The post-Civil War era positively impacted American Imperialism after the Spanish American War through advancements in technology, transportation, and improvement economically. Post-Civil War came with the more common use of tech like ammunition. The inventions of railroads like in the Westward movement and other modes of transportation helped impact the US economically. Economically, railroads increased the booming of some businesses, typically having shops and towns being set up near railroad stations, and corporations usually hiring various people due to cheaper pay, etc. These reasons created the idea that America was great and should go out into the world and aid other countries for their benefit and become the world’s police force. This …show more content…
At first, railroads in America connected the country as a whole with their trading and corporations were setting up towns around the railroad companies to help pull people in for employment. As people used the railroads to move farther West, more migrated and set up homes and businesses there to help support their families as they worked in this busy time. As more people moved, the factories grew in size, and in came the Gilded Age. During the Gilded Age, America seemed prosperous because of how fast and big these cities were becoming. This caused more people to immigrate around the country, looking for work. Railroads gave jobs to many people of color and women and children around the cities which, in turn, developed the different classes, especially the middle class. As America grew, so did the facade of wealth which made it look like America was becoming a powerful country. Ships started becoming more utilized during the Spanish-American War as America used its ships to trade with Cuba and Cuba became of American interest due to the ideal site for trading, the Panama Canal, being so close to Cuba and with the interest of American businesses in Cuba. The Panama Canal quickly became an important military strategy for the US, thanks to Theodore Roosevelt, as it allowed for trading more efficiently. As the US backed Cuba in its fight against Spain for independence, they utilized ships for the transportation of things like ammunition, as seen on the USS Maine. As the US aided Cuba in its independence from Spain, the appearance of America’s power grew. This allowed the US to take over other small islands from Spain like the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico for their gain. The US used these islands for military power and usage of coaling stations and naval bases to help spread its