Essay On The Spanish American War
In the Spanish-American War, the United States showed to the world that they were no longer the isolating, inward-looking nation it was for the past years, but now an important figure on the international stage. Before American involvement and the start of the war, tensions were already apparent in the Caribbean Sea, due to existing conflicts between Cuba and Spain. Years before the war would begin, there were numerous violent attempts by Cubans in the effort for independence and greater autonomy from their Spanish rulers. One was the Ten Years' War, in which a sugar planter named Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, along with thousands of Cubans, led a failed attempt for independence that lasted, wow, ten years. In response to the uprisings, the Spanish
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Maine was sent to Cuba in case of trouble. On February 15, 1898, while the ship was docked in Havana, it suffered an explosion and proceeded to sink, killing two-hundred-fifty people. The US Navy held an investigation over the incident, with their conclusions being that an external explosion caused powder magazines inside the ship to explode as well. Spain held their own investigation, and concluded that it was just an internal explosion. No definite conclusions were found regarding whether Spanish forces caused the explosion, though despite this, the atmosphere with the American people was still one of outrage, and popular support for initiating war rose sharply. This incident marked the start of Spanish-American hostilities. The war began through American action. After a series of acts by president McKinley and Congress, war with Spain was declared. The war was a short one, lasting just four months, starting in April and ending in August 1898. The US had started rapidly strengthening their navy several years prior, and so obviously had a great advantage in that sense. A treaty between the United States and Spain was signed on December 10 later that year, officiating the Americans and the Cubans as the winners. Cuba, and some other Spanish colonies, were ceded by Spain over to America, to become protectorates under the
Maine was sent to Cuba in case of trouble. On February 15, 1898, while the ship was docked in Havana, it suffered an explosion and proceeded to sink, killing two-hundred-fifty people. The US Navy held an investigation over the incident, with their conclusions being that an external explosion caused powder magazines inside the ship to explode as well. Spain held their own investigation, and concluded that it was just an internal explosion. No definite conclusions were found regarding whether Spanish forces caused the explosion, though despite this, the atmosphere with the American people was still one of outrage, and popular support for initiating war rose sharply. This incident marked the start of Spanish-American hostilities. The war began through American action. After a series of acts by president McKinley and Congress, war with Spain was declared. The war was a short one, lasting just four months, starting in April and ending in August 1898. The US had started rapidly strengthening their navy several years prior, and so obviously had a great advantage in that sense. A treaty between the United States and Spain was signed on December 10 later that year, officiating the Americans and the Cubans as the winners. Cuba, and some other Spanish colonies, were ceded by Spain over to America, to become protectorates under the