The two main reasons for the Spanish-American war was the American’s support to the struggle that Filipinos and Cubans had against the rule of the Spanish.The second cause of the war was the explosion of the U.S.S Maine in Havana Harbor. Spain was repressing the Cubans, using mostly cruel and brutal tactics. This, of course, caused the U.S to get involved. Spain did whatever …show more content…
The Cuban generals, known as Maximo Gomez and Antonio Marco chose to use guerrilla warfare. The Spanish tried to suppress this but to no avail. To retaliate against Cuba’s guerrilla warfare, Spain’s General Valeriano Weyler moved the population of Cuba to cut off guerrilla support. Because of the American press documenting these rebellions, and the subsequent Spanish reaction, the rebellion gained the national spotlight, and the Cubans arose sympathy within the American people. After all, the United States came to be because of the rebellion against a repressive rule. The next cause of the Spanish-American war was the sinking of the U.S.S Maine, which had no explanation. The Maine was sent to Havana in order to increase naval presence in Cuba. After the sinking, President Mckinley, who wanted to avoid war at all costs, chose to investigate rather than taking military action. Spain decided to do so as well, but had found a different reason for the sinking. The American report states external causes but the Spanish report stated that the cause of the sinking was an internal problem. On the twenty-third of April, Spain severed diplomatic relations with the United States. Two days later,