africa had been
- China wanted to prevent this from happening
- The Boxer Rebellion
- John Hay- Open Door Policy
- all countries should have free trade with China
- independence for China
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