Factors That Led The Us Go To War With Spain

On April 24, 1898, Spain declared war on the United States which was quickly followed by a U.S. declaration of war on April 25. This war originated from the Cuban struggle to obtain independence from Spain. The Spanish-American War is often referred to as the turning point in the relationship between the United States and Latin America. It is viewed as an event in which the United States has helped Cuba gain independence from Spain while ridding the presence of European powers. However, this interpretation is widely debated and challenged by historians. Some historians argue that the U.S. went to war with Spain for humanitarian reasons and the protection of American interests that Spain interfered with while others disagree and argue that the
Auxier argues that American newspaper propaganda played an important role in pushing the U.S. to go to war with Spain. However, their influence was not effected through sensational journalism but through continued emphasis on a number of factors which led to war (524). These factors include the protection of American interests and propaganda activities of the Cuban Junta which influenced the United States to revoke its non-intervention policy. Auxier explains that since the Cuban revolt in February 1895, editors of newspapers have claimed that Spain violated American interests and was detrimental to America’s journey of manifest destiny. In support of this statement, he presents typical arguments made by newspaper articles: “American economic interests…jeopardized by interruption of trade, the destruction of American property…[and] Spain’s strategic possessions in the Caribbean might fall into the hands of a stronger European power” (525). Editors also claimed that “Spain violated the American conception of humanitarianism by her constant abuse of American nationals as well as her own downtrodden subjects” (Auxier 525). Auxier also argues that the Junta gave off the impression that Cuban independence could only achieved through assistance from the U.S. To achieve this objective, they exploited American humanitarianism by “feed[ing] the press with atrocity stories based on the alleged brutality of Spanish warfare” and telling the story of “Cuba’s wrongs and her heroic struggle for independence” (Auxier 527-528). In addition, to get moral support from the U.S., they “cleverly developed a belief in Cuban success by lauding the Cuban generals…[and] discrediting the Spanish generals in their efforts to suppress the revolt in Cuba” (Auxier 527). Auxier concludes that neutrality was abandoned because “it seemed inconsistent with the realization of American interests in the Caribbean” and the activities of the Junta pushed the U.S. in favor of