Spanish American War

"In the summer of 1898, the United States fought Spain in one of the shortest and most pathetically one-sided wars in modern history. The war represented a powerful resurgence of the same doctrine of Manifest Destiny that had led the United States to expand westward by defeating Mexico in 1846-48. This impulse toward imperialism took place as major European nations were establishing colonies throughout Africa. As a result of the Spanish-American War, the United States became a world power that controlled an empire stretching from the Caribbean Sea to the Far East."(source)

"The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, which began in February 1895. Spain’s brutally repressive measures to halt the rebellion were graphically portrayed for the U.S. public by several sensational newspapers, and American sympathy for the rebels rose. The growing popular demand for U.S. intervention became an insistent chorus after the unexplained sinking in Havana harbour of the battleship USS Maine (Feb. 15, 1898; see Maine, destruction of the), which had been sent to protect U.S. citizens and property after anti-Spanish rioting in Havana. Spain announced an armistice on April 9 and speeded up its new program to grant Cuba limited powers of self-government, but the U.S. Congress soon afterward issued resolutions that declared Cuba’s right to independence, demanded the withdrawal of Spain’s armed forces from the island, and authorized the President’s use of force to secure that withdrawal while renouncing any U.S. design for annexing Cuba."(source)

"The Spanish-American War (1898) was fought over the liberation of Cuba from Spain. During the 1870s the Cuban people rebelled against Spanish rule. The Spanish subdued the rebellion, but peace on the Caribbean island could not be maintained. Worsening economic conditions resulted in a revolution in 1895. American leaders feared that the insurrection (rebellion) would neither end in victory for the Cubans nor would the Spanish be strong enough to put down the rebel forces. Meanwhile, the American public had been reading a steady stream of newspaper stories from the island and were increasingly supporting U.S. intervention."(source)


"The Spanish American War lasted from late April (the date varies a few days as to when the 'official' beginning occurred - April 22, 23, or 25) to December 10, 1898 when it ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris between the U.S. and Spain. It only lasted eight months. The Spanish American War was a global war, being fought physically in the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba. In addition, it was fought politically in the home countries as well as in diverse places such as Egypt and Hawaii. Particularly important also is that the war was fought between the U.S. and Spain. This may sound obvious, but is a point of confusion. Lastly, the Filipinos served as an active defacto, but unofficial U.S. ally."(source)


"In April of 1897 Roosevelt was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy as a reward for his staunch and tireless campaigning for the newly elected President, William McKinley. Theodore had been greatly affected the logic of Captain (later Rear Admiral) Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" since he had reviewed the book for the Atlantic Monthly in 1890. Now he could begin to put Mahan's beliefs into practice. Mahan had indicated that several key points concerning the Navy were revealed by studying the history of various countries and their Navies. First, that the United States ought to develop a strong Navy capable of extending its power across the ocean where it could defend U.S. interests at a safe distance from the home coastline. Neither Roosevelt or Mahan believed in the Isolationist view that the U.S. coastal defense was the sole use of the Navy. Also, if the Navy was going to be a world force, bases would have to be established at various locations, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii."(source)

The once mighty and far-flung Spanish Empire evaporated with the wisps of smoke that still spiraled into the heavens on the morning of July 4th. The American ships were crowded with defeated Spanish sailors, many of them wounded. Indeed the victorious sailors were conspicuous by their reverent treatment of their captured foes. Later, upon his return home, Admiral Cervera wrote in his official report: 'The Americans clothed and fed our men--giving them anything they needed. The victors suppressed their shouts of joy in order not to increase the suffering of the defeated--and all vied to make our captivity as easy as possible.' One American newspaperman heralded the valiant last gasp of Cervera's squadron when he wrote: 'If Spain was served as well by her statesmen and public officials as she was by her sailors, she might still be a great country.'(source)

"Peace was arranged by the Treaty of Paris signed Dec. 10, 1898 (ratified by the U.S. Senate, Feb. 6, 1899). The Spanish Empire was practically dissolved. Cuba was freed, but under U.S. tutelage by terms of the Platt Amendment (see under Platt, Orville), with Spain assuming the Cuban debt. Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded to the United States as indemnity, and the Philippines were surrendered to the United States for a payment of $20 million. The United States emerged from the war with new international power. In both Latin America and East Asia it had established an imperial foothold. The war tied the United States more closely to the course of events in those areas."(source)

Book 1
Book 2