Colonial rule, or colonialism, is “the control or governing influence of a
nation over a dependent country, territory, or people,” according to
Dictionary.com. For the longest time, British colonies in the United
States were under colonial rule by Great Britain. Once reaching an end
of the American pioneering era, America had to start looking to foreign
markets and businesses to keep afloat with the world around it (Source
2). So then, once under the influence of foreign markets and businesses,
America was really under colonial rule by other countries because
America had to conduct international business and trade with those
markets on their terms to survive. This is because those businesses and
corporations had what America needed- jobs, goods, and services. It can
be concluded that the U.S. was going to have to conduct international
business or it was going to take a war to get the American economy
revived and an empire going (Source 2).
America’s pioneering era ended because in the 1890s there was so much
industry development that took place (Source 2). After three centuries
of roaming the frontier, the original lines of territory vanished
because America was now a whole country with a whole continent (Source
2). Although industries had been created all throughout the land and
provided folks with jobs, it can be inferred that the economy was not
able to survive because there was no demand. There was not a demand
because there was not a hefty population. Theodore Roosevelt once told a
friend in 1897, “I should welcome almost any war, for I think this
country needs one,” (Source 2). Whether the generations of people today
know it or not, America found its hope in the Spanish-American War as
the answer to economic problems.
It would be this war that would bring America to the power that it has
possessed for over the last century and more. A wise action to take is a
brief pause to think about how colonial rule has been in force in
America. It was earlier stated that colonies in America were first ruled
by Britain before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
America had to go to businesses in other countries to keep its own
economy afloat. Now America would be the country to get to be in
colonial rule of other countries after the war would end.
Many details involving America in the Spanish-American War are mentioned
in various descriptions. But the turning point for America getting
involved was when the U.S.S. Maine was blown away by a massive explosion
caused by Spain in 1898 (Source 3). It was only a month and a half after
the attack, which President William McKinley would declare war on Spain
(Source 3). America was also in the battle to purchase Cuba and to
conquer other Spanish territories. The greatest lesson to learn here is
that American troops were persistent. America lost 3,000 lives and paid
$250 million by the time it was over, but persistence led America to
achieve most of what the leaders and the country wanted (Source 3).
The peace treaty that was signed in Paris on December 10, 1898 granted
freedom to Cuba (Source 3). Puerto Rico and Guam were handed to the
United States, and the U.S. could purchase the Philippines Islands for
$20 million from Spain (Source 3). Though the war lasted only four
months, it still involved strategy and expert decision-making by U.S.
leaders (Source 3). Simply because it didn’t last very long is not an
excuse to dismiss it. In fact, it should only be studied and reviewed
even more above other history subjects pertaining to the United States.
After the Spanish-American War, America had its first territories. Prior
to the war, Americans had probably been so used to being under colonial
rule, but after the war, it allowed them to stand on the other side for
once. It empowered them to bring this nation to the top of the world. In
answering the question on how colonial rule and American Imperialism are
related, we first saw that America was divided and under colonial rule.
First, it was the thirteen colonies under control of Britain. Secondly,
America was under colonial rule by giving itself out to businesses in
other countries to survive. Thirdly, once attaining territories from
Spain, America had changed sides of colonial rule. Now it would be where
immigrants from those countries would come to America for opportunities.
We still see it going on today. It can further be inferred that American
Imperialism grew globally as it acquired territories and began to
befriend neighboring countries of those territories to make America’s
economy the best and top economy of the world.
Sources:
1. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/colonialism
2. http://www.shmoop.com/spanish-american-war/
3. http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/intro.html
4.
http://www.shmoop.com/spanish-american-war/botw/images.html?d=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/trhtml/trrr.jpg
-This source is a picture of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders
Regiment on San Juan Hill, Cuba in 1898. Information on this photograph
retrieved from http://www.shmoop.com/spanish-american-war/images.html
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