the daliy document
by. Traven Storey
U.S troops capture the philippines
The battle of las Guasimas Provisional de Puerto Rico
The Battle of Las Guasimas of June 24, 1898 was a Spanish rearguard action by Major General Antero Rubín against advancing columns led by Major General "Fighting Joe" Wheeler, and the first land engagement of the Spanish–American War. The battle unfolded from Wheeler's attempt to storm Spanish positions at Las Guasimas de Sevilla, in the jungles surrounding Santiago de Cuba, with the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry and the 10th Regular Cavalry.
Approaching on June 24, American reports suggested the Spaniards were digging in with a field gun; however, Cuban scouts contradicted these, revealing the Spaniards were preparing to abandon their position. In fact, the Spanish troops had received orders to fall back on Santiago. Wheeler requested the assistance of the attached Cuban forces in an immediate attack, but their commander, Col. Gonzales Clavel refused. Wheeler decided to attack anyway rushing his men forward with two guns.
During the excitement of the battle Wheeler a former Confederate officer supposedly called out "Let's go, boys! We've got the damn Yankees on the run again!", with the old general confusing his wars. Wheeler's forces moved to encircle the Spaniards first battle line, assaulting its front and right flank but were repulsed. During a pause in the fighting, both sides reinforced their positions. The Spaniards sent forward two companies of the San Fernando Battalion along with artillery. After midday the U.S. attack was renewed but the Spanish Provisional De Puerto Rico Battalion once again checked the American assault.
After halting the American advance, the Spanish resumed their withdrawal towards Santiago. The battle had cost U.S. forces 17 dead and 52 wounded while Spanish forces suffered seven dead and seven wounded. The yellow press unaware of the facts of the ground described the battle as a rout of the Spaniards later historians severely faulted Wheeler for wasting the lives of his men in a frontal assault.
Imperialism
Imperialism:the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.
PROS OF IMPERIALISM:
Imperialism brought about industrialization, and by extension, globalization.
The countries that were supposedly colonized by the superpowers brought about brilliant infrastructure and machinery in these nations.
While the statement might invoke controversy (since the superpowers may have had their own motives) the fact remains that they did bring about enormous changes in the standard of living in their respective colonies.
The level of literacy was catapulted to brilliant heights with the establishment of educational institutes.
The country's resources were used for efficient manufacturing and trade, thereby increasing economy.
With inexpensive and abundant workforce and raw material, industrialization improved by leaps and bound
CONS OF IMPERIALISM:
No person or organization or nation likes to be controlled by some other entity. It is a similar analogy in case of imperialism.
It caused (and may still cause) discord among groups who co-existed harmoniously prior to colonization.
The superpowers obtained inexpensive labor and natural resources from the colonies, and this led to a gap of differentiation between the nations.
Political foul play became evident, and took turn for the worse as the practice continued.
Perhaps the word 'slavery' might come across as extremely harsh, but the truth is that many of the citizens of the colonies were shipped and used without their consent.
Separation of land and colonies led to strained relations between the citizens, thus causing them distance away from their birth country, rather, their birth right.