ABSTRACT
The new American possessions included the Hawaiian Islands, situated more than two thousand miles from the America mainland, and some of Spain’s few remaining colonies, most notably Puerto Rico and the Philippines, the latter more than seven thousand miles away. When the US took possession of those nations, Cuba broke free of Spain; but under the coercive presence of American troops Cuba was unable to achieve its long-sought independence and became instead an American protectorate. Sugar production requires land and labor. Land became available for purchase because of changes the Americans had promoted in the land tenure system. The Americans forced the queen to abdicate and established a Provisional Government which disfranchised most Hawaiians. American investments were substantial throughout Latin America, many of the region’s resources were owned by American corporations, and a number of Latin American nations had substantial debts to American banks.
