The United States used military actions, political influences, economic incentives, and the idea of Manifest Destiny as tactics for expanding territories at the turn of the 20th Century. “The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere and secured the position of the United States as a Pacific power. U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States all annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict. Thus, the war enabled the United States to establish its predominance in the Caribbean region and to pursue its strategic and economic interests in Asia” (Office of the Historian, 1). This was a time that was seen as imperialism. The United States was a powerful nation that took control over weaker nations. They ultimately did this for monetary gain. As years have passed, many Americans have seen some of these actions that occurred as unethical. For example, on 11/23/1993 President Clinton formally apologized for the annexation of Hawaii through the “Apology Resolution” noting the United States wrongdoings. Many Americans thought imperialism went against their beliefs as a nation. They saw it as unethical and illegal.
The narrators of the podcast Throughline describe Minor Keith’s business relations with Central American countries as American colonialism. His presence in Central America was like American colonialism because he too physically took over foreign land to gain their natural resources and earn profit. However, he first appeared to be helping Central America. He is known for building the Costa Rica Railroad; and became the unknown king of Central America for helping establish ports, the post office, and other railroads in the area. Additionally, he helped Central America export their crops and products. Also, he was the founder of United Fruits, whose primary crop was bananas. In my opinion, there was no difference between what he did and the federal government interventions in island countries in the Pacific. His goal was monetary gain and finding a place he could build a name for himself. When he ran the United Fruit business he treated workers poorly. Long hours, poor working conditions that were dangerous because of the terrain/water, and improper paying conditions were some of the obstacles workers of his banana plantations faced. When building the railroads many lost their lives. For example, he recruited 700 prisoners to build the railroad when no one would work for him because of the poor conditions. He would eliminate their sentences once they were done. However, only 25 lived to be set free because of the dangerous working conditions of building a railroad in the middle of a jungle in Costa Rica. His motivation was money and establishing a business for himself regardless of the loss of human life or the treatment.
Work Cited:
Amin, Aisha. “Queen Lili’uokalani.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 7 Mar. 2023, www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/queen-liliuokalani-the-first-and-last-queen-of-hawaii-kx2oc7/15032/.
Digital History, www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=10&smtID=2. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Office of the Historian. “The Spanish-American War, 1898.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/spanish-american-war. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
“There Will Be Bananas.” NPR, NPR, 9 Jan. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/01/07/794302086/there-will-be-bananas.
The narrators of the podcast Throughline describe Minor Keith’s business relations with Central American countries as American colonialism. His presence in Central America was like American colonialism because he too physically took over foreign land to gain their natural resources and earn profit. However, he first appeared to be helping Central America. He is known for building the Costa Rica Railroad; and became the unknown king of Central America for helping establish ports, the post office, and other railroads in the area. Additionally, he helped Central America export their crops and products. Also, he was the founder of United Fruits, whose primary crop was bananas. In my opinion, there was no difference between what he did and the federal government interventions in island countries in the Pacific. His goal was monetary gain and finding a place he could build a name for himself. When he ran the United Fruit business he treated workers poorly. Long hours, poor working conditions that were dangerous because of the terrain/water, and improper paying conditions were some of the obstacles workers of his banana plantations faced. When building the railroads many lost their lives. For example, he recruited 700 prisoners to build the railroad when no one would work for him because of the poor conditions. He would eliminate their sentences once they were done. However, only 25 lived to be set free because of the dangerous working conditions of building a railroad in the middle of a jungle in Costa Rica. His motivation was money and establishing a business for himself regardless of the loss of human life or the treatment.
Work Cited:
Amin, Aisha. “Queen Lili’uokalani.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 7 Mar. 2023, www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/queen-liliuokalani-the-first-and-last-queen-of-hawaii-kx2oc7/15032/.
Digital History, www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=10&smtID=2. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Office of the Historian. “The Spanish-American War, 1898.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/spanish-american-war. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
“There Will Be Bananas.” NPR, NPR, 9 Jan. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/01/07/794302086/there-will-be-bananas.