The ConstitutionHelp or hindrance to “becoming American”?

November 4, 2009

Today’s objectives

•We will evaluate peer writing on the Constitution and “becoming American” experience.

•We will analyze American decision-making during the Spanish-American War

•We will evaluate the long-term impact of American intervention in Cuba and the Philippines.

What would they have REALLY said?

• 1. McKinley can “fake” justification for Cuban/Philippine intervention – never sought it or desired it on humanitarian grounds

• 2. Weyler the Spanish successfully and peacefully ruled over Cuba for 400 years…why stop now? The Americans were only concerned with their own profits and do not share a common language/culture with Cubans.

• 3. Roosevelt believed that empire would eventually help the American worker and bring more wealth to all (yes, the S-A war was compatible with progressivism).

• 4. Hearst another “faker”, but was disingenuous in support for Cuban independence.

• 5. Marti classic middle ground…for it in 1898, against it in 1900. Traded one empire for another. However, the Americans didn’t put Cubans in concentration camps, so this was good.

• 6. Aguinaldo was an extremist – declared war on Americans days after American “victory” against Spanish – rebelled against his people being put into “designated zones”

• 7. Dewey developed a partnership with Filipinos and gained their trust…believed that they were benefiting from American partnership.

What would they have REALLY said?1. Teddy believed that empire would eventually help the American

worker and bring more wealth to all (yes, the S-A war was compatible with progressivism).

2. McKinley can “fake” justification for Cuban/Philippine intervention – never sought it or desired it on humanitarian grounds

3. Wilson believed in self-determination, so he would have been very dissatisfied with the Platt Amendment

4. Stanton would sympathize with the struggle of “minority” citizens, but not to the extent to cause war

5. Marti classic middle ground…for it in 1898, against it in 1900. Traded one empire for another. However, the Americans didn’t put Cubans in concentration camps, so this was good.

6. Hearst another “faker”, but was disingenuous in support for Cuban independence.

7. Sinclair flat-out opposed war on grounds that it represented elitist desire for wealth, not fairness for American workers. Reform should take precedence.

5/6 Senate FR Committee Report

• Good intentions, however, greed took over and hurt cultures. America’s manifest destiny led to desire for conquest. Right idea…but not carried out correctly.

• Stanton Cubans never changed their status…always under foreign rule.

• Stanton revealed that common people were not as concerned with imperialism…and that their views were the same as the Cuban people.

What we’re looking for

Write a when you see a correct explanation or analysis of the Constitution.

Write a when you see a connection between the Constitution and the group’s American experience

Write a when you see an error in one of the following:Sentence construction (run-on;

fragment)Verb tensePossessive formCapitalization

Don’t duplicate comments (one “3” is enough to indicate the errors).

Spend just 3 minutes on the paper, then…switch.

Group of five: each paper will be read by just three students.

7 Senate FR Committee Report

• Positive because helped Cubans and America to expand their empire. Although Cubans were still in control, they weren’t completely free – Americans treated them better.

• Positive choice for bringing emerging cultures together.

• Marti: Americans helped Cuba by getting them get away from Spain.

What we found:The Constitution explained by 5/6

What we found:The Constitution explained by 7

What we found #2:Connections between the Constitution and the group’s experience…by 5/6

What we found #2:Connections between the Constitution and the group’s experience…by 7

Errors in writing

Run-on sentence Incorrect verb tense

Errors in writing

Possessive form Capitalization

Revision is due Monday, 11/9I am available to you via the Ning on

Thursday and Friday.

REVIEWWhat team can assemble the most

matches? You have 3 minutes!

Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeMeeting

Senators Konrad, Komiskey, Foltiny, Feeney and Constantini have called a historic roster of notable politicians,

reformers and activists from the time of the Spanish-American War.

The Committee endeavors to determine whether the American intervention in

Cuba and Philippines helped the respective cultures…or hurt them.

Prep

• You will have 12 minutes to review the Imperialism’s Bitter Fruit, any notes from Sections 2 & 3.

• You may also use the internet for your preparation.

Senate Hearing

• The members will call seven speakers to testify (give a brief speech explaining whether American involvement helped/hurt) and answer questions.

• Afterwards, the members may ask questions of the remaining guests.

Deliberation (closure for today)

• The Committee will convene briefly to compose a final report on whether American involvement “helped” or “hurt” the native cultures.

• During the Senators’ deliberations, speakers may discuss among themselves and predict how the Committee will “rule”

Greatest hits from the hearing

• Pictures of the 12, space to write (perhaps 4 per slide)

Take away from the hearing

• Was your character able to maintain a neutral perspective on American intervention in Cuba and the Philippines? Why or why not?

• After the readings, hearing and discussion…what was the long-term impact of American intervention in Cuba and the Philippines?

What about Cuba and the Philippines TODAY? Go to the CIA World Factbook to determine the current state of affairs in these countries.What about American involvement in China, Mexico, Panama and Hawaii? (Get ready – next week!)

What about Cuba and the Philippines TODAY? Go to the CIA World Factbook to determine the current state of affairs in these countries.What about American involvement in China, Mexico, Panama and Hawaii? (Get ready – next week!)

What about Cuba and the Philippines TODAY? Go to the CIA World Factbook to determine the current state of affairs in these countries.What about American involvement in China, Mexico, Panama and Hawaii? (Get ready – next week!)

Looking ahead…

• What about Cuba and the Philippines TODAY? Go to the CIA World Factbook to determine the current state of affairs in these countries.

• What about American involvement in China, Mexico, Panama and Hawaii? (Get ready – next week!)