Imperialism debate
The United States finished a time period of Manifest Destiny, followed by Civil
War. With the Industrial Revolution, Americans soon realized they had to become part
of the global empire in order to continue to prosper. Yet with this new desire for
imperialism came concern in the United States. The US found itself at war with Spain
and the new owners of overseas possessions, colonies, and millions of colonial subjects.
The year is 1898. The place is the United States Senate. The Senate is debating
the following resolution:
Be it hereby resolved that it be the official policy of the United States of America
that the following actions be taken:
1. Colonies, including, but not limited to, Pacific islands, Caribbean islands, the
Philippines, and mainland territories in Africa and Asia be acquired.
2. A committee of Protestant clergy, businessmen, and educators be assembled
to write a plan for uplifting and civilizing of such colonies.
3. The War Department and the Navy Department write a plan for the
acquisition and defense of these colonies.
4. The Justice Department give an opinion on the constitutional rights (if any) of
the inhabitants of the future colonies.
5. In those nearby countries such as Mexico where colonization is not
practicable, the US reserves the right to intervene in the domestic affairs of
those countries as they see fit.
The following witnesses have assembled in Washington to testify before the Senate:
President William McKinley
Williams Jennings Bryan
Commodore George Dewey
Senator Albert J. Beveridge
Andrew Carnegie
David Starr Jordan, Stanford professor
Reverand Josiah Strong
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Emilio Aguinaldo
Queen Liliuokalani
Mark Twain
Senator George Hoar
Joseph Pulitzer
William Randolph Hearst
Charles Eliot Norton, Harvard professor
William G. Sumner, Yale professor
Secretary of State John Hay
Procedure
1. Research the position of your figure. Find his/her beliefs about the 5 parts of the
resolution being debated.
2. Write a position statement to be handed in on Wednesday, November 17th. It should
be about 2 pages long (1 inch margins, Times New Roman, 12 font, double-spaced).
Paper should also have at least 3 quotes from your person.
3. Paper should have parenthetical citations and a works cited page.
4. You will have to defend your position in debate and in questions from the presiding
officer.
5. I will role-play Garret A. Hobart, Vice President of the US and therefore, President of
the Senate. I predict that the vote on this resolution will be a tie, and I will have to
vote to break the tie. In other words, it will be your job to convince me of your
position.
6. Your grade will be awarded based on your position statement and your participation
in the questioning of witnesses.
Basically, your job is to evaluate the actions, policies, and directions of the United States
in its overseas expansion. Each person is to collect data and then present to the class in
the form of a speech and debate. You should investigate the benefits/problems of
imperialism mainly dealing with the Spanish-American War and the spoils of that war.
These are some helpful questions you should consider:
1. Should the US pursue an imperialistic policy?
2. Are the policies of the government in the best interest of the US?
3. Should the US have taken over areas such as Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and
the Philippines?
4. Are the policies of the government in the best interests of the people they now
control?
5. Has the President gone too far?
Please use the following websites for help:
http://garyrutledge.com/AmHistory/hist_articles/empire_articles.htm
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/imperialism/
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/league.html
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6613/
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjbryanimperialism.htm
You may use the resources provided there such as speeches, photos, and documents from
the time period. Use facts provided there for support. Please keep track on any other
sources you use.