Preview

The Spanish-American War: Casualties and Consequences

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2871 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Spanish-American War: Casualties and Consequences
THESIS : " The United States didn 't want to get involved in the Spanish-American War, but was dragged into it due to yellow journalism, they wanted to control the seas, and wanted complete control over Cuba." The Spanish-American War - "The Splendid Little War" Pia DeAngelis Mr. Fishman Period 7 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


Bibliography: Barnes, Mark R. Puerto Rican Land Campaign, Part 1. Online. Available: http//www.spanam.simplenet.com/puertoland1.htm. 11/29/99. Barnes, Mark R. Puerto Rican Land Campaign, Part 2. Online. Available: http//www.spanam.simplenet.com/puertoland2.htm. 11/29/99. Barnes, Mark R. Puerto Rican Land Campaign, Part 4. Online. Available: http//www.spanam.simplenet.com/puertoland4.htm. 11/29/99. Conway, Christopher. Imperialism. Online. Available: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/9852/usimp.htm. 11/29/99. Couttie, Robert. Philippines. Online. Available: http://www.spanam.simplenet.com/Philippines.htm. 11/29/99. McSherry, Patrick. Casualties. Online. Available: http//www.spanam.simplenet.com/casualties.htm. 11/29/99.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Chapter Summary: The Mexican American War
    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Chapter Summary: The Mexican American War

    I am summarizing the third sub-division of chapter eight, pages one hundred and sixty-three through one hundred and sixty-nine. The section is explaining the time during the Mexican American War. The Anglo-Americans have begun to raid the Spanish settlements, stealing horses and declaring California separate from Mexico. After this troops moved into New Mexico, and Santa Fe taking them both with out any fighting. Months after these events Mexicans began to rebel against American rule. Americans then revolted in an act to stop this rebellion, rebels began to flee some still attacking American men and killing many of them while other rebels were arrested. In reaction to this, America pursued what they believed to be a final battle, hundreds of…

    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Anti-Imperialism Editorial: Spanish American War
    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Anti-Imperialism Editorial: Spanish American War

    The Spanish American War is simply an abomination of American morals and ideals. Spain and the United States are currently in conflict, as a result of American intervention in Cuba. America has yet again impressed its indomitable will upon fledgling nations, and in this case, one that did not even need “help” especially since it was already under Spanish control, regardless of how relaxed or ineffective that role may have been.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Was The United States Justified In Encouraging War With Spain
    • 64 Words
    • 1 Page

    Was The United States Justified In Encouraging War With Spain

    The United States desired to dominion all of the Americas and endeavor at all costs. Cuba being in the Americas and under Spain’s ruling, the United States would try to find little things to accuse Spain so that they believe they have the right to declare war. The United States was not justified in claiming war with Spain due to unfair and erroneous accusations.…

    • 64 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Did Cuba Win The American War Against Spain
    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Did Cuba Win The American War Against Spain

    There was the immediate causes for war against Spain, however there were many economic issues that could be taken care of on the long run. The U.S was in the midst of expansion and Spain was making it hard for it to happen. Spain controlled Cuba, and this a nuisance for the U.S. due to the fact Cuba was the largest producer of sugar in the world at the time. (2) Cubans rebelled in hopes of breaking free from Spain’s control and become independent. However the U.S could not let Cuba win this war by themselves.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Importance Of William Mckinley's Contribution To The Cuban Revolution
    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Importance Of William Mckinley's Contribution To The Cuban Revolution

    Despite the US’s concern in its sugar interest and its general imperialistic willingness to expand, the Spanish-American War quickly became a war based on morality. Many people saw a reflection of America’s own struggle with Britain within the Cuban willingness for freedom and saw it as a need to intervene. Spain’s blatant disregard for the Monroe Doctrine spurred a US self-entitlement to police over Southern America in case of such occurrences; this later became known as the Roosevelt…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spanish American War Dbq
    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Spanish American War Dbq

    Imagine fighting for freedom against a country that won’t listen to you and treats you with cruelty. You don’t have much military power, so this other, more powerful country helps you gain independance. However, as soon as you win, the country that helps turns around and puts you in the same situation, just with them instead of the original country. This is what it was like in the Philippines! Before the Spanish-American war, the Philippines were a territory of Spain, along with some other countries like Cuba and Puerto Rico. Spain mistreated the people of these territories. They moved them into camps, that had shelters with no roofs. If they didn’t get there in time, they were executed. The United States stepped in and went to war with Spain for the independance of these territories. When we won the war, we got control of these…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Woodrow Wilson and United States Expansionism
    • 3151 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Woodrow Wilson and United States Expansionism

    The “splendid little” Spanish-American War began in 1898 over American outrage abut Spanish oppression of Cuba. American support for the rebellion had been whipped up into intense popular fervor by the “yellow press.” After the “mysterious” explosion in February 1898 of the USS Maine, this public passion pushed the reluctant President McKinley into war, even though Spain was ready to concede on the major issues.…

    • 3151 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cuba Research Paper
    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cuba Research Paper

    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…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spanish American War (1898)
    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Spanish American War (1898)

    Fought between April and August 1898, the Spanish-American War was the result of American concern over Spanish treatment of Cuba, political pressures, and anger over the sinking of USS Maine. Although President William McKinley had wished to avoid any type of war, American forces seized the Philippines and Guam. This was followed by a longer campaign in southern Cuba which culminated in American victories at sea and on land. In the wake of the conflict, the United States became an Imperial power having gained many Spanish territories. Beginning in 1868, the people of Cuba began starting to overthrow their Spanish rulers. Having defeated two rebellions, the Spanish took a heavy hand when a third began…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Howard Zinn Critique
    • 1607 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Howard Zinn Critique

    After the frontier was declared closed in 1890, the United States looked to overseas markets and imperialism. A People’s History of the United States gives various examples of the numerous arguments for territorial expansion. There was a growing surplus of goods following Gilded Age, and businessmen needed foreign trade markets, particularly China, to increase profit margins. They took an interest in Cuba and an “open door” policy that would allow them access to Asia (Zinn A People’s 301). The government also sought Cuba, but for imperialistic reasons; they wanted the United States to become a world power. Meanwhile, Cuba was undergoing a revolution against Spanish tyranny. Many Americans supported this, as it was similar to their own revolution. Newspapers frequently printed reports of Spanish atrocities towards the Cuban people in an effort to invoke further sympathy towards the Cuban cause (“Spanish-American”). One abomination of Spanish rule was the institution of reconcentration camps that held rebels and their sympathizers, and when news of them reached the United States, a nation protected from cruel punishments under the eighth amendment, people were outraged at the Spaniards. This sensationalist journalism manipulated many citizens into believing that a war with Spain was necessary to help the Cuban rebels and supporting the government’s cause. Despite this, a…

    • 1607 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Anti Spanish American War Analysis
    • 448 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Anti Spanish American War Analysis

    Moving on, in 1898, the Spanish American War came into existence under the leadership of President William McKinley. A few years before McKinley came into office, Cuba attempted to overthrow Spanish colonial rule, and in return, the Spanish rulers started using harsh policies that included concentration camps. The rebels received financial assistance from private U.S. interests and used America as a base of operations from which to attack. McKinley originally tried to avoid an armed conflict with Spain, but the American media, lambasted McKinley as weak and ignited an intense reaction to what was taking place in Cuba. The convergence of anti-Spanish public opinion and the government's desire to protect American economic interests in Cuba prompted…

    • 448 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    18th Century American Imperialism
    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages

    18th Century American Imperialism

    Towards the end of the 18th Century American foreign policy underwent major change. Fueled by the Progressive movement and new interpretations of Manifest destiny, Americans sought to expand the United States’s influence around the world. During the 1890s the United States mainly used military and economic prowess to accomplish their international desires. Progressives used this new foreign policy to expand their domestic agenda onto to an international level. These advancements were widely supported due to many Americans new found understanding of Manifest destiny. Many intellectuals of the 18th Century including Frederick Jackson Turner and Alfred Thayer Mahan promoted United States expansion. These sentiments caused views towards manifest destiny to change from domestic ambitions to international ambitions. The United States’s new initiative as an international power caused them to clash with Spain over their colonies; Puerto Rico, the Phillipines, and Cuba. As the 1890s progressed Cuba’s relevance grew due to the United States’s desire to tap into the economy of the country. While the United States fought with the Spanish for Cuba the media’s portrayal of the ordeal greatly influenced the American population’s views towards Cuba. Americans’ pre-war ideas about Cuban independence…

    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spanish American Imperialism Essay
    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Spanish American Imperialism Essay

    Thesis: The Spanish American War represented a turning point after which the US was more aggressive and more internationally-minded than it had previously been.…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    International Involvement
    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages

    International Involvement

    Upon the conclusion of the Spanish-American War in 1898 with the Treaty of Paris, the United States found itself in the midst of the imperialism fight, acquiring Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines from Spain through the terms of the treaty. At first, Americans were excited about the idea of competing with the other more established imperial nations, most prominently Great Britain, who had become the most prolific imperial nation by the end of the 19th century. However, there began a political and academic debate within the country between the Imperialists and the Anti-Imperialists.…

    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spanish American War Analysis
    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Spanish American War Analysis

    Something they felt behind other countries thus far. The Spanish - American War ended with the Treaty of Paris signed. The treaty granted independence of Cuba, along with Spain handing over Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. They United States also paid Spain 20 million dollars for control of the Philippines.…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics