What Are The Causes Of The Spanish American Revolution

In 1898, the declaration of the Spanish-American War commenced. The war began on April 25th, 1898 and ended on December 10th, 1898. A matter that lasted within a question of nine months. Though it lasted for a short period of time, it was a significant little war that was the establishment of the United States (US) as a national power. A consistent theme of imperialism carried the war. This imperialism tossed Cuba’s liberation around between Spain and US.

Since 1492, Cuba was under the wing of Spain’s colonization. Along with other nations, Cuba has a history of struggle for its liberation. Naturally, a rebellion was made in Cuba to battle for its independence. The rebellion was known as Mambises that consisted of guerrilla fighters. In 1896, the Spanish general at the time positioned Spanish troops in Cuba and created concentration camps that targeted all Cubans. These concentration camps were made to suppress the rebellion

despite of any harmless Cuban citizens.

Media such as the Yellow Journalism, drew US’s attention towards the issue in an article that was publicized simply in efforts to sell more newspapers. Publication in the Yellow Journalism influenced the actions of the US government and played a role in leading the US to war with Spain. The US didn’t like how Spain was treating Cuba. Spain gave Cuba autonomy but they wanted complete independence. Spain was never willing to go that far though. This was how the US was introduced to the situation.

The public of the US was able to read about the issue through the Yellow Journalism newspapers. The people of the US wanted them to fight a war against Spain. Cuba was already in a position to ally with the US for its extended trade of sugar and mining investments that it had

over its mother country, Spain. That being said, the US had taken many precautions before jumping the gun. It wasn’t until two specific details happened that agitated the US into declaring war with Spain. The first was in response to a private letter written from a Spanish ambassador in the US writing to acquaintances in Cuba. The private letter was intercepted by a Cuban spy in the US and turned it over to the Yellow Journalism. The private letter said that Spain didn’t really take US threats over Cuba seriously and it called President McKinley weak. The letter was published in the newspaper and aroused diplomatic embarrassment for the Spanish ambassador. Secondly, at the Habana Harbor (February 15th, 1898), the USS Maine exploded. The explosion killed 260 American sailors. Luckily the Captain survived to explain the incident. The explosion had nothing to do with Spain. The captain advised Washington D.C that public opinion should be ignored but it was too late. Once the Yellow Journalism got a hold of the story they published it with the running head line, “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain”. The US was aroused. Spain was no fool though. Messages were sent to the US from the Spanish Ambassador saying that Spain isn’t looking for war and that they give up. A formidable gesture that was rejected by President McKinley’s administration because they were already getting ready to go to war with Spain. The war concluded with the Treaty of Paris and the US won.
The US had an initial objective at the beginning of the war and that was to eliminate the imperialistic rule that Spain had over Cuba. By the end of the war, the US completed their objective of ending Spain’s imperialism. Though this is true, there were different takes on America’s actions by supporters and critics. Supporters played their role before the war, voicing that the US steps in to this Spanish-Cuban affair to end the issue. There was a humanitarian religious aspect going around in the US. This was fueled by economics that it was a moral obligation to help others. On the other hand, critics argued that the US was building an empire after winning the war and having control over newly owned territory such as the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. Several American groups rose to start the “Anti-Imperialists American League”. This group came to be due America’s growing empire that was betraying our founding values. They didn’t approve of America conquering Spanish territories.
After the war, the US thought of itself as a national power. This change was proactive in the sense that it gave them a higher measure of international politics. The expansion also gave them access to more resources. This acclimated the US to imperialism. This in turn was also a negative aspect because they had taken away the liberation of the Philippines. This resulted in a sporadic Filipino-American War. With the US available to expansion, it created an aftermath of affairs in Europe.