The Spanish-American War: Brief Conflict Between Spain And The United States
The Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American war was a brief conflict between Spain and the United States over the Spanish possession of remote island territories. The war, which was contained completely within the year 1898, revealed the status of the United States as an emerging superpower and granted numerous territories political independence.
Beginning in the late 1400's, Spain began colonizing the Americas with its own people. At its largest, the Spanish empire stretched from the eastern coast of the United States south to the tip of South America and westward to to the Pacific Coast in present-day California and Alaska. It also included island territories such as the Philippines and other groups. By 1825, much of this land had escaped …show more content…
Beginning in 1878, Cuban guerrila fighters fought against Spanish forces to gain control over Cuba. The war ended with a proper treaty, although it was never truly enforced. Spain continued to control Cuba, and armed resistance rose once again. The moral leader of this resistance was killed during one of the earliest conflicts of this second uprising.
Other territories followed Cuba's example and began rebelling against the Spain's control. The Philippines saw its own share of political sedition, and Puerto Ricans clustered into political parties supporting an independent Puerto Rico. Many of these political parties sought assistance from the United States.
On February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor. American citizens rallied to become involved in the conflict between Cuba and Spain, and Spain hurried to grant Cubans limited autonomy to try to ease tensions. The Unites States acted more quickly, however, and declared Cuba's independence before Spain could react. On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish forces, and to establish a “stable government” that would “maintain order” and ensure the “peace and tranquility and the security” of Cuban and U.S. citizens on the island. In addition to demanding Cuba's liberation, the United States ordered Spain to withdraw all armed forces from
The Spanish-American war was a brief conflict between Spain and the United States over the Spanish possession of remote island territories. The war, which was contained completely within the year 1898, revealed the status of the United States as an emerging superpower and granted numerous territories political independence.
Beginning in the late 1400's, Spain began colonizing the Americas with its own people. At its largest, the Spanish empire stretched from the eastern coast of the United States south to the tip of South America and westward to to the Pacific Coast in present-day California and Alaska. It also included island territories such as the Philippines and other groups. By 1825, much of this land had escaped …show more content…
Beginning in 1878, Cuban guerrila fighters fought against Spanish forces to gain control over Cuba. The war ended with a proper treaty, although it was never truly enforced. Spain continued to control Cuba, and armed resistance rose once again. The moral leader of this resistance was killed during one of the earliest conflicts of this second uprising.
Other territories followed Cuba's example and began rebelling against the Spain's control. The Philippines saw its own share of political sedition, and Puerto Ricans clustered into political parties supporting an independent Puerto Rico. Many of these political parties sought assistance from the United States.
On February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor. American citizens rallied to become involved in the conflict between Cuba and Spain, and Spain hurried to grant Cubans limited autonomy to try to ease tensions. The Unites States acted more quickly, however, and declared Cuba's independence before Spain could react. On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish forces, and to establish a “stable government” that would “maintain order” and ensure the “peace and tranquility and the security” of Cuban and U.S. citizens on the island. In addition to demanding Cuba's liberation, the United States ordered Spain to withdraw all armed forces from