Spanish American War Research Paper

After 1898, Cuba was technically a free republic, but it was subject to the constant military intervention of the United States, through the use of the 1902 Platt Amendment in the island's constitution. This amendment made it impossible for Cuba to negotiate treaties with other countries, and allowed the United States to impose martial law if its interests were threatened. For all intensive purposes, Cuba was an American colony. The U.S. was deeply involved in Cuban politics. The leaders of Cuba were hand-picked by the U.S., which had tremendous say in domestic affairs through its ambassador. Despite the political instability created by the Platt Amendment, Cuba's new relationship with the U.S. brought about an increase in travel to the island. By 1915 Cuba had 72 hotels, one-third of which were in the Havana province. As most of the wealth of Cuba was concentrated in Havana, there existed the best infrastructure to support tourists.

     Cuba had been rebelling against Spanish rule for decades and the United States never intruded. America claimed that the reason for their involvement in 1895 was to assist Cuba against Spanish slaughter, but they hadn’t thought about involving themselves until their trade for sugar with Cuba was cut off. The Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894 placed high taxes on sugar, destructing Cuba’s sugar market and causing the discontinuation of trade with the United States. Cuba had acted as America’s primary sugar market. President Cleveland and successor, McKinley, desired to stay neutral, but the revealing of the Spanish De Lome letter and the sinking of the Maine in 1898 presented no other option.

As a result, Señor Dupuy de Lome resigned from his position, however, the US battleship, the Maine, was destroyed only six days later. America was furious and finalized the decision to invade Cuba on April 25th, 1898 (PBS). The people of the United States quickly feared the government’s morals were focused on imperialism rather than the protection of Cuba. In response to their worries, Congress passed the Teller Amendment which denied any right for the United States to claim Cuba after the war and that government would be left up to the Cuban people. However, the government later pressured Cuba to include the Platt Amendment in their constitution which gave the United States the ability to control Cuba’s foreign treaties and the rights to Guantanamo Bay.

Maine, the Spanish-American War is another example of the influence of American Imperialism. Similar to Hawaii, American investments and sugar plantations controlled Cuba. The United States had a strong economic relationship based on import and export of goods. In the 1980’s American newspapers reported the brutalities that were occurring in Cuba at the hands of the Spanish. In 1898, the U.S.S. Maine was deployed to the Havana harbor to protect American interests and citizens. In February, the battleship exploded under mysterious circumstances. The Americans immediately blamed the Spanish and delivered an ultimatum. The ultimatum was not met and war ensued. Though Cuba was delivered its independence in the Treaty of Paris, the United States continued to dominate the island’s economy and secure a naval base at Guantánamo Bay. Although the United States has publicly stood up to tyrants in the past, it seems that American imperialism and securing its position as a dominant world force is what is really driving American decisions in international conflict and war (Norton,

Cuba is a nation that formed from a history of colonial and imperial domination. Formal colonial status under Spain ended during the invasion by the United States in 1898, when military and corporate interests made the island a de facto colony of the United States. However, Cuba and the United States have had a long history of both political and military ties; both good and bad. Nevertheless, these ties have played a vital role in the current relationship the United States maintains with Cuba. In the recent years, both countries have continued to work toward a better diplomatic relationship; possibly enhancing the overall success of both Cuba and the United States.

To begin though we need to see the backstory of how this had happened.With all of these things happening in Cuba, President Cleveland and President McKinley wanted to stay neutral. Also during this time, the United States was still thinking about the idea of Manifest Destiny and American Imperialism. Since land has already been claimed by the United States from coast to coast, they have to search elsewhere for expanding the country.

The Platt Amendment emphasized the relationship between Cuba and America. To explain, Cuba was not permitted to give territory to any other nation, except for America in any circumstance. Also, Cuba had limited, restricted power in foreign relations and treaties. This was to ensure Cuba remained neutral and to America’s advantage. The Platt Amendment gave the United States control of a naval force in Guantánamo Bay as well.

Sebhatu1 Robel Sebhatu 6/3/15 U.S History Period 3 Cuban Imperialism "Once the United States is in Cuba," he remarked, "who will drive it out?" -José Martí

Although many Cubans refused to accept any offers, the wars for independence still broke out in 1895. The U.S. declared war on Spain on April 25,1898. The U.S. defeated Spain and Cuba was officially granted independence and lived as an independent republic on January 1st, 1898. Although the taste of freedom might be sweet to many native Cubans, there is no doubt that all Cuban government in

The history of Cuba has gone through many dramatic changes affecting not only the economy but the citizens as well. On January 1st, 1969 Dictator Fulgenico Batiste (Fidel Castro) fled the Island of Cuba, with his revolutionaries seizing control with the U.S backing the situation. This caused chaos and excitement in Havana, rumbling the idea of "anti-americanism." This relates back to the conflict theory, as this had a great impact on the citizens of Cuba, causing more hate on america and its people causing conflict and negativity. Within all of this chaos with Fidel Castro and Cuba’s people, America still supported the Island of Cuba. As time passed this situation caused great suspicion as the US was not sure of Castro’s intentions and his leftist ideology, thinking this would lead to an attack from Castro on US investments and properties in Cuba. American officials were nearly unanimous opposing Castro’s revolutionary movement.

The citizens of Cuba were in a state of discontent prior to the Revolution, this occurred for various for example the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and the United States having such a large say in what occurred on the island. Cuba had been an island that had originally been colonized by the Spanish; shortly after the Spanish-American War of 1898 the U.S had gained control of the island. With the Platt Amendment, Cuba was officially

During the 1800’s expansion was taking place and many countries were trying to gain independence from colonies. This was a point in history when many countries wanted to gain to gain more land, resources, stronger militaries and overall power. At this time Cuba was controlled by Spain also known as the Spanish. Cubans wanted independence but the Spanish and their military forces were too powerful to defeat by themselves. The Spanish treated the Cubans very harsh by starting concentration camps. Many Cubans were severely dying of starvation, and other countries such as America became aware of this tragedy taking place in Cuba.

Cuba was a country rich in agriculture, with their main crops being sugar cane, tobacco, citrus, and coffee. Besides their abundant crops, Cuba also offered the opportunity for the US to set military bases, thus gaining predominance in the Caribbean and in the Pacific. Therefore, Americans relished the opportunity of establishing economic relations with Cuba, and loathed the thought of Cuban agricultural crops benefiting only Spain. Americans wanted to set up companies to develop and gain profit from Cuba’s agricultural resources, making this “a combination of idealism and concern and self-interest”

After centuries of Spanish occupation in Cuba, Cuban resistance to Spanish rule grew resulting in the Spanish-American war which ended in Spain renouncing all rights to Cuba. After a few years of US military rule in Cuba, Cuba was finally granted formal independence in 1902. During this time period before the establishment of Fidel Castro’s rule, discontent began to develop with Cuban citizens being resentful of the system of governance in Cuba in which the US government held a great deal of power. This combined with the fact that Cuba had

Although the Cuban revolution evidently proved detrimental to the Cuban economy, the U.S is not to blame because along with culturally benefitting Cuba, up until the embargo, we provided an ample source of income, thus contributing greatly to the Cuban economy. In the 1880s the US consumed the majority of Cuba’s exported sugar, tobacco, cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, and nuts and in return the U.S exported cereals, meats, manufactured goods, condensed milk, vegetable oils, cheese, and fuel, back to Cuba. Following the Spanish-American war in 1898, the U.S essentially acquired Cuba and U.S occupation resulted in tariffs reduced by 52%, reduced taxes, expanded railways and communications, established a land market liberalizing the land tenure