Stephen Kinzer's Overthrow: Chapter Analysis

In the book "Overthrow", by Stephen Kinzer writes about an American being involved in the first overthrowing of a foreign government. He also writes about 250 American sailors died when the Unites States used "forcible intervention" in what was then to become the conquering of three territories involving several islands in opposite sides of the world. "Some argued that the Unites States had to take new territories in order to prevent European power, or perhaps even Japan, from taking them" (Kinzer 33). Kinzer argues, the Unites States felt that by intervening and conquering new land they would have financial gain and a vast ability of land for economical used. In 1876 when the treaty of Reciprocity was signed between the Hawaiian Majesty and then current president Ulysses S. Grant where the treaty involved local sugar planters in exchange for into granting United States exclusive
rights to maintain commercial and military bases in Hawaii. After the sugar industry began to triple within a three year period it was well notice that "money rained down on the white planters who controlled Hawaii's economy" (Kinzer 14). Having said this, whites knew how much power they had over the Hawaii Kingdom. Therefore in 1892 "Thurston founded the Annexation Club, with the declared goal of bringing Hawaii into the Unites states. Imbued as was with the idea that only whites rule the islands efficiently, he was able to consider this a form of patriotism" (Kinzer 16-17). In January 1893 the Hawaii kingdom was overthrown by Lorrin Thurston a firebrand lawyer and antiroyalist plotter with the helped of the United States Marines. As matter fact I find it hard to understand why white Americans have always been portrait as the super political and social power. I agree when Kinzer when he argues that the Unites States conquer new land in order to gain economical gain. Throughout American history there been several example of Unites State overthrowing governments for economical and financial gain. During this Hawaii, was overthrown by the white minority rule group of people that by having monetary supremacy they had greater controlled over the island. This is why Thurston along with the US marines were able to achieve what was known as the first Americans to directly overthrowing of a foreign government. On February 15, 1898 over 250 American sailors were lost by an explosion that a till this day is blamed on Spain.
This gave the US a reason to intervene and helped with the liberation of Cuba from the Spaniards which gave the US control of yet another island. The Platt Amendment was then signed it "gave the Unites States a way to control Cuba without running directly, by maintaining a submissive local regime" (Kinzer 42). Kinzer states that "Americans had to look to faraway countries, weak countries that had large markets and rich resources but had not yet fallen under the sway of any great power" (Kinzer 34). As a result they also invaded Puerto Rico because it was ruled by Spain however Puerto Ricans looked forward for American rule. On the 10th of December 1898 the Philippines were then bought off from Spain for $20 million dollars by then President McKinley. His reasons were that "there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos and uplift them and Christianized them, and by God's grace do the very best we could for them…."(Kinzer
47). Until today we don't know if those American marines died because of the Spaniards nevertheless the Unites States of America overthrew the Cubans, Puerto Ricans and on the other side of the world obtain the Philippines. I agree with Kinzer because the Unites States takes advantage of weak military/government countries that can produce an economic growth for them. Kinzer also mentions that U.S. needed to have "control of foreign markets and access to the natural resources of foreign countries" (Kinzer 33). In conclusion, the overthrowing of foreign countries is so that American companies could continue to gain wealth in all markets.