the business community, he began to gain support. The community started to realize that involvement in the Spanish-American War might in fact fuel profits in numerous industries and serve to protect the United States trade and investments in the Pacific and Caribbean. Another benefit that coincided with going to war was that the troubles in Cuba might subside (2). Some journalists were even announcing that the war would further strengthen the transportation industry and that profits in the iron industry had increased before the war had even started. By becoming involved in the Cuban crisis, the United States thought it might be able to force Spain to secede not only Cuba and Puerto Rico, but the Philippines as well. This was also of great economic concern because they might provide the key in opening and strengthening Asian markets. Emily S. Rosenberg states that, Both farmers and industrialists hoped to open Oriental markets, and yet, after Chinas defeat in the Sino Japanese War in 1895, China seemed in imminent danger of being closed off to Americans. A military and political presence in the Philippines, trade expansionists hoped, would give the U.S. more leverage in dealing with the big power scramble for concessions and spheres of influence in China. By serving as a coaling station and base for Americas newly strengthened navy and as a relay point for an infant communications system, the Philippines would become, one business publication predicted, Americas Hong Kongits gateway to the Orient (3).Some Americans believed that through Americas economic interests abroad, the United States could further influence its Manifest Destiny of bettering foreign peoples by showing them how to live in social and mutual harmony. If the United States acquired the Caribbean islands and the Philippines, missionaries could strengthen themselves in these locations. In spite of economic and missionary interests, the majority of Americans only w...
