The American Legacy process, Japan defeated China and Tsarist Russia to gain a foothold on Manchuria, Korea and Siberia. 8. How did the Spanish-American War provide the opportunity for US expansion to the Philippines? Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam were Spanish colonies. Even before a war would erupt between the US and Spain, these islands were already identified by annexationists as key areas from which US naval bases could be established to project military power world-wide to ensure that US commodities could flow freely. Atrocities of Spanish forces in Cuba against Cuban revolutionaries provided the perfect excuse to seize these strategic areas. American public indignation over the deaths estimated at 100,000-300,000 in Wyler’s Spanish concentration camps in Cuba was exploited by expansionists. Sick fantasies of the imperial imaginary: A page from the March 5, 1899 issue of The Boston Sunday Globe. The US Congress came out with a resolution calling for US intervention limited only to the issue of Cuba (i.e., to stop the atrocities, and for Spain to leave Cuba). But the invasion of Cuba, Philippines and Guam was pre-planned with the Navy already logistically prepared, positioned and oriented to take In a race against time, McKinley had continued the organization and mobilization of US troops for the occupation of the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam even after the mutually agreed cessation of hostilities in August 1898 between the US and Spain. (c) Public domain the Spanish Fleet in Manila before Congress had made an ultimatum and Spain declared war. Roosevelt had set his eyes on the Philippines as early as 1887. 49