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
It was around this point in time in American history that the United States was reaching a point where the country was looking to expand its realm of influence to territories, in fear that if they ever came into a conflict with, for example, Great Britain, they would be crushed with Great Britain aid from colonies they possessed. Even though McKinley wanted to try and resolve the conflict with Spain in a diplomatic manner, due to the strong public and congressional opinions about the issue, McKinley gave into outside opinion pressure. This conflict was unique because it happened just when America was attempting to prove itself as a global power, and what better way to prove that than getting involved in such a conflict. From his actions in, and after, the Spanish- American War, it can be seen that McKinley indeed was attempting to us his power as president in this war to build the United States into a colonial empire, but he also, nevertheless, kept it a priority to go about doing this in as much of a diplomatic manner as