Imperialism's Bitter Fruit

1. a. After the Spanish were forced out of the Philippines, why did fighting break out between American and Filipino forces?
Tension was high between American and Filipino troops for months becasue the Filipinos wanted independence, but the Americans were still there. Then, fighting borke out between the American and Filipino forces because an American soldier fired on a Filipino patrol that refused to halt. Then the fighting soon spread to the area around Minila.

b. How was this a different kind of warfare for American forces?
This was a different kind of warfare for American forces because the U.S soldiers had to fight a gurilla force that blended with civilians.

2. Why were many African-Americans strong critics of the war against Filipino nationalists?
Many Aferican Americans were critics of the war against Filipino nationalists because the attitude towrds Filipinos was very racist and were often refered to with the same racial slurrs used for blacks. Morover, the black soldiers were discriminated agianst in the Philipines and were often reminded of theis by Filipinos.

3. Explain two reasons why the United States lost some of its enthusiasm for imperialism in the early 1900s.

a. Lots of U.S soldiers were dieing and Americans saw imperialsim as incresing conflict around the world and saw no need for that.

b. There were amny legal, political and administrative issues about occupying the Philipines and the public and government diid not want this burden.


4. What were the positive effects of American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba?
The possitive effects of the American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba were the irradication of yellow fever, establishment of railroad and telegraph lines, schools opened, and improved sanitation.

5. After the Spanish-American War, the United States insisted that Cuba only receive independence after agreeing to several limitations set forth in the Platt Amendment. Four restrictions on Cuban independence set forth in the Platt Amendment were:

a. U.S right to oversee Cuban economy


b. Veto power over Cuban foreighn poplicy


c. build a Naval base at Guantanimo bay


d.intervine in Cuba in order to preserve "life, properaty and individual liberty"

Was the United States justified in making these demands? Explain your reasoning.
The United States was not justified in making these demans. First of all, the United States had jus fought a war for Cuban independance, and this just continues thier oppression under a new master. Also, the U.S had no right to impose its will over an independent country even if it was just freed by the U.S.

6. Do you believe the United States was imperialist? Why or why not?
The United states was imperialistic. In the space of 10-15 years the United States aquiered many new colonies. These include many of the islands in the Pacific and Puerto Rico. The U.S also fought a war with Spain which conviniently gained them more colonies. These are obviosly the actions of an imperialsitic nation, whether it saw itself as one or net. Empires strive to aquier new lands, which is exactly what the United States did.