An intricate tapestry of imperialism, press influence, and racism comprised the Spanish-American War.
Introduction
This Spanish-American War of 1898 allowed the nation to climb to the top list of international headliners and turned the page in American history. In this scholarly paper, I will explore the many reasons, including the heavy impact of the press, that sent the United States into the war. However, the discussion will be focused mainly on the Spanish-American Wars. This work discusses the ramifications of the war, the revelation of the parties to the benefit and those who suffered, and the American foreign policy. Additionally, it presents the intricate ideological conflict between imperialists and anti-imperialists, engages in an in-depth situation in the Philippines, and analyzes the vast ramifications of racial discrimination. The vitality of the Cuban and Filipino natives in the recent films gives a chance to evaluate the race attitudes and biases peculiar to that period. This study aims to reveal the most significant issues that were functional at that time, which was a critical period in the history of the United States, so it was decided to examine the mentioned aspects through
exhaustive research.
Reasons for the War
The foundation of the United States’ decision to engage in war against Spain was intrinsically connected to the complicated amalgamation of several objects and subjects both on the national and global levels. Primarily, the driving force behind this rapid growth was the need for market expansion. In a world filled with diminishing discoveries, the only option was to venture further away. The motivation for the pragmatic turn of the United States foreign policy stemmed from a profound belief in the supremacy of American exceptionalism and principles of Manifest Destiny, aimed at the United States consolidation and reinforcement of its hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. The need for expansion was supported by economic opportunities and the dream of dominating the international arena performance of Americans. Those strategic and ideological imperatives went hand-in-hand, leading to the Spanish-American War, which had fundamental changes. It had an unending impact on foreign policy and the historical record of the United States.
The role of the press
With the essential role played by the media, the war sentiments escalated, the sensationalization of impact on the people of Cuba intensified, and the image of Spain as a despotic regime emerged strongly. Leading news editorialists, among them the New York World (its owners were Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst), implied yellow journalism by getting the public
to read their sensationalized headlines and news by exaggerating the truth till it was outrageous.
Winners and Losers
The U. S. came through the Spanish-American War as a victorious nation and, thus, obtained its territories: Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, the forests of moral badness of colonialism and life that had been downed led to a noteworthy loss. The Spanish were forced to give up all their territories in the Pacific and Caribbean; this left no doubt who the defeat was.
Events abetting war fever
Relations between The United States and Spain were aggravated by certain causes, including the demise of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which, although there was doubt about the proof, was blamed on Spanish sabotage. Americans had a harsh view of Spain and became more suspicious of it after they were aware of the de Lôme letter, in which the Spanish ambassador defended President McKinley’s no more than-average wisdom.
Foreign policy planners’ objectives
The main aim of U.S. foreign policymakers was to establish and retain hegemony in the Western Hemisphere and expand the United States’ foreign policy footprint worldwide. Acquisition of overseas territories was regarded as a key element in these people’s plans since it made their trade routes safe, raw materials abundant, and military outposts strategic.
The intercourse gives place to anti-imperialists and imperialists.
The imperialists and anti-imperialists expressed conflicting opinions in the speech on the United States’ world leadership. Besides contributing to the intended imperialist venture of spreading national territory and establishing colonies, supporters of imperialism mentioned economic and strategic utilities as equally important factors. On the contrary, anti-imperialists were very skeptical of the practice of empires, including the subjugation of local populations and the exploitation of their human and natural wealth.
Events in the Philippines
The American troops fought a cruel war against Filipino insurgents who wanted independence from a foreign power after the United States annexed the Philippines. The war crimes committed by both sides involved during the Philippine-American War emphasized the difficulties of empire-building as well as attempts to gain control over populations who were unsure of their demands.
Role of racism
Besides, racism also influenced the policies of the administration of Cuba and the Philippines. Moreover, it led to the formulation of opinions concerning the populations in these two countries. White Americans generally considered non-white populations inferior, which, in their opinion, required civilization and supervision. Thus, participating in imperial endeavors was justified by the idea of benevolence as an
act of elevating and bringing development to uncivilized people.
Territories were not becoming states.
Statehood did not materialize for the territories of the Spanish-American War, primarily for Puerto Rico and Guam, due to the mix of factors such as cultural and racial biases. However, those territories differed from the Hawaiian ones that had acquired statehood in 1959, remained unincorporated, and were ruled by the colonial government. The rise of racial bias, targeting non-white populations in particular, was probably the obstacle on the way to the assimilation of these communities into the political map of the United States. Moreover, their identity as fundamentally different from the mainland was aggravated by cultural differences, which slowed down their movement toward statehood. The legacy of discrimination and colonialism in the American political system through the lens of this history is most evident.
This is evident in the media portrayal of both the Cubans and Filipinos.
As the media showcased characters of Cuban and Filipino descent during the Spanish-American War, they portrayed very condescending attitudes and stereotypes of racial types. The Americans were depicted as the saints, and the Spanish were portrayed as perpetrators of the suppression while valuing their liberty. Although the Filipinos were portrayed as sunk in antiquity and incapable of running their affairs, supporting the American intervention in the Philippines was the reason behind this. This picturization touched not only people’s minds but also changed the direction of policies acceptable to many citizens because they were the vice presidents of colonialism.
Conclusion
The Spanish-American war and its results reveal the complex nature of American policy, the influence of media, and the consequences that are continuous in the country due to imperialism and racism. The understanding of the critical factors that drive a country, such as the U.S., toward global recognition may be gained through careful analysis of the war’s origins and the ways the media disseminate their stories and the result thereof on the affected areas. This historical examination strengthens our critical thought and gives us an enlightened consideration of the points at which power, internalization, and identity intersect to control international affairs.