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The Failure Of Cuba's Declaration Of Independence

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At a time when Cuba fought to gain independence from Spanish rule, President William McKinley showed leadership by ending the feud between the rebels and Spanish forces and establishing a stable government. U.S. interest in purchasing Cuba had begun before 1898. Following the Ten Year War, American sugar interests bought up large amounts of land in Cuba. Alterations in the U.S. sugar tariff favoring homegrown beet sugar helped encourage the renewal of revolutionary passion in 1895. On April 23, President McKinley asked for 125,000 volunteers to fight against Spain. The following day, Spain issued a declaration of war. However, on the other side of the world, a Spanish fleet docked in Cuba’s Santiago harbor after racing across the Atlantic from Spain. The Spanish fleet destroyed off Santiago by U.S. warships under Admiral William Sampson, and the Spanish surrendered the city. In Puerto Rico, Spanish forces crumbled in the face of superior U.S. forces, and on August 12 an armistice was signed between Spain and the United States, ending the conflict. …show more content…

Congress voted to go to war against Spain on April 25. The Spanish government rejected the U.S. ultimatum and immediately severed diplomatic relations with the United States. The U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban independence, demanded that the Spanish government give up control of the island, and deny any intention on the part of the United States to annex Cuba, and authorized McKinley to use whatever military measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba’s independence. McKinley responded by implementing a naval blockade of Cuba on April 22 and issued a call for 125,000 military volunteers the following

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