The Spanish-American War: Should One Intervene In Another's Affairs?
The Spanish-American War, which began on Monday, April 25, 1898 and ended on Friday, August 12, 1898, was a conflict between the United States and Spain. It ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas, and the result was the United States acquiring territories in the western Pacific and Latin America. It was the result of American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. U.S. attacks on Spain's Pacific possessions headed us towards involvement in the Philippine Revolution and then, in turn, to the Philippine–American War.
Founders vs Progressives
Should one intervene in another's affairs? That is a question posed by many and has several answers with various rationales. The two opposing views are those of the Founders and those of the Progressives. In the Monroe Doctrine, from President …show more content…
James Monroe’s seventh annual message to Congress on December 2nd 1823, President Monroe laid out the Founder’s principles of the American policy of non-intervention. In this document, it is said “We have always been anxious and interested spectators” and “In the wars, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy to do so. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or make preparation for our defense.” In other words, it was the Unites States policy, according to the Monroe Doctrine, that we will not intervene unless we feel threatened. Apparently the United States, with good reason, believed the situation between Cuba and Spain to be dangerous. The Monroe Doctrine states “we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and safety”. In Progressive ideology, it is believed that in foreign policy ethical idealism requires that nation’s activities and behaviors must be moral and ethical and are to be initiated because of a sense of duty to enrich the lives and ensure the freedom of our fellow human beings. Progressives also believe that we are not to intervene because of minor concerns for its own security, well being, or happiness.
Cuban Rebellion Against Spain
Spain was once the most powerful colonial nation in the world, but by the end of the 19th century it had lost the majority of its colonies. At that time, it kept the Philippines, the island of Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and a few outposts in Africa. Cuba, who wanted their independence, decided to rebel against Spain between 1868 and 1878, and the United States sympathized with Cuba. Jose Marti was a Cuban political activist who dedicated his life to achieving independence for the Cuban people. He relied on provoking the intervention of America to assist the rebels in attaining an independent Cuba. In response to this Cuban rebellion, Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba in 1896 to reestablish peace. He forced approximately 300,000 Cubans into concentration camps, where ultimately thousands died from starvation, dehydration, and various diseases. The New York Journal and the New York World which were popular newspapers at the time, reacted by printing exaggerated accounts of the atrocities committed by Weyler, who they nicknamed Butcher. They began fabricating tales of wells being poisoned and young children being thrown to the sharks. This greatly impacted the compassion that the U.S. felt for the Cuban rebels. The primary purpose for this type of news reporting, called yellow journalism, is to infuriate readers and then hopefully to become the catalyst for them to spring into action. As intended, Americans were outraged towards Spain, and ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring home our Unites States citizens. Shockingly, 260 of our men were killed when the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana on February 15th 1898. Newspapers in the United States declared that the Maine was blown up by Spain. Because of this event the outrage of Americans was immeasurable. The furious catchphrase, “Remember the Maine!” became the catalyst for America’s intervention in Cuba. This became the first time the United States intervened in the affairs of other nations.
The War
McKinley requested of Congress On April 11, 1898 for permission and power to use force against Spain.
Congress debated the issue, and on April 20th, following a brief weeklong series of consultations, they granted authority for the United States to declare war. The Spanish mistakenly assumed that the United States would invade Cuba. This was not the case and the initial battle of the war transpired in the Philippine Islands (A Spanish colony). By August, Spanish troops in Manila surrendered to the United States. The war also took place in the Caribbean beginning with a naval blockade of Cuba. The Spanish-American War was brief in that the fighting lasted only 15 weeks. On August 12th, the United States and Spain signed a cease-fire agreement. Then on December 10th, the Treaty of Paris of 1898 was signed between the United States and Spain. As a result, Spain finally yielded and freed Cuba. They also turned over the Islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West Indies, and placed them under American control. The United States ultimately paid Spain twenty million dollars for the possession of the Philippines.
The New Independent
Cuba
The new independent Cuban government wrote a constitution in 1900. Oddly enough, this constitution did not mention the relationship between the United States and Cuba. Because of this, the United States demanded that Cuba must add several requirements to its constitution. In July of 1900, the Constitutional Convention of Cuba initiated its deliberations and was informed that the United States Congress intended to adjoin an amendment to the Cuban Constitution. This was called the Platt Amendment, which stated that Cuba was not permitted to make treaties that might limit its independence or allow a foreign power to control any part of its territory, America has the right to intervene in Cuba, Cuba may not go into debt that it could never repay, and the U.S. could buy or lease land on Cuba for naval bases and coaling stations.
Founders vs Progressives
Should one intervene in another's affairs? That is a question posed by many and has several answers with various rationales. The two opposing views are those of the Founders and those of the Progressives. In the Monroe Doctrine, from President …show more content…
James Monroe’s seventh annual message to Congress on December 2nd 1823, President Monroe laid out the Founder’s principles of the American policy of non-intervention. In this document, it is said “We have always been anxious and interested spectators” and “In the wars, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy to do so. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or make preparation for our defense.” In other words, it was the Unites States policy, according to the Monroe Doctrine, that we will not intervene unless we feel threatened. Apparently the United States, with good reason, believed the situation between Cuba and Spain to be dangerous. The Monroe Doctrine states “we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and safety”. In Progressive ideology, it is believed that in foreign policy ethical idealism requires that nation’s activities and behaviors must be moral and ethical and are to be initiated because of a sense of duty to enrich the lives and ensure the freedom of our fellow human beings. Progressives also believe that we are not to intervene because of minor concerns for its own security, well being, or happiness.
Cuban Rebellion Against Spain
Spain was once the most powerful colonial nation in the world, but by the end of the 19th century it had lost the majority of its colonies. At that time, it kept the Philippines, the island of Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and a few outposts in Africa. Cuba, who wanted their independence, decided to rebel against Spain between 1868 and 1878, and the United States sympathized with Cuba. Jose Marti was a Cuban political activist who dedicated his life to achieving independence for the Cuban people. He relied on provoking the intervention of America to assist the rebels in attaining an independent Cuba. In response to this Cuban rebellion, Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba in 1896 to reestablish peace. He forced approximately 300,000 Cubans into concentration camps, where ultimately thousands died from starvation, dehydration, and various diseases. The New York Journal and the New York World which were popular newspapers at the time, reacted by printing exaggerated accounts of the atrocities committed by Weyler, who they nicknamed Butcher. They began fabricating tales of wells being poisoned and young children being thrown to the sharks. This greatly impacted the compassion that the U.S. felt for the Cuban rebels. The primary purpose for this type of news reporting, called yellow journalism, is to infuriate readers and then hopefully to become the catalyst for them to spring into action. As intended, Americans were outraged towards Spain, and ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring home our Unites States citizens. Shockingly, 260 of our men were killed when the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana on February 15th 1898. Newspapers in the United States declared that the Maine was blown up by Spain. Because of this event the outrage of Americans was immeasurable. The furious catchphrase, “Remember the Maine!” became the catalyst for America’s intervention in Cuba. This became the first time the United States intervened in the affairs of other nations.
The War
McKinley requested of Congress On April 11, 1898 for permission and power to use force against Spain.
Congress debated the issue, and on April 20th, following a brief weeklong series of consultations, they granted authority for the United States to declare war. The Spanish mistakenly assumed that the United States would invade Cuba. This was not the case and the initial battle of the war transpired in the Philippine Islands (A Spanish colony). By August, Spanish troops in Manila surrendered to the United States. The war also took place in the Caribbean beginning with a naval blockade of Cuba. The Spanish-American War was brief in that the fighting lasted only 15 weeks. On August 12th, the United States and Spain signed a cease-fire agreement. Then on December 10th, the Treaty of Paris of 1898 was signed between the United States and Spain. As a result, Spain finally yielded and freed Cuba. They also turned over the Islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West Indies, and placed them under American control. The United States ultimately paid Spain twenty million dollars for the possession of the Philippines.
The New Independent
Cuba
The new independent Cuban government wrote a constitution in 1900. Oddly enough, this constitution did not mention the relationship between the United States and Cuba. Because of this, the United States demanded that Cuba must add several requirements to its constitution. In July of 1900, the Constitutional Convention of Cuba initiated its deliberations and was informed that the United States Congress intended to adjoin an amendment to the Cuban Constitution. This was called the Platt Amendment, which stated that Cuba was not permitted to make treaties that might limit its independence or allow a foreign power to control any part of its territory, America has the right to intervene in Cuba, Cuba may not go into debt that it could never repay, and the U.S. could buy or lease land on Cuba for naval bases and coaling stations.