Download Acquiring New Lands

Acquiring New Lands
Big Questions
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How was the United States involved in Puerto Rico and Cuba?
What were the causes and effects of the Philippine-American
War?
Ruling Puerto Rico
 Some Puerto Ricans wanted independence and the
chance to be their own country
 Some wanted statehood in the United States
 Some wanted to be a U.S. territory and have some
self-government
Military Influence in Puerto Rico
 During the Spanish-American war, U.S. forces had
occupied Puerto Rico
 The U.S. general in charge assured Puerto Ricans
that the U.S. troops were there to protect them and
their property, and to bring prosperity
 Puerto Rico would be controlled by the U.S. military
until Congress decided otherwise
Puerto Rico’s Fate
 Puerto Rico was strategically important to the U.S.
 By occupying Puerto Rico, the U.S. could maintain its presence
in the Caribbean
 Occupation allowed the U.S. to protect the location of a canal
that the U.S. had planned to build across Panama
 1900 – Foraker Act ended military rule in Puerto
Rico

Gave the United States the power to appoint Puerto Rico’s
governor and some of the legislature
 Puerto Ricans were given U.S. citizenship in 1917
Cuba and the U.S.
 When the U.S. declared
war against Spain in 1898,
it recognized Cuba’s
independence from Spain
 The U.S. also passed the
Teller Amendment, which
stated that the U.S. had no
intention of taking over
Cuba
 Treaty of Paris further
guaranteed Cuban
independence
America’s Presence in Cuba
 Though officially
independent, Cuba was
occupied by American troops
when the war was over
 Jose Marti, who had led the
Cuban independence
movement, was afraid that the
U.S. would replace Spain as a
ruler
 Same officials who had served
under Spanish control
remained in office under U.S.
occupation
 Cubans who protested this
policy were imprisoned or
exiled
Positives of U.S. Occupation in Cuba
 American military government provided food and
clothing for thousands of families
 Also helped farmers put land back into cultivation
 Helped organize and build elementary schools
 Improved sanitation and medical research which
helped eliminate yellow fever
Platt Amendment
 When Cuba drafted its Constitution, the United
States insisted that Cuba include the following rules:
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Cuba could not make treaties that might limit its independence
or permit a foreign power to control any party of it
The United States reserved the right to intervene in Cuba
Cuba could not go into debt
The U.S. could buy or lease land on the island for naval and
refueling stations
Reactions to the Platt Amendment
 U.S. made it clear that the military would not leave
until Cuba adopted the rules of the Platt Amendment
 Many Cubans reacted negatively
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Some marched around the house of the military governor,
Leonard Wood, demanding changes
Some even wanted to take up arms again to fight the United
States
 U.S. government stood firm, Cuba gave in and
accepted the rules

Cuba became a U.S. protectorate, a country whose affairs are
partially controlled by a stronger power
The Philippines
 Filipinos were outraged
about the Treaty of Paris,
which gave the U.S. the
Philippines

Filipinos wanted
independence
 Rebel leader Emilio
Aguinaldo believed that
the U.S. had promised
independence

He and his followers
vowed to continue to fight
for independence
Philippine-American War
 February, 1899 – the
Philippines rose in revolt
 U.S. then took on the same
role that Spain had in the
previous war
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When Filipinos adopted
guerilla tactics, U.S. had them
rounded up into concentration
camps
This was the same practice
that Americans had
condemned Spain for using in
Cuba
 It took the U.S. nearly 3 years,
4,000 American lives, 20,000
Filipino lives, and $400
million to put down rebellion
Aftermath of the War
 After suppressing the
rebellion, the United
States set up a
government in the
Philippines similar to the
one it had established in
Puerto Rico
 The Philippines finally
became an independent
nation on July 4th, 1946
Opinions of U.S. Imperialism
 William McKinley was re-elected against William
Jennings Bryant, an anti-imperialist

McKinley took this as support for his imperialist policies
 Anti-Imperialist League formed in the United States
 Included Grover Cleveland, Andrew Carnegie, Jane Addams
 They believed it was wrong for the U.S. to rule people without
their consent
 Many felt the U.S. shouldn’t get involved in foreign
affairs with colonies
Quick Review
 How did the United States deal with Puerto Rico
after the war? How did Puerto Ricans feel about
this?
 How did the United States deal with Cuba after the
war? How did Cubans feel about this?
 How did the United States deal with the Philippines
after the war? How did Filipinos feel about this?
 What were some different opinions about the U.S.
policy of imperialism?