Cuba Research Paper

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Before 1850, Cuba was governed by Spain. However, the United States wanted to acquire Cuba for the following reasons. Firstly for commercial reason that is, Cuba would be a good market for American goods. Secondly, a slave state, planters form the Southern States of the United States wanted to acquire Cuba so that it would be made into a state where slavery could be continued. Thirdly, a military base, many Americans felt that Cuba could be used as a military base to protect Florida since that island was located only 149km away from the United States. Lastly, some Americans wanted to end Spanish rule in Cuba, they felt that the United States should replace Spain as the main country to govern Cuba.
Before 1860, the United
Secondly, the American businessmen invested a lot of money in the sugarcane, tobacco and railway industry. Thirdly, the Cuban businessmen exported sugar and tobacco to the United States. Before 1895, Cuba was governed by Spain. However many Cubans wanted to gain independence from Spain for the following reason, the Spanish imposed high taxes on the Cuban people. The Cuban did not like how Spain governed their country. Spain was the least important of Cuba’s export customer since Spain did little trading with Cuba. By 1895, the United States was Cuba’s most important trade
He was supported by the Americans for the following reason, the Americans were shocked at the treatment of Cuban prisoners in prison camps operated by the Spanish. The United States felt that the lives of American citizens who lived in Cuba were in danger and the United States was willing to invade Cuba to protect the Americans. Some Americans felt that Cuba could be used as a military base to protect Florida. In 1898, the United States President William Mckinley sent an American warship the USS Maine to Cuba to protect American lives. However, the ship was destroyed and American sailors died on the ship. This gave the United States the opportunity to declare war on Spain. In 1898 this war was called the Spanish American War. The Spanish American War began in 1898 and involved the United States waging war against Spain. The warfare between both countries occurred in the Pacific Ocean. The United States was able to defeat the Spanish and gained the following Spanish colonies in the Pacific Ocean such as Guam and the Phillippines. The United States also gained Spanish colonies in the Caribbean example Cuba, Puerto Rico. The Phillippines, Guam, Puerto Rico became American territories but not States of the United States. The United States decided to follow the Teller Amendment as it related to Cuba. This stated that the United States would leave the government and control of Cuba to its people. However an