Spanish American War Perspectives

This event in U.S. history regarding the USS Maine was unfamiliar to me. I knew of the Spanish American War, but never

The Spanish-American war commenced with the Wilson- Gorman Tariff, 1894. The American tariff on sugar imports hurt the Cuba's economy that was manufactured sugar. Angry nationalists (insurrection) revolted against the Spanish Colonial regime. Therefore, Spain sent General Weyler to Cuba to deal with the situation.

The Spanish-American War started in April of 1898 and lasted until August of 1898. The United States wanted to provide aid to Cuba to help them gain freedom from Spanish rule. Although this was a short war, it ended in terms more than favorable to the United States

One of the most famous battles fought during that war was the battle of San Juan Hill also known as San Juan Heights, the battle fought without direction, with decisions made by private and junior officers setting the course of the battle, this battle was the turning point of the Spanish-American war. Within months of the outbreak of war, the Spanish would lose their possession in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Saipan, the Philippines and Guam. The war marked the end of the Spanish sovereignty and the establishing of United States as new world

Prior to the Spanish-American War of 1898, the majority of Latin America already won their independence from Spain, however, Cuba was an exception due to its surplus of sugar, coffee and tobacco plantations. This control imposed by Spain on Cuba left Cuban citizens resenting their rule due to a multitude of issues, particularly their high taxation and Spain’s rule on Cuba repelling Cubans any political representation in their own country. This distaste for the repressive rules that Spain inflicted on Cuba caused many failed attempts for independence, including the Ten Years’ War and the Little War. The United States sympathized with the Cubans and set out to help. The aid of the United States contributed to the Spanish-American War in 1898, which ended the colonial rule of Spain is

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

In the late nineteenth century, yellow journalism, exaggeration of news in order to sell papers, was coined by Erwin Wardman, editor of the New York Press. The term originated during the American Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century with the circulation battles between Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William randolph Hearst’s New York Journal. Both papers were accused by critics of sensationalizing the news in order to drive up circulation, although the newspapers did serious reporting as well. In 1898, the United States assisted Cuba in its fight for independence against Spain in order to protect its citizens and businesses in Cuba, and the war became known as the Spanish American War. The United States declared war on Spain after the U.S. warship, the Maine, exploded and sank on February 15, 1898 while visiting Havana, Cuba.

Opposition to Spanish - American War Following the explosion of the USS Maine in February 15, 1898, while many Americans favored going to war with Spain, some were adamantly against the notion. The few who were against the idea of going to war include President McKinley, a fraction of African Americans, and one significant group, “ The Anti- Imperialism League”. Immediately after the explosion of the USS Maine, President McKinley, who disliked the idea of going to war ordered an investigation of the explosion. Americans claimed that an external force caused the sinking of the ship and the death of 266 crew members while Spain claimed that the sinking was the result of an internal force.

The Mexican American war the main war for the United States to have begun and battled on remote ruined. Because of social and objective contrasts this lead to strife between the countries. The United States needed to spread their property and assume control Mexican region while Mexico attempted to determine their political emergency and needed to keep their

The first battle of the Spanish American war was when the Spanish thought that the Americans were going to invade Cuba. It took place in the Philippines, the Spanish colony. In two months and with 11,000 troops the Spanish surrendered to the United States. With hostilities and a blockade of Cuba, the United States showed its superiority

In 1898, we finally see the United States begin to enforce the rules they before stated in the Monroe doctrine and began exhibiting their hemispheric power. As Cuba struggled to gain independence from Spain eventually America stepped in to help them gain their freedom. On April 24th Spain declared war on the United States and on April 25th America declared war on Spain.7 This war lasted for less than a year and was a big win for the United States. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10th, 1898.

On February 15 of the year of 1898, a tragedy occurred, the Maine all of a sudden exploded while sailing through Havana harbor. Around 260 Americans were killed because of this explosion. President McKinley and mostly all Americans wanted to prevent war, they just wanted to have a peaceful relationship with Cubans. However, there were some incidents between U.S. and Spain early in 1898. The Americans believed that the more they destroyed Cuba’s mainland, the quicker Spanish would leave Cuba, and Cuba will be able to be free at last.

After a few days, The De Lome Letter was leaked on February 9, 1898 and on February 15, 1898, just after 6 days from the De Lome scandal, the Maine explodes and which made Americans indignant and they were ready to go war against Spain. There were two reasons why U.S.S Maine was sent to Havana harbor; first is to show power or to demonstrate force, during 19th Century, and country strength was measured by its navy. Admiral Alfred T. Mahan said in his book Influence of Sea Power upon History (1890) and The Interest of America in Sea Power (1897) “Hence, if the U.S is to be “great”, it must have an empire and a large navy. This navy must have overseas bases from which to operate”.

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

Hostilities grew and President McKinley sent the battleship Maine to protect Americans on the Island. On February 15th 1898, the Maine exploded and sank in Havana and the cause was not determined. McKinley, however not interested with the idea of war, declared war on Spain on April 20th 1898. The war took place in the Philippines, where Secretary of War Theodore Roosevelt led attack of the Spanish in Manila. United States military moved quickly through the Island and took San Juan Hill in July 1st 1898.