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The spanish american war historical circumstances
The spanish american war historical circumstances
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The Spanish-American War allowed the United States to acquire large amounts of territories. The Spanish-American War happened in the year 1898, and was obviously between the United States and Spain. The start of the war was caused by Cuba’s want and struggle for independence from Spain. American sympathy for the Cuban rebels grew as Spain took to more hostile tactics to calm the rebellion in Cuba. The United States newspapers showed great anger and hatred towards Spain’s hostility towards Cuba during the rebellion. Because the United States became independent from another country, the people of the United States at that time must have felt a connection with Cuba, and wanted to help Cuba free itself of the struggle for independence, because the United States also struggled. The United States wanted to help Cuba so much, most likely due to the reason stated above. The entirety of the Spanish-American war began with Cuba’s struggle for independence, but some other countries and islands also got in the middle of the battling and bargaining. The Philippines and …show more content…
Puerto Rico also were caught in the midst of war, destruction, and the end bargain. As all the countries struggled, many people came to the realization that something had to be done with the internal or external concerns of their country. That realization came with the cost of war and death, and also debt. Due to the sheer anger and resentment shown towards Spain’s attitude towards Cuba’s rebellion, the United States’ wanting to intervene grew and grew. The incessant yelling of those in the United States could not be silenced easily. Spain did nothing to calm the hatred. The United States’ resentment and anger towards Spain increased dramatically after the unexplained sinking of the battleship USS Maine, which happened on February 15, 1898. The part that really angered those residing in the United States is the fact that the USS Maine was sent to protect United States citizens and property, because the amount of anti-Spanish riots and protests in Havana. The United States’ Congress began trying to get Cuba to have full independence. The United States’ Congress demanded withdrawal of Spain’s armed forces from Cuba, and also declared Cuba’s right to be independent and on its own. This action angered the Spain very much.
Due to the growth of tension between Spain, the United States, and Cuba, Spain declared war on the United States on April 24. The United States accepted this by also declaring war, but on April 25. This war seemed to be unwinnable for Spain, for Spain did not prepare at all for the strength of the United States military forces. The United States military forces were fairly strong in this point of history, so you would expect for Spain to at least prepare naval forces. United States troops were sent into Manila Bay in the Philippines. They were sent on the first of May, 1898. With Spain horribly unprepared for the war that they declared first, the United States troops quickly defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Few casualties on the United States’ side, while the Spanish army suffered due to lack of preparation. The war ended on July 17, due to Santiago
surrender. The Treaty of Paris, which was signed December 10, 1898, allowed Cuba to gain independence. How, you ask? Within the Treaty of Paris, Spain took back all claims to Cuba, and gave Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and sold the United States power over the Philippines for $20,000,000. This end to the war helped out both countries. Spain, due to losing much territory, decided to start focusing on internal issues. This led to Spain focusing on improving economic development, and leading cultural and literary renaissance. The United States, on the other hand, learned to accept and sometimes participate in the affairs of other countries, with the acquisition of more territory. Cuba wasn’t the only island under Spanish control that was sick of Spain. The Philippines and Puerto Rico were both exhausted by Spain’s rule over them. A man names José Rizal was a member of a very wealthy family. He hated that his “upper mobility” was stifled by Spanish want for “pure-blooded” Spaniards. He started a political career in order to fix this, and help other people like him to not be shut down. More people like José Rizal stood up for what they believed was right. Because of the rise of people standing up for themselves, the Philippines became a little more independent. However, a bit of violence erupted from this. Puerto Rico was similar. Puerto Rico just wanted to ally with the United States, just like Cuba.
The Spanish American war had a complex beginning. By the 1890’s, Cuba had unsuccessfully battled Spain for its independence for many years. Due to the US’s economic interests in Cuba, the US government sought to stabilize the situation. The United States and Cuba negotiated an agreement that Cuba would become self-governing on January 1, 1898. But
The American’s kept a watchful eye on the war between Spain and the Cuban revolutionaries during the Ten Year War. News of atrocities committed by the Spanish Army caused Americans to sympathize with the Cuban revolutionaries thanks to the coverage in the American press.3
In June of 1895, President Grover Cleveland took a stance of neutrality toward the Cuban conflict, though many American citizens grew concerned that the fight was too close to home. (Spanish-American) By December of the next year, Cleveland declared that the U.S. might be forced to take action if Spain was unable to solve the Cuban crisis alone. (Library of Congress) Spain granted Cuba limited autonomy in January of 1897, but the natives were not satisfied. As the Spanish resorted to ruthless tactics to keep the Cubans in line, their brutality created much sympathy in the United States. Tensions rose between America and Spain. The other shoe dropp...
The Franco-Mexican War The Franco-Mexican War was a war fought by two very different countries than they are today. The war was fought over reasons that seem very unlikely to arise ever again. between these two countries. The war was fought over gaining territory, group thinking, and pure human. Nature.
towards Spain on April 25, 1898. On the day war was declared, Spain issued that the United States add the Teller Amendment, which declared, "the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty..." (Teller Amendment). The actual fighting began on May 1, in the Philippines Islands at the Battle of Manila Bay where Commodore George Dewey reportedly said, "You may fire when ready, Gridley," and the Spanish fleet under Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo was
The Conquest of New Spain Cortés came not to the New World to conquer by force, but by manipulation. Bernal Daz del Castillo, in the "Conquest of New Spain," describes how Cortés and his soldiers manipulated the Aztec people and their king Montezuma from the time they traveled from Iztapalaopa to the time when Montezuma took Cortés to the top of the great Cue and showed him the whole of Mexico and its countryside, and the three causeways which led into Mexico. Castillo's purpose for recording the mission was to keep an account of the wealth of Montezuma and Mexico, the traditions, and the economic potential that could benefit Cortés' upcoming conquest. However, through these recordings, we are able to see and understand Cortés' strategy in making Mexico "New Spain." He came as a wolf in sheep's clothing and manipulated Montezuma through his apparent innocence.
The Spanish-American war was the first and biggest step that the United States of America took toward imperialism. It was the war that secured the US as the most powerful country in the world. This war was a benefit to the USA because we gained land, gained respect, and taught a lesson to one of our enemies. In addition to this, the losses that we suffered were almost nothing compared to other conflicts or wars. The Spanish-American war was by no means for the sole purpose of gaining land and respect, the United States freed an oppressed country and took pieces of land that were better off under US control.
For 113 days during the summer of 1898, the United States was at war with Spain. Neither the president of the United States, nor his cabinet, nor the the queen of Spain, nor her ministers wanted the war wanted the war. It happened eventhough they made their best efforts to prevent it. It happened because of ambition, miscalculation, and stupidity; and it happened because of kindness, wit, and resourcefulness. It also happened because some were indifferent to the suffering of the world’s wretched and others were not (O’Toole 17). By winning the war the United States proved the the rest of the world and to itself that it could and would fight against foreign nations. For many years, world power had been concentrated in the countries in Europe. Nations such as Great Britain, France, Germany, and Spain had the most influence in global affairs. But a shift in power was gradually taking place as the United States matured. The young nation gained wealth and strength. Its population grew immensely, and many people believed it would become a major world power (Bachrach, 11) Spain was one of the many European countries that had territory in the United States. Spain controlled mostly some islands off the coast of Central America. The most important of these were Cuba and Puerto Rico. The United States was led to believe that the Spanish mosgoverned and abused the people of these islands. In fact, Spain did overtax and mistreat the Cubans, who rebelled in 1868 and again in 1895. Thus, the American people felt sympathetic toward the Cuban independence movement. In addition, Spain had frequently interfered with trade between its colonies and the United States. Even though the United States had been a trading partner with Cuba since the seventeenth century, Spain sometimes tried to completely stop their trade with Cuba. In Spain doing so, this sometimes caused damage to U.S. commercial interests. The United States highly disagreed with Spain’s right to interfere with this trade relationship. (Bachrach, 12) The United States was also concerned that other trading and commercial interests were threatened by the number of ships and soldiers Spain kept in the area. If the United States had to fight a war with Canada or Mexico, these Spanish forces could quickly mobilize against the United States.
Introduction The Spanish American War marked the emergence of the United States of America as a world power. The war which lasted only 10 weeks between April and August of 1898 took place over the liberation of Cuba. In the course of the war the U.S. won Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands. A large aspect to the begining of the war was the explosion and sinking of the Maine on February 15 1898 at 9:30 PM in Havana Harbor. 260 American naval personnel where killed or wounded. The USS Maine was the second "second class" battle ship constructed for the U.S. Navy. It took almost nine years to complete three year took waiting for armor. The USS Maine was at the time the largest ship to be built in a U.S. Navy yard. The USS Maine arrived in the Havana harbor in Cuba on Jan. 24 of 1898. The USS Manie was sent to Cuba in response to a small protest by Spanish officers. The ship was under the command of Captian Charles Sigsbee.
Immediately following the war with Spain, the United States had both the political will to pursue imperial policies and the geopolitical circumstances conducive to doing so. But the way in which these policies would manifest was an open question; was the impulse to actively remake the world in America’s Anglo-Saxon image justified? Hence, there were several models of American imperialism at the turn of the twentieth century. In the Philippines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Samoa, the United States asserted unwavering political control. In Cuba, and later throughout most of the Caribbean basin, the economic and political domination of customarily sovereign governments became the policy. Ultimately, the United States was able to expand its territory
Spain was conquering territories all around the world. Although one made the United States more nervous than the rest; Cuba. The United States feared spain controlling a territory so close to home. It was clear it was not the best idea that a Eastern country controlled something so close, so they kept a close eye on it. Once they realize their differences United States discharged a battleship from the Great White Fleet to Cuba, the U.S.S. Maine. Once the maine arrived there was a few more conflicts between the two countries. After 2 weeks of arriving in Havana Harbor in Cuba, The Maine was mysteriously destroyed by an explosion. As soon as the Yellow press was informed they forced the thought of the explosion being an act of terrorism. This is supported in “Document A: New York Journal”. The New York Journa...
WAR IMMINENT: Spain and America to Fight After a recent publication in our sister publication, the New York Journal, a letter from the Spanish Minister de Lome to President McKinley, tensions rose to a point of combustion. Citizens all over the United States have complained about the insulting message contained within the letter from the Minister. This letter ridiculed McKinley, and lead to the eventual resignation of this Spanish Minister de Lome. Another catalyst that added to growing American distaste for the Spanish was the destruction of the battleship, the USS Maine. Although the source remains unknown for sure, we’re positive here at The Chronicle that the dastardly Spaniards committed this heinous crime. Many valuable American lives, as well as other less valuable foreign lives, were lost due to the explosion onboard the gunship. This blatant attack on an American Naval vessel is definite grounds for a war with the Spaniards. In response to the attack on the Maine, the United States Congress has raised an emergency fund of $50 million for President McKinley to do with as he pleases in order to fight the war that they declared also following the destruction of the Maine. Congress, through this declaration of war, desired to repay the indignation bestowed upon the US by Spain and to also help free the Spanish colonies of Guam, Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. The main catalyst that escalated this war was very much to the “Yellow Journalism” produced by such newspapers such this one, but also by others such as the New York Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even by very reputable newspapers like the New York Times.
The first reason for the Spanish American War was public opinion. In 1895, American citizens took notice of a Cuban revolt against their corrupt Spanish oppressor. The Cuban insurgents reasoned that if they did enough damage , the US might move in and help the Cubans win their independence. Not only did Americans sympathize with the Cubans upon seeing tragic reports in the newspaper, but they also empathized in that the US once fought for their own independence from Britain. If France didn’t intervene, the Americans probably would not have won their freedom. As if this did not rally enough hate for the Spanish among the American Public, fuel was added to the flame by the Spanish General (“Butcher”) Weyler. He attempted to crush the rebellion by herding Cubans into barbed-wire concentration camps. In turn, the American public was outraged.
History is not a collection of unrelated events, but it is instead an account of various causes and their effects. World War II was not an isolated event. It was a product of numerous events in Europe which included the Spanish Civil War. Spain prior to World War II was an area of crucial political and strategic importance. By analyzing the events of the Spanish Civil War, the events of World War II can be understood in greater detail. Hitler’s confident foreign policy, the quick surrender of France, the forging of unlikely alliances, and the diverse ideological state present in Europe can be understood more comprehensively by looking at the Spanish Civil War. The events of the Spanish Civil War changed the political atmosphere of Europe; these events influenced the beginning of World War II.
Spanish History- The Spanish-American War (April 25,1898-December 10, 1898)- Cuba had been fighting for independence from Spain for six years using guerrilla warfare tactics. For that reason, in February 1896, Spanish General Valeriano Weyler moved the Cubans from their homes into areas heavily guarded by Spaniards. As a result, President Cleveland decided he wanted to get involved in the war. When the Spanish destroyed an American ship they immediately began to gather troops. For ten weeks Cuba, the Philippines Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States fought against Spain. On Dece...