Manifest Destiny And The Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War in 1898 marked a turning point in United States foreign policy due to the fact that it was the first time America stepped away from economic isolationism and embraced imperialism. Before the war, the country was dealing with Reconstruction and Manifest Destiny. After the war, the country was regulating entire civilized populations through acquired territories from the war, and the Panama Canal. Before the Spanish-American War, America was an isolationist country that kept its focus on internal affairs that were directly involved with the post-Civil War era. In particular, it related to Reconstruction and Manifest Destiny. Reconstruction dealt with the fact that the Union of America had to be rebuilt before America itself could function as its own independent power. In other words, America was too weak at the moment from splitting itself apart due to an internal war, that it did not have ability to deal with foreign affairs. On the other hand, Manifest Destiny was causing the country to continuously grow and change as a result of border disputes and the incorporation of new territories. For example, the Mexican-American War was fought over the

One of the only instances of this case was the Open Door Policy, in which America insisted on each country having equal access to China. Nevertheless, the interactions with Spain were influential enough to set the course for future American foreign policy with other countries. For example, this war was the first time America got involved in another country's independence. Cuba was in revolution, and in order to subdue the uprisings and ensure an advantageous treaty, America’s naval force overtook the Philippine islands. In the end, the Philippines were annexed, and Spain ceded Puerto Rico to America; both of which gave a major foothold in the Caribbean for future foreign