United States Foreign Policy in the End of the 19th Century

        This nation, from its inception had a lust for real estate.
From the original chants of "manifest destiny" to the calls for the
annexation of Indian territories our nation has been driven to acquire
land. In this country's youth land was needed for economic expansion.
However, by the end of the 19th century the entire continental United
States was in our possession and the citizenry of this country turned
their eyes out to sea. the United States no longer sought new lands to
farm and work nor did they need new areas for their geological
resources, the motives had changed. the United States was now driven
by the temptations of world power and political one-ups-manship. the
self-absorbed citizenry looked upon their intrusion into foreign areas
as a moral obligation; to spread the words of democracy and Christ
throughout the world. the Spanish - American War in the final years of
the 19th century perfectly demonstrate this "new" Imperialism. In
addition the American intrusion into Chinese affairs during the Boxer
rebellion is also a proof for the new motives which governed our
international attitude.

        By the end of the 19th century Spanish forces in Cuba were in
all out battle with nationalist rebels. the Spanish army had tortured
and killed thousands of innocent Cubans in their efforts to maintain
control of Cuba. the American "Yellow Press" under the leadership of
Pulitzer and others wrote horrific articles about the war in Cuba and
called for the imposition of the United States into the matter under
the flag of moral obligation. President McKinley and his war hungry
Congress saw this as a perfect opportunity to have a "nice little war"
and bolster the status of the United States in the international
community. the war with Spain also gave McKinley am excuse to invade
the Spanish controlled Philippine islands, an important naval site
which would give the United States a voice in the far east....