Final answer:
The question addresses the US's strategic military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Spanish-American War and its aftermath, with a particular focus on the significant sea battles and American foreign policy known as "Big Stick" diplomacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to a historical subject, specifically, the involvement of the United States in conflicts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The situation described references the strategic military moves of the US in both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean as a part of its imperial agenda and the events leading up to and during the Spanish-American War, as well as the effects of the war in shaping US foreign policy, known as "Big Stick" diplomacy.
A key incident mentioned is the U.S. Navy's victory in the Philippines, which, under the command of Commodore George Dewey, destroyed the Spanish fleet, reflecting a broader American strategy that encompassed not just the liberation of Cuba but also the extension of American influence into the Pacific and Asia. Another significant aspect was the Russian involvement in the war and its effects on global power dynamics, exemplified by the Russo-Japanese War and the interactions with Japan, illustrating the complexities of imperial competition at the time.
The historical context outlined includes the immediate aftermath of the Spanish-American War, highlighting America's acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and the imposition of the Platt Amendment on Cuba, which allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs. The outcomes of the war had a lasting impact on the geopolitical landscape of the period and the relations among the major world powers.