Download Name: ______ Hour: _____ Imperialism Best Choice Debate In the

Name: ___________
Hour: _____
Imperialism Best Choice Debate
In the 1890s America was divided and the division surrounded the question of
imperialism. The country was polarized between the contradicting views of
America’s newest frontier: Expansionism or Anti-imperialism. The SpanishAmerican War raised the attention given to this debate. Politicians,
newspapers, journalists, and average Americans had to engage themselves
and form an opinion. For this assignment you will be asked to do the same.
Use your text, notes, the web, and any other sources to help form your stance
on the US intervention of the Cuban Revolution of the late 1890s.
Identify a source that supports both the Expansionist opinion and an
additional source that supports the Anti-Imperialist opinion. On Thursday I
will assign you to argue as either an Expansionist or an Anti-Imperialist.
1. Have your arguments for each perspective defined and sourced for
tomorrow’s debate. Arguments may be typed (highly encouraged) or
written on notebook paper.
EXAMPLE:
a. ARUGMENT: As an Expansionist, America must prove to the rest of the
world that we are not solely an industrial power. The United States
should use this opportunity to intervene in the Cuban Revolution and
“…show our strength ambition, interest, land hunger, pride, and the
mere joy of fighting”
a. SOURCE: (Washington Post Editorial 1898) to Spain and the rest
of the world.
b. ARGUMENT: As an Anti-Imperialist, America must remain independent
to the Cuban Revolution. The economic imperial motives of the
expansionists are no different than that of Spain. "We demand the
immediate cessation of the war against liberty, begun by Spain and
continued by us.”
a. SOURCE:(Presidents Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison).
**After reading about both perspectives, what is your personal opinion? Are you an Expansionist OR
Anti-Imperialist?
c. ARUGMENT(s): As an Expansionist…
a. SOURCE(s):
d. ARGUMENT(s): As an Anti-Imperialist…
a. SOURCE(s):
**After reading about both perspectives, what is your personal opinion? Are you an Expansionist OR
Anti-Imperialist?