The Spanish American War of 1898 Essay - 1316 Words

The Spanish American War of 1898 One hundred years ago, in 1898, the United States was fighting the Spanish-American War. The victory over Spain made the United States a colonial power. The Spanish colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, as well as the formerly independent nation of Hawaii, became American possessions. The excuse for entering the war was the rebellion by the Cubans against Spanish rule and the explosion of an American battleship U.S.S. Maine. The Spanish colonies in mainland North and South America became independent in the early 1800s, but Cuba and Puerto Rico remained Spanish. Many Americans in the U.S. sympathized with Cuba, which began in 1895, and also, maybe more importantly, U.S. citizens†¦show more content†¦Before dawn on May 1, 1898, Commodore George Deweys flagship Olympia led seven U.S. Navy cruisers and gunboats into Manila Bay. By 8 AM that morning Deweys squadron had located and destroyed virtually the entire Spanish naval forces in the Philippines. Damage to the American ships was very little, and their crews suffered no fatalities and few injuries. The Battle of Manila Bay was a singular demonstration of the daring and decisive application of sea power. In a few hours, Dewey had eliminated any threat that the Spanish Navy might pose to U.S. Far Eastern commerce and placed Spains centuries-long rule of the Philippines in great jeopardy. A few days later, with the capture of Cavite arsenal, he also gained a repair and refueling base, essential for maintaining his squadron under wartime conditions thousands of miles from home. On May 15, Theodore Roosevelt began training the famous Rough Riders for battles in Cuba, which brought him the fame that made him vice president in 1901 and then president on September 13 . In Washington, President McKinley received the news of the great battle. However, the battle of Manila did not end the war. 100 miles off the US coast is where Spanish held Cuba, by a substantial army, and hostile to Americ an interests there. No naval force could impose on Cuba, and in order to force the Spanish out, a full scale invasion would have to be mounted. In 1897, TheodoreShow MoreRelatedThe Spanish American War in 18981256 Words   |  5 Pages The quote A Splendid little war by Secretary of State John Hay summarizes the Spanish American War in 1898. While this war could be seen as an act of aggression by the 20th century standards this war was beneficial to the United States of America while being deviating to the Kingdom of Spain for many reasons. There were many causes for the Spanish American War. The first long term cause was the Wilson Gordon Tariff. This tariff ultimately decreased tariff rates for may Europeans nations excludingRead MoreEssay on The Cause And Effect Of The Spanish American War953 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican imperialism in 1898 was not a sudden abandonment of anti-colonial tradition but was a logical extension of commercial expansion, something the US had been doing throughout its history (SparkNotes: The Spanish American War, 1898-1901,: Effects of the Treaty). President McKinley was not interested in wars of conquest or of territorial aggression. His interest in expansion was to make the United States first in international commerce and as a means to implement its humanitarian and democraticRead MoreTaking a Look at the Spanish American War Essay945 Words   |  4 Pages During his presidency William McKinley said, â€Å"War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed.† His message never fully reached the American people because in the late 19th century the people were longing for an opportunity to keep up with other empires and they took the first chance they approached. They saw war with Spain as a quick way to prove supremacy and saw plenty of benefits. The Spanish American war was inevitable for America because the people had a strong driveRead MoreCause Of The Spanish American War1406 Words   |  6 PagesCauses of the Spanish-American War In April of 1898 America finally declared war against Spain and this was as a result of the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana in February of the same year. After months of war and wrangles, the war came to an end after the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 10th of December 1898.1 The end of the war saw the Spaniards loss complete control over majority of their remaining empires aboard including Cuba, Philippines Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam among otherRead MoreCause Of The Spanish American War1562 Words   |  7 PagesCauses of the Spanish-American War - In April of 1898, America declared war against Spain and this was a result of the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana in February of that same year. After months of war and wrangles, the war came to an end after the signing of the Treaty of Paris on the 10th of December in 1898.1 The end of the war saw that the Spaniards had loss complete control over majority of their remaining empires that were aboard including Cuba, Philippines Islands, Puerto Rico, andRead MoreThe Spanish American War During The 19th Century1391 Words   |  6 Pages At the end of the 19th century the Spanish-American War was fought between the United States, and Spain. The war started a new beginning for three nations, the United States, Cuba and Spain. At the end of the war an empire would fall and new one would be created and Cuba would become an independent nation. Though battles were fought all over the world the war itself was mostly about Cuban Independence. During the latter half of 19th century Cuba was under the control of SpainRead MoreCauses And Effects Of U.S. Imperialism812 Words   |  3 PagesImperialism in this time period are: Hawaii, the Spanish-American war, and Theodore Roosevelt. In this time period Hawaiian islanders were very happy to live traditionally, but Americans were not content with the traditional ways of the Hawaiians (Buschini, n.pag.). Even though America seemed to be on the road to imperialism with Hawaii, the Spanish- American war actually set the United States on the new road of Imperialism (The Spanish American War n.pag.). Theodore Roosevelt played an importantRead MoreSPANISH WAR1105 Words   |  5 Pagesnineteenth-century isolationism, the Spanish-American War, or the administration of Theodore Roosevelt. Use the library, Internet, and other research sources for your topic. You should think about the causes, consequences, and impact of the event or person upon American history. Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuati on in your report. On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The war ended with the signingRead MoreThe Imperial Republic1299 Words   |  6 Pagesthe reconstruction a waste of $7.2 million seemed too superfluous but the US president thought it would be a good way to control the western hemisphere. III. Pan-American Union Was an organization of American nations that was created to provide information of the other countries and to offer cooperation and support among the American Nations. Despite its noble concept the US was seen as an imperial power and the US was greedy. IV. Venezuelan Dispute - 1895 A border dispute between Great BritainRead MoreImpact Of War On Society And The Economy899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of War As soon as there were men, there was war. The history of warfare can be traced all the way back to one of the earliest known civilizations, Mesopotamia. Since the development of organized city-states, warfare has been used to settle disputes, including disagreements over land, resources, and religious beliefs. The United States has a long history of warfare in its 224-year history, starting with its fight for independence. Each war fought has had a profound impact on the course