REASONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES WHY THE UNITED STATES MOVED FROM

ISOLATION INTO AN INTERNATIONAL ROLE AFTER THE SPANISH AMERICAN

WAR

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Introduction

Since the error of Spanish-American War until the current clash in the Middle East, the

international role of the United States has shifted greatly. For instance, it has abandoned the

relative isolation belief because of various reasons. Among the main reasons include; the

influence from the constitutionally powerful citizens, congress and presidential advisors; the

humanitarian need to eliminate misery among Cuban citizens; nationwide interest in economic

expansion and Social Darwinism. In addition, the increased involvement of the US in global

activities resulted in the strengthening of its Society. Other reasons include embracing imperialist

policies and enhancing its political and economic factors1.

Reasons why the United States abandoned relative isolation policies and adapted an active

international role in global activities;

According to businesses and humanitarian leaders, the suffering of the Cuban people in

the hands of Spain needed international attention. Additionally, the United States civilians did

not comprehend the role of the United States in the foreign country.2 For instance, the civilians

did not have any information regarding yellow journalism. As a result, Newspaper experts

Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst took advantage of this chance to sell gripping daily

newspaper to the citizens. This newspaper had false information regarding how Cuban military

was slaughtering civilians as well as the desperation of the Cuban rebels. Some other false

information on the daily include the explosion of the United States Maine and the false events of

Evangelina, the18 year old, who tried to seek self-freedom from the Spanish soldiers3.

1 Allan Dawley, Changing the world: American progressives in war and revolution (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2003), 243.2 Erick Nordlinger, Isolationism Reconfigured American Foreign Policy for a New Century (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001), 128.3 Martin, Folly, and Niall Palmer, Historical dictionary of U.S. diplomacy from World War I through World War II (Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2010), 321.

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The false information prompted many Americans, to be precise, widow of Ulysses S.

Grant, Julia Dent Grant, and the founder of American Red Cross, Clara Barton to be greatly

concerned about the Cuban people. The newspaper gave American citizens one-sided story about

the Cuban war of independence and also resulted in immense support from the American

people4.

Pressure from the powerful U.S citizens, Congress, and presidential advisors influenced

President McKinley to take part in the war. However, the action was termed as the greatest

mistake in the U.S. history. This was attributed to the fact that it was the first time for the U.S to

put aside its anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist principles by capturing overseas colonies. Both

civilian and non-civilian populations were demanding for wars which were triggered by Yellow

journalism and other events. The need for economic and commercial expansion made policy

makers to consider a greater international involvement by the U.S government. They needed a

trade route in the oceans; because the only convenient route was through the pacific and Atlantic

oceans, via a small land called Panama. As a result, there was the Trans-Panama railroad

construction, which was started in 1848 and ended in 1855.5

Similarly, this period saw rivalry between the U.S and Britain which occurred because of

mutual interest in an alternative trade route through Nicaragua. The rivalry resulted in the

signing of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of the 1850. The treaty aimed at assuring that both the U.S

and Britain had no power regarding the transoceanic pathways. As a consequence, the French

efforts to construct a canal in Panama in 1881 were not actualized and in 1889, the French gave

up the construction of the Panama Canal. In June 1902, the U.S senate decided to take charge of

4 Robert, Kagan, Present dangers: crisis and opportunity in American foreign and defense policy (San Francisco, Calif: Encounter Books, 2000), 122.5 Franklin Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Susan Butler, My dear Mr. Stalin: the complete correspondence between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph V. Stalin (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005), 178.

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the canal, compelling its President, Roosevelt, to purchase the excavation and site equipment

from the French in 1904.

Following the canal construction, the U.S understood the significance of protecting

overseas resources. This intensified the United States international role as well as its foreign

policy signifying its quest for imperialism. In addition, there was the creation of political and

economic control overseas, which resulted in the nation extending its authority by acquiring

other territories. In 1890s, the U.S started its advances in Hawaii and invaded the islands in 1896.

In addition, it started implementing open door economic policies with China with the primary

objective of getting an international market for United States of America produced goods. The

policy also aimed at enhancing US participation in politics at a global level with other European

powers6.

The farming activities in the newly opened land and the industrialization made the U.S

become a serious player in the global economy; thus it had to transform itself to become an

exporter rather an importer of capital. Equally, the urgency of protecting investments and trade

overseas was rising, and the advances in communications and technology continued to render the

oceans space less important. Thus, for the U.S. to adapt to the changes there was a dire need to

get involved in global social-economic activities. As a result, the U.S came up with a vigorous

foreign policy and also advanced its global participation. In 1884 for instance, the U.S.

participated in a conference in Berlin with a purpose of solving problems in Congo. At the same

time, it hosted the earliest pan-African meeting, the Washington meeting on Samoa among

others.7

6 Robert Tucker, Woodrow Wilson and the Great War: reconsidering America's neutrality 1914-1917 (Charlottesville, VA [etc.]: University of Virginia Press, 2007), 149. 7 Kerry Graves, The Spanish-American War (Mankato, Minn: Capstone Books, 2000), 203.

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The writings of Charles Darwin about the “survival for the fittest”, talks of social

Darwinism, which claim that society should be studied from a human perspective and that people

take advantage of others as a consequence of biological or genetic superiority. Therefore, the

application of Darwinism justifies the numerous differences between European and American

imperialistic activities of the 19th century.

Consequences of adapting active role in international affairs to the American Society;

The Spanish-American war was triggered by a series of conflict between America and

Spain. The war commenced in 1898 April and ended in 1898 December after signing the Paris

Negotiations Treaty. As a result, Spain lost its power and its overseas empires, but ceded Puerto

Rico, Cuba Guam Island, the Philippines and some regions in the Spanish West Indies to the

United States. Philippines’ cession to the United States entailed the payment of twenty million

dollars to the Spanish empire by the United States. The Treaty resulted in a controversy in the

United States. For instance, individuals who were against imperialism labeled the United States

“hypocrite” for reproaching European colonies in the pursuit of their own interests. The intention

of Spanish-American War was not to seize Philippines, but to free Cuba. The criticism from anti-

imperialism increased when Emilio, Aguinaldo, the leader of Filipino rebels waged against

American colonies a three-year insurrection. However, the war resulted in soaring of the United

States national pride as well as its nationalism8.

The involvement in international affairs also signaled the resurfacing of the United States

of America as a superpower. For instance, it gained enormous influence on matters of

international diplomacy and relations. It role in international affairs in-conjunction with its rapid

economic and industrialization growth enhanced its emergence as a great power. Its (the United

8 Phil Wadsworth, International history 1871-1945 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013), 385.

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States) involvement in international affairs helped it in successfully emerging from a century

characterized by Isolation and expanding its role in global affairs. Equally, the international role

was a clear demonstration of the U.S. shift towards imperialism. This shift was quite a surprise to

other colonies because it had greatly opposed the habits of European colonies. Some nations did

not welcome the interference by the United States in world affairs.

The U.S. international role also demonstrated that the late nineteenth-century

industrialization hade enhanced its emergence as a great power. Equally, the U.S. experience in

World War one significantly increased its position as a military, political, and economic

superpower in international affairs. Additionally, its role in international affairs served as a

lesson on the threats that characterized international commitments

Americans after the termination of the Spanish-American war began feeling empowered and

confident because they had acquired a key place in the global hierarchal system. For the initial

time, it was in a position to fulfill its interest and exercise authority on a global scale with the

primary objective of protecting itself. Nonetheless, United States after a few decades began

transforming its foreign policies9.

After the First World War, the United States culture was characterized by violence,

racism, despair and confusion. The United States quietly terminated its open door policy by

introducing the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the 1924 Immigration Act. The latter act

restricted the annual immigration to the country. This was a clear indication of racial disparity in

the United States. For instance, 1915 foresaw the formation of Ku Klux Klan in Atlanta Georgia.

The clan expanded and became a social menace for people of color. The clan adopted a

contemporary recruitment system that was characterized by racial disparieties. Despite the

9 William Roosen, Daniel Defoe and diplomacy (Selinsgrove: Susquehanna University Press, 1986), 164.

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increasing racial disparities, the United States government responsibilities were increasing in the

international scene.

In conclusion, the 1920’s saw the expansion of the country’s private enterprises which

greatly enhanced foreign investment and export trade10. By focusing on private interests, United

States government managed to take part in the world economy. As a matter of fact, a national

financial prosperity affected its security that consequently affected the influence it had on other

nations. As a consequence of economic prosperity, American felt and still continues to feel the

awakening impact. President Eisenhower referred this impact as military-industrial complex. The

period of awakening signified the commencement of an era of terrorism, hypocrisy, and

systematic oppression. This shift in ideologies was extremely dangerous for the nation that was

once founded on anti-colonial and anti-imperialist tendencies.

10 Michael Cox, and Doug Stokes, US foreign policy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), 524.

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Bibliography

Cox, Michael, and Doug Stokes. US foreign policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Dawley, Alan. Changing the world: American progressives in war and revolution. Princeton,

N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2003.

9

Folly, Martin, and Niall Palmer. Historical dictionary of U.S. diplomacy from World War I

through World War II. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2010.

Graves, Kerry. The Spanish-American War. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Books, 2000.

Kagan, Robert. Present dangers: crisis and opportunity in American foreign and defense policy.

San Francisco, Calif: Encounter Books, 2000.

Nordlinger, Eric. Isolationism Reconfigured American Foreign Policy for a New Century.

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001.

Roosen, William. Daniel Defoe and diplomacy. Selinsgrove: Susquehanna University Press,

1986.

Roosevelt, Franklin, Joseph Stalin, and Susan Butler. My dear, Mr. Stalin: the complete

correspondence between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph V. Stalin. New Haven: Yale

University Press, 2005.

Tucker, Robert. Woodrow Wilson and the Great War: reconsidering America's neutrality 1914-

1917. Charlottesville, VA [etc.]: The University of Virginia Press, 2007.

Wadsworth, Phil. International history 1871-1945. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

2013.

9

Folly, Martin, and Niall Palmer. Historical dictionary of U.S. diplomacy from World War I

through World War II. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2010.

Graves, Kerry. The Spanish-American War. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Books, 2000.

Kagan, Robert. Present dangers: crisis and opportunity in American foreign and defense policy.

San Francisco, Calif: Encounter Books, 2000.

Nordlinger, Eric. Isolationism Reconfigured American Foreign Policy for a New Century.

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001.

Roosen, William. Daniel Defoe and diplomacy. Selinsgrove: Susquehanna University Press,

1986.

Roosevelt, Franklin, Joseph Stalin, and Susan Butler. My dear, Mr. Stalin: the complete

correspondence between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph V. Stalin. New Haven: Yale

University Press, 2005.

Tucker, Robert. Woodrow Wilson and the Great War: reconsidering America's neutrality 1914-

1917. Charlottesville, VA [etc.]: The University of Virginia Press, 2007.

Wadsworth, Phil. International history 1871-1945. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

2013.