Imperialism's Bitter Fruit

1. What made the Filipino insurrection "far different than any conflict in which Americans had previously fought"?
The Filipino insurrection was quite different than any conflict the Americans had previously fought because the basic standards of war that the Americans were used to were ignored. It didn't involve an organized army, but quick guerrilla attacks against U.S. forces. The rules of war that the American soldiers were used to were disregarded. Both the Filipino and American soldiers committed horrible acts and tortured and executed prisoners. Filipino insurgents blended with the civilians, and there were many Filipino civilian deaths. This was a bloody war that was lacking in almost all morals. 
2. Why were African-Americans among the strongest critics of the war against the Filipino nationalists?
The African-Americans were among the strongest critics of the war against the Filipino nationalists because they disliked the white American soldiers' racist attitudes toward the Filipinos, which the African-Americans were used to dealing with. The African-Americans felt that the United States was going against its own value of independence by denying it to another people. Also, black soldiers that were in the war were still being discriminated against in the Philippines by Americans.  The rate of desertion with African-American soldiers was high, and many even ended up living in the Philippines. Overall the African-Americans understood the oppression that the Filipinos were going through, and that spurred widespread empathy among them and put many against the war. 
3. Why did the United States lose its appetite for imperialism in the early 1900s?
The United States lost its appetite for imperialism in the early 1900s because it realized that maintaining an empire was difficult, and too much of a burden on the country. The Filipinos were still fighting for independence, and the public began to lose interest in the new overseas colonies. The responsibility of figuring out legal questions concerning the new territories and their inhabitants began to weigh the United States down. Even Roosevelt looked at the newly gained territories that were the result of imperialism as "America's Achilles heel." Basically, America had rushed with its imperialistic desires and didn't realize the responsibilities and burdens that came with doing so, which is why the Filipinos eventually gained independence once the U.S. finally gave up its responsibilities there.  
4. How did the United States contribute to the development of Cuba and Puerto Rico?
Because of the presence of America in Cuba and Puerto Rico, U.S. technology and administrative expertise contributed to the development there. Roads and telegraph lines were built, schools were opened, finances were reorganized, and sanitation was improved. Even yellow fever was rid of there, which I'm sure allowed a steady increase in population, and therefore development on these islands. The people of Puerto Rico gained U.S citizenship in 1917, when Puerto Rico also became a U.S. territory. American presence there really spurred the development of these islands, considering America was still rapidly developing at that time as well. 

5. Why did many Cubans come to resent the U.S. presence on their island?
Many Cubans came to resent the U.S. presence on their island because they had just finally escaped Spain, and were now under the U.S.'s rule. When Cuba called for independence, the U.S. president McKinley tried to slow Cuba's process. He resorted to the Platt Amendment, which greatly angered many Cubans because it limited their independence, but Cuba agreed in order to end the U.S. military occupation there. Then, due to this amendment, America made a large investment into the Cuban economy, practically dominating its large sugar economy. This caused many Cubans to struggle to get a foothold in their own economy, so they continued to detest the U.S. presence  and  the wealthy Cuban plantation owners who had alliances with the big U.S. businesses This resentment towards the U.S. eventually resulted in a strong political revolution against American businesses in Cuba. 

6. Do you believe the United States was imperialist? Why or why not?
I don't believe the United States was ever fully imperialist. This is because although the United States attempted to be an imperialistic nation with the victory of the Spanish-American war, it realized its mistakes after and gave up  most of its responsibilities that came along with trying to start an empire. Besides, the U.S. was almost completely split between imperialistic and anti-imperialistic views the majority of that time, but it just so happened that many of the political leaders were imperialists, and therefore made most of the decisions concerning the actions of the country. The main reason the United States attempted to be imperialist anyway was in order to gain a foothold in big international trade markets, especially China's market; imperialism went against its core values. So, no I don't think that America was imperialist, I think it was a country at the time who was used to constant expansion and was trying to be recognized as a commendable nation in the world (whether or not that was true.)