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Rough Riders: The Spanish-American War

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Rough Riders Spanish-American War, war waged against Spain by the United States in 1898, to free Cuba from Spanish rule. The war grew out of the Cuba s struggle for independence. A strong reaction to this conflict developed in the United States. In 1897 Spain attempted to compromise by granting Cuba partial independence and abolishing the system of reconcentrados. The Cubans pressed for independence. On February 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine which was sent to the port of Havana to protect UNITED STATES citizens and property, was sunk by an explosion. The cause was unknown, but Yellow Journalism pointed to an enemy mine. Both the United States and Spain declared war. On May 1 the Spanish fleet anchored in Manila Bay was destroyed by United States naval forces. Later, on July 1 U.S. …show more content…

A U.S. Navy study later published in 1976 suggested that spontaneous combustion in the ship's coal bunkers caused the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine. The Movie we watched was based on this war which I have just briefly outlined. The movie didn’t outline the whole war but concentrated on the famous Rough Riders . They were formally known as the First United States Cavalry Volunteers. They were a group of men which were made up of anything from bank robbers to men whose fathers owned those banks. This regiment got there name because of how unorthodox they were and their broad range of men from rich to poor and anything in-between. They were spirited men who eagerly wanted to fight for their country. The Rough Riders were great soldiers, they didn’t have the extensive training or discipline of the 54th infantry had but a new style of warfare was used in this war. In Glory the men fought in traditional warfare. The men were arranged in lines and marched. This was thought of to be a strong form of warfare. It may not have made much sense to march straight into gunfire but it was what worked at the

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