American's Strategy Against the Spanish

Although there are many reasons why the Spanish-American war took place, the most important was Spain's resentment of Cuba's desire to also become an independent nation. Since Cuba was one of Spain's last territories, they were unwilling to allow independence. As a result, conflict between the two parties erupted. Since Cuba was smaller and less equipped to fight than Spain, their economy took a tumble. Due to the fact that the United States had a great deal of money invested in Cuba's sugar resources, many Americans felt the need to wage war. Additionally, there were separate events that caused anger to American Citizens. One such event was the destruction of a U.S. ship used to protect the American citizens in Cuba. Although the ship's

In the late nineteenth century, America engaged in the Spanish-American War. The aftermath of this war resulted in the acquirement of territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. However, not everyone felt these conquests were justified. Many Americans during that time period held the belief that the act of expanding into said regions went against democratic values and was, in fact, hypocritical of the values America frequently preached, while others seemed to believe that holding onto the territories was justified due to the fact that these newly-freed nations would be unable to govern themselves, and that it was America’s innate responsibility to aid them. Many Americans reacted to the end of the Spanish-American War by claiming

The United States has faced many conflicts from the 18th century to the mid 20th century on the road to becoming the country it is today. Wars have been part of many conflicts that have broken out between the United States and various other powers during this time. The wars have cost many lives and allowed for the United States to rise to superpower status and stay a powerful nation in today’s world. But, the United States actions caused them to become part of many wars because they increased tensions between themselves and other countries causing war to be inevitable. The United States actions led to war by increasing tensions making war inevitable in many situations from the 18th century to the mid 20th century by the idea of imperialism,

The Spanish-American War was considered short lived and relatively mild in terms of American casualties compared to the many wars that our nation has fought. However, it served as a historical marker that set the imperialistic momentum of our nation. It played a significant role in our nation’s strategic move towards acquiring trade routes and further strengthened our naval power. Throughout my research paper I will touch on what led to the Cuban revolution against Spain, America’s political climate at the time, and why our nation eventually decided to intervene and aid the Cubans in their fight for independence.

The Spanish American war started in 1898 and was a fight for Cuba’s independence which resulted in 379 American casualties in combat. The Spanish American War was justified because of the Monroe Doctrine, Correspondence between the United States and Spain, and the Platt Amendment, which were all created to protect American morals and freedom.

While public tensions before August 1898 were surely high, nothing turned the public against Spain like the tragic blowing up of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. The lives of 260 American officers and men were lost. The yellow press and American investigators quickly blamed spanish officials in Cuba for the mysterious wreck. Although it is extremely unlikely that the spanish had anything to do with the Maine’s sinking, the War-Mad American public accepted this conclusion out of rage, overwhelmingly persuading President Mckinley to begin the war. McKinley personally did not want to fight a war against Spain, for he had seen enough bloodshed as a General in the Civil War. But the public, encouraged by the Cuban patriotic cause, yellow journalism, and the sinking of the Maine, clamored for a war. Finally, President McKinley yielded and gave the people what they wanted. He believed that the people should rule, even if they don’t know what’s best for themselves. Public pressure was the main reason we went to war with Spain, and the biggest cultivator of public unrest was the blowing up of “The Maine”.

During the twentieth century the United States of America became involved with three major conflicts that resulted in the nation shifting from a regional power into a global power. Through these conflicts the United States grew territorially, economically and industrially. Foreign policies were altered to allow the United States to gain ground on the world stage and to make their mark on the world. Through careful analysis of primary sources and scholarly document s it is clear to see that the United States involvement in the Spanish American war was the first step for the United States to grow on the world stage. The American victory in the war led to the acquisition of island territories and expanded economic and military capabilities in the both the western and eastern hemisphere as well as an increased involvement in Asia. World War I ended with American democratic ideals to be spread all across Europe. Led by President Woodrow Wilson, the United States led a one sided foreign policy that used intervention, peace treaties and military intervention to endorse international order. Despite a limited role in the war President Wilson was able to outline the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations and both of their presences can be found today.

The Spanish-American War was a war focused on control over Cuba. As previously stated, Spain touted a powerful navy, victory would cause the entire world to notice and give the United States a seat at the international table. Americans took notice of Spanish brutality to Cuban uprisings attempting to gain freedom and were sympathetic to the Cuban people. Fighting for our independence was fresh on the minds of Americans who began to support Cuban freedom from Spain. Dispatching the USS Maine off the coast of Cuba proved to be a fateful strategic move made by President McKinley because just days after on February 15th 1898 the ship was destroyed, killing over 250 sailors. Although believed to be an accident, yellow journalists ran with the story of war receiving overwhelming support from the public. War was declared in April of 1898 and just after

Many things came out of the expansion era such as the Big Stick Policy, the Dollar Diplomacy, and the Spanish American war. Roosevelt said “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” which meant that if diplomacy failed, the U.S. would not hesitate to use military force to protect its interests. The Dollar Diplomacy, which Taft favored, was based on the idea that economic ties were the best way to expand American influence. The Spanish American War started on April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in the Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The U.S. also supported the ongoing struggle of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines for independence against Spanish rule.

The Spanish-American war was one of the shortest wars in American history but it changed the fate and global status of America forever. After the sinking of the battleship in Havana, McKinley was still reluctant to use harsh force against Spain even though he received pressure from newspapers including New York Journal calling him “weak” and “a petty politician” for not yet getting involved. On April 9, 1898 congress officially gave the president power to order troops into Cuba. Theodore Roosevelt was the Secretary of the Navy and a highly regarded member of the government, his encouragement to start the war greatly influenced the president and he too changed history. Later in the month of April McKinley went to congress asking for permission to declare war on Spain because they had refused to recall troops from harming Cubans, but before congress could respond Spain had already declared war on America. President McKinley’s first military action was to blockade Cuba from Spanish ships and the war official began on April 25, 1898. Both sides were

Valeriano Weyler, the Spanish General in Cuba, started a campaign called Subjugation or Death. This bloody campaign was Spain’s attempt to force the local people into slavery. Filled with concentration camps, burning villages and murdering Cubans, this campaign took the lives of over 200,000 Cuban people. Since Spain was aware that the US had sympathy towards the Cuban rebels this endangered the lives of American citizens living there. The USS Maine was built in 1888 and was seen as advanced American battleship modeled after advanced European designs. President McKinley while keeping a close eye on the events unfolding in his neighboring country, sent the USS Maine to the island of Key West, only 90 miles from Havana, Cuba. The USS Maine was sent in anticipation of an evacuation of American’s from Cuba should things get worse. In January of 1898 rioting broke out in Cuba which led to the dispatch of the USS Maine. Spain

American people wanted Spaniards to clear out of American hemispheres. Spain would not leave Cuba so the Americans wanted war with them. Spanish, American, and Cuban diplomats began to meet quietly to solve their differences. The Maine was a U.S. battleship that sailed to Cuba to pick up Americans incase there was any trouble. The ship suddenly exploded and 260 sailors were killed. American experts said that the ship hit a mine, while the Spaniards said that it happened from the inside.

Write a report on the topic of your choice involving isolationism or United States involvement

The battleship, USS Marine was stationed in Havana’s harbor to protect American interest in Cuba. An explosion destroyed the vessel on February 15, 1898. “A naval court of inquiry blamed the explosion on a mine, further inflaming public sentiment against Spain” (HIS104 U.S. History Since 1877 30-Jun-2008, OL20). Again, the press stirred up the public with stories and headlines of a Spanish conspiracy. American now demanded revenge for the deaths of 266 sailors (Faragher, J., 2008, Out of Many). President McKinley demanded that Spanish government end brutality of the Cuban people, engage in armistice, and promise the eventual independence of Cuba. Upon Spain’s refusal, McKinley asked for a declaration of war. (HIS104 U.S. History, Lecture, 30-Jun-2008, OL20). “In order to assure the world that it was fighting only for the good of Cuba and not for colonial gain, the US passed the Teller Amendment, which promised to make Cuba independent after the war was over” (SparkNotes: The Spanish American War, 1898-1901: Summary).

1. Three arguments’ that Juan Gines de Sepulveda used to justify enslaving the Native Americans were for gold, ore deposits, and for God’s sake and man’s faith in him. 2. Three arguments that Bartolome de las Casas gave in attacking Spanish clonial policies in the New World were the Indians eating human flesh, worshiping false gods, and also, he believed that the Indians were cowardly and timid. 3. For comparisons that Sepulveda used, in lines 1-7, to express the inferiority of the Indians was their prudence, skill virtues, and humanity were inferior to the Spanish as children to adults, or even apes to men. Comparisons he used to dismiss the significance of the Indians