Spanish American War Causes

In April 25, 1846, the U.S. went to war with Mexico over the U.S. annexation of Texas. Later in the war, it was revealed that America’s true intensions were to expand slavery and to claim western territory. This skirmish between the U.S. and Mexico became known as the Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American War was fought from the April 25, 1846 to February 2,1848 and took place on disputed land, in what’s current day Texas. This yearlong combat resulted in Mexico losing and even more importantly, the loss of half of Mexico’s national territory in the north.

At the height of the Gilded Age, the want of power outside of the American borders controlled the causes and ends of war, specifically the Spanish-American War. A war that lead a country whose history was founded on independence to seek dominance over its own colonies. There were two clear opinions to this imperialist stance, for and against. Both opinions were ironically based in the same general ideas only with different perspectives on them. Arguments and questions based on morality, economic stability, and God given purposes.

The first reason is the main reason the U.S joined the Spanish-American war is territory and resources. According to a document by Jason Colby, Spain took control of Cuba, the Philippines Islands, and Puerto Rico. The U.S was worried that

During the 19th century, the people of the United States of America had a belief that they had a justifiable right to expand its territory; otherwise known as manifest destiny. This belief of inevitable conquering land in North America led to conflicts with the indigenous people already occupying the land. One of the conflicts the Americans had with the indigenous people of North America was the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) in which Mexico fought for their territory that the Americans thought was rightfully theirs in the attempt to expand west. There may be several reasons to the cause of the Mexican-American war, however, the two major causes of the war were consequences resulting from the Texas War of Independence and the American’s desire

The Spanish American War was a big step towards American War power and influenced foreign countries greatly with trade, naval power, and territory. The Era of the Spanish - American contributed to the advancement in trade for the United States. After the Hay-Pauncefote treaty with Britain was abolished, the U.S. was free to build a canal in Latin America with their help. The canal was set to be built in Panama, this canal was to benefit America to create ports free from tax in this country. This was granted when the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 gave rights over a 51 mile long and 10 mile wide Canal Zone to protect the U.S. With these rights American manufacturing exporting companies without any tariffs for the citizens of the States.

The Mexican-American War took place a little while after Texas gained its independence in 1836. Firstly, The US did not want Texas apart of the Union because they wanted less slave states not more. The Mexican government started stating that they would do border raids and that if any invasion, and or takeover were to try to happen this would cause a war. Still in the 1844 election of United States President James K. Polk did not care he truly believed in “ manifest destiny ” which was another of say he believed that it was the “US destiny to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. ”Believing in this President Polk tried to purchase what is now the U.S southwest.

According to Johnson, "The United States' military victories over Spain demonstrated the nation's strength and capabilities, earning international recognition and respect" (Johnson 372). The successful outcomes of battles such as the Battle of Manila Bay and the Battle of Santiago de Cuba showcased the United States' ability to project power over great distances and achieve decisive victories. The Spanish-American War also solidified the United States' position in the Western Hemisphere and expanded its sphere of influence. Through the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the United States gained control over several territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. These territorial acquisitions allowed the United States to establish naval bases and exert its presence in strategic

Jordan Sledge The Spanish-American War of 1898 was a conflict between Spain and the United States. This war was very popular, having many men volunteering to fight against evil. Americans loved the idea of freeing the oppressed people of Cuba. They saw themselves as a strong nation that needed to liberate the Cubans because they could not do it alone. The war shaped America culturally--it defined who was socially a “true” American citizen, and who wasn’t.

Another one of the biggest and most significant causes of the Mexican-American War was the annexation of Texas. Mexico became an independent republic in 1821. At this time, Texas was one of 19 Mexican states and had a sparse population. To encourage additional settlement, just before independence the Spanish commandant general in Monterrey gave an American family, the Austins, permission to move about 300 American Catholic families to Texas (Mexican American War (Causes)). Stephen Austin received permission from Mexican authorities to bring into Texas as many as 300 families each year as long as they professed to be Catholics, learned spanish and agreed to live by Mexican law.

According to history.com “U.S. Congress soon afterward issued resolutions that declared Cuba’s right to independence, demanded the withdrawal of Spain’s armed forces from the island, and authorized the President’s use of force to secure that withdrawal while renouncing any U.S. design for annexing Cuba.” McKinley then set up a naval blockade on Cuba and started requesting American volunteers for their military. This decision caused the Spanish to declare war with America which we now call it the Spanish-American War of 1898. The war started out on May 1, 1898 when Commodore Dewey and his naval squad went into the Philippine Islands at Manila Bay to successfully gain control of the sea when they defeated the Spanish naval force that was trying to defend the Philippine Islands. The victory of the defeat triggered McKinley’s want for acquiring the Philippines land as a trophy for the war, leading to tension between the Americans and Filipinos.

The annexation of Texas by the United States provoked the Mexican ambassador to dissolve connections between the two nations. Jose Joaquin Herrera, president of Mexico, wanted to negotiate because he knew his country was not capable of waging war. During negotiations, the two presidents disagreed on the boundaries of Texas. Mexico believed Texas ended at the Nueces River while Polk claimed that the Rio Grande was the western border of Texas, which made Texas larger. While discussions continued, Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to approach the Rio Grande.

The Mexican American War was driven by the idea of “Manifest Destiny”, which is the belief that America had the God-given right to expand from the east coast to the west coast. The Market Revolution was the start of illegal immigration of the United States in the 19th century into Mexican territory. Many slaveholders from the South came to Texas in search for more land for cotton cultivation. In 1826, the attempt of the United States to purchase Texas for one million dollars which Mexico refused, worried Mexico about possible U.S. expansion. The Mexican government send Lieutenant Jose Maria Sanchez to look into the entry of large numbers of Americans into Texas.

Mexican American War “... May the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend on our countries peace and prosperity…” -James K. Polk. What our 11th president meant by this is that we need to maintain good relations to bring success as this is the opposite of what Mexico wanted. In 1845, many Americans believed in manifest destiny which was the belief that the United States was destined to stretch from coast to coast. As this idea scattered through America, citizens of the U.S. spread with it.

This explosion finally made the Americans want to go to war, and so the United States decided to get involved. On April 25, 1898, the United States officially went to war with Spain to help Cuba. Instead of the battles being fast and right away, the United States was hesitant and patient. After multiple articles from Hearst and Pulitzer exposing the horrors in Cuba and the rumors about the explosion of the U.S. Mains, America finally got involved in the Spanish American

In 1890 the U.S. went into war with spain for many reason for example. yellow journalism, imperialism and the sinking of the Maine is what caused the American population to want to go to war with Spain. yellow journalism is what got the rage in the american public. When the U.S.S. Maine was sunk word spread fast and the people were quick to blame the Spanish. Since the U.S had so many investments in Cuba it made one of the causes of the Spanish American War