American Imperialism in the Pacific Islands
viernes, 20 de enero de 2012
Introduction
Because Americans also suffered during the time they were a British colony and because they had fought for their independence, most of them didn’t like the idea of colonizing other nations like they were colonized. Although, there were two groups of Americans that did like the idea. The first one, because of ambition, wanted to make of the United States a world power, colonizing like the Europeans. And the second group, because of business interests, welcomed the opening of new markets and trade possibilities. Three of their important conquests were Hawaii, Puerto rico and the Philippines.
Puerto Rico
Geography:
Puerto rico is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles. it is territory of the United States but it became an independent state. The coasts of tropical Puerto Rico are flat but most of the interior is mountainous. The tallest mountain is in the center of the island, Cerro de Punta, which is 4,389 feet high (1338 meters). About eight percent of the land is arable for agriculture. Droughts and hurricanes are the major natural hazards.
Culture:
Spanish is the primary language on the island and for a short time earlier this decade, it was the commonwealth's official language. The culture of Puerto Rico is the result of a number of international and indigenous influences, both past and present. Modern cultural manifestations showcase the island's rich history and help to create an identity which is a melting pot of cultures - Taíno (Native Indian), Spanish, African, Other Europeans, Asians, Middle East, and North American.
Natural Resources:
This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.
Agriculture:
Some of the agricultural products in Puerto Rico are sugar, fruits, plantains, bananas, vegetables, oranges, coffe, yams and many more, also they manage some animals like chickens, cattle, pigs, horses, etc.
Bibliography:
- http://www.topuertorico.org/geogra.shtml
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico
- http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=puerto%20rico&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2929l2929l0l3054l1l1l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1311&bih=564&wrapid=tlif132758368845611&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=b1IhT-n1DY_PgAe2wvnZCA
jueves, 19 de enero de 2012
Philippines
Geography:
Philippines is an archipielago of 7, 707 islands that form a 300.000 Km² land. It is divided into three main groups: Luzon at the north side, Biscayans, in the middle and Mindanao in the south.
The Philippines are very rich in vegetation. It has a rain forest with a great variety of epiphytes and saprophytes. There’s also numerous conifers, bamboos, and palms that can reach the 2 thousand meters in altitude. It has a huge set of ferns, vines and colorful flowers.
Culture:
The History of the Philippines shows a lot of influences, cultures and races who settled and mixed in the archipelago. When Spain conquers Philippines, they teach them their religion, built numerous schools, universities and hospitals and create new cities. Then, after the Hispano- American war, the United States took Philippines as a colony and decides to Christianize the island although this was Catholic for many years.
Agruculture:
The colonies were part of an Atlantic trading network that linked them with England, Africa, and the West Indies. The pattern of commerce, called the Triangular Trade, involved the exchange of products from colonial farms, plantations, fisheries, and forests with England for manufactured goods and the West Indies for molasses. Some of the products the Philippines have were sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish.
Natural Resources:
The Philippines is rich in natural resources. It has fertile, arable lands diverse flora and fauna, extensive coastlines, and rich mineral deposits. The country‘s six major crops are rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, abaca and tobacco. Half of the country is a jungle, in which numerous minerals such as cooper and nickel can be found. Another important natural resource is the sea. There are 2,400 fish species found in the country and marine products that include corals, pearls, crabs and seaweeds.
Bibliography:
Hawaii
Economy:
78% of the wealth from Hawaii is from sugar plantations. These plantations were owned by Americans.
Labor imported from Japan/China.
1887 king forced to grant voting rights to only wealthy landowners.
1887 U.S. gained rights to Pearl Harbor.
1890 McKinley Tariff eliminated the duty-free status of Hawaiian sugar. Hawaiian sugar had to compete with other sugar growers, especially Cuba. Annexation of Hawaii would mean Hawaiian sugar would become duty-free.
Politics:
Pres. Cleveland wanted the queen restored to power.
Dole refused to give up power.
Cleveland recognized the Republic of Hawaii, but refused to annex Hawaii.
1897 Pres. McKinley made Hawaii an American territory.
Geography:
All Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic action that arose from the sea bottom, from magma source in geology is called hot spot.
The Hawaiian Archipelago comprises eighteen islands and atolls that stretch over 2,400 km.
The Hawaiian Archipelago comprises eighteen islands and atolls that stretch over 2,400 km.
Culture:
Americans on the islands forced the Hawaiian rulers to create a constitutional monarchy under American control. In 1891, Queen Liliuokalani assumed the throne and tried to reassert Hawaiian sovereignty, but this brief attempt of independence came to an end two years later when the planters, with the help of American gunboats, staged a successful coup.
Agricultural products:
cattle and calves, milk, taro, melons and papayas, macadamia nuts, vegetables and rice are some agricultural products from the island make going the economy.
Natural resources: Hawaii's only natural resources are its climate, water supply, soil, vegetation, and surrounding ocean and rock, gravel, sand, and earth quarried for use in construction and landscaping.
Bibliography:
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