Treaty of Paris 1898 and Aftermath

Summary

The video covers the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, focusing on the Treaty of Paris 1898. The treaty resulted in the U.S. acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines while also maintaining control over Cuba. Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth of the U.S., and Cuba, although independent, was influenced through the Teller and Platt Amendments. The Philippines, after being purchased from Spain, faced a violent rebellion from the Filipinos who felt betrayed by U.S. annexation. The video delves into the complex political relationships that formed as a result of these acquisitions and their long-term implications.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Treaty of Paris 1898 ended the Spanish-American War, with key stipulations including Cuba's independence, Spain ceding Puerto Rico and Guam, and the U.S. purchasing the Philippines for $20 million.
• 😀 Cuba gained independence from Spain but remained under U.S. control for some time, raising concerns about its future political status.
• 😀 Puerto Rico was ceded to the U.S., and while it became a Commonwealth, Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens, though they lacked full voting rights in U.S. elections.
• 😀 Puerto Rico's geographical importance to the U.S. contributed to its decision to maintain control, despite Puerto Rican resistance to U.S. occupation.
• 😀 The Teller Amendment assured Cuba's eventual independence, but Cuba remained under U.S. influence and control after the war, leading to dissatisfaction among Cubans.
• 😀 The Platt Amendment was added to the Cuban Constitution, allowing the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and establish military bases, like Guantanamo Bay.
• 😀 The U.S. purchased the Philippines from Spain, but Filipinos felt betrayed, leading to a rebellion against U.S. occupation that lasted three years and cost thousands of lives.
• 😀 The U.S. spent more money on suppressing the Filipino rebellion than it did purchasing the Philippines, which raised concerns about the cost of imperialism.
• 😀 African American soldiers stationed in the Philippines sympathized with the Filipino resistance and formed bonds with the locals due to the perceived racial inequalities.
• 😀 After the suppression of the rebellion, the U.S. set up a government in the Philippines similar to Puerto Rico, and eventually, the Philippines gained full independence in the mid-1900s.

Q & A

What were the main stipulations of the Treaty of Paris 1898?

The main stipulations of the Treaty of Paris 1898 included: 1) Cuba gained independence from Spain but remained under U.S. control for some time, 2) Spain ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and 3) Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.

Why did the United States want Puerto Rico?

The United States saw Puerto Rico as strategically important for maintaining influence in the Caribbean, even though Puerto Rico initially did not want to be occupied by the U.S.

What does it mean that Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth of the United States?

As a Commonwealth, Puerto Rico had its own government, but the U.S. government had overall control. Puerto Ricans were U.S. citizens but had limited political representation, such as no voting rights in U.S. presidential elections.

What is the Teller Amendment and how did it affect Cuba?

The Teller Amendment, added to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain, assured Cuba that it would eventually gain independence. However, after the war, Cuba remained under U.S. control, which caused dissatisfaction among Cubans who believed they had been promised independence.

What was the Platt Amendment and how did it influence U.S.-Cuba relations?

The Platt Amendment, added to the Cuban Constitution, allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba if it became unstable and gave the U.S. control over certain aspects of Cuba’s economy. It also forced Cuba to lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for a naval base.

How did the Filipinos react to U.S. control after the Spanish-American War?

The Filipinos felt betrayed by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War. While the U.S. had promised to help them gain independence from Spain, the U.S. instead purchased the Philippines and continued to control it, leading to a rebellion against U.S. forces.

What was the Philippine-American War and what were its costs?

The Philippine-American War was a rebellion by Filipinos against U.S. control, lasting three years. It resulted in thousands of U.S. casualties and cost over 400 million dollars—much more than the U.S. had paid to acquire the Philippines.

Why did some African American soldiers sympathize with the Filipinos during the Philippine-American War?

Many African American soldiers sympathized with the Filipinos due to racial and ethnic injustices they saw in the way the Filipinos were treated by U.S. forces. Some soldiers even refused to fight and formed bonds with the Filipino people.

How did the U.S. eventually establish control in the Philippines?

The U.S. eventually put down the Filipino rebellion and established a government in the Philippines similar to Puerto Rico, with a U.S.-appointed governor overseeing the territory. The Philippines was not fully liberated until the mid-1900s.

What was the long-term relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico after the Treaty of Paris 1898?

Puerto Rico became a U.S. Commonwealth, with U.S. oversight of its government. Puerto Ricans were U.S. citizens but did not have full political rights, and the U.S. maintained a military presence on the island. Puerto Rico has voted multiple times on whether to become a U.S. state, but has generally voted against it.