One impact of the treaty was that it gave the United States the rights to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Both Guam and the Philippines were critical additions because they signaled the beginning of U.S. involvement in the Pacific. It also marked a significant change in how America was viewed in the global arena, because almost all of Europe was sympathetic to Spain, and did not wish to see the decline of a fellow colonial power. However, with the treaty, the U.S. entered into the global arena and poised itself to emerge as a superpower. This status also brought about an atmosphere of economic, population, and technological growth that lasted for more than a century. Furthermore, the Spanish-American War helped repair the rift between the North and the South, and helped establish better relations between blacks and whites during that time period, an improvement that was temporary, but real. Perhaps most significant is that Teddy Roosevelt became a war hero in that war, which paved the way for his presidency.
4. After taking Theodore Roosevelt's program and accomplishments in office into account, what do you think is his 'lasting legacy?
As a charismatic president during a period of reform, one would think that Theodore Roosevelt would be clearly linked to a lasting political legacy. The reality is that the vast majority of Americans are familiar with him because of the Teddy bear, named in his honor. This is not to suggest that Roosevelt was not responsible for significant reforms, such as: the Elkins Act, which eliminated unfair business practices in the railroad industry; the creation of the Department of Commerce; the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906; the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, the Hepburn Act of 1906, which gave the Interstate Commerce Commission the right to set maximum railroad rates; and his conservation efforts. However, most of these reforms have not had the lasting and permanent impact that Roosevelt probably imagined. The tainted food supply and information about how agri-business has impacted the meat industry reveal that food packing conditions are actively declining.
Furthermore, while...
Of all of his reforms, the most lasting reform is probably Roosevelt's legacy of conservation. Though the United States is not known as a conservationist nation, there are actually millions of acres of preserved space in the United States, all due to Roosevelt, who was the first conservationist president. Without his actions as president, it is questionable, and even unlikely, that the United States would have national parks and monuments. Therefore, conservation is very literally Roosevelt's most lasting legacy.
5. America claimed neutrality in WWI. Were we really neutral? Fully discuss at least 2 examples that reveal whether America was neutral or not.
Although the United States claimed neutrality in World War I, the United States was clearly not neutral. This was clear with the way that President Wilson framed the war, which was as an ideological battle between democracies against the aristocracy. Therefore, the United States gave substantial financial aid to the allies, most notably France and Great Britain, while still trying to maintain a stance of isolationism. For example, the United States armed its ships and provided munitions to Britain. In addition, the United States assisted British blockades of Germany, which prevented Germans from receiving food and other necessary supplies. In fact, even when a German submarine sank a British passenger liner, the Lusitania, which had 128 Americans on-board, the United States did not take overt action against the Germans, but instead maintained an isolationist position. The U.S. did demand and receive an agreement ending unrestricted submarine warfare from the Germans; however, it had not taken similar actions when U.S. casualties resulted from allied-led actions. Furthermore, the U.S. used the German sinking of U.S. merchant ships to help justify the war, even though it had armed merchant ships, thus compromising their non-combatant status, and had knowingly sent those ships into an active war zone.
