The Spanish American War: The Ten Years War

The Spanish American War of 1898 was a war that lasted only ten weeks between the United States and Spain. A declaration of war was declared to Spain by the United States because of the sinking of the United States Ship Maine, but other causes that fueled America with the desire of war was the United States support for Cuban independence, business interests within Cuba because of their sugar, as well as the growing instigation of the United States newspapers that is called “Yellow Journalism”. During this period Cuba was influenced by thoughts of independence from Spain and thus started their struggle. Yellow Journalism was journalism that engaged in the act of exaggeration and sensationalism and the press greatly influenced the desire for
war due to their competition of mainly William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer who published many stories that were mainly untrue before and during the times of war. William Randolph Hearst found the conflict would sell his papers and set him into a better position where more would know of his work. Hearst’s reporters made stories focused on tugging at the Americans in attempt of reading their work of the horrific conditions in Cuba. Cubans initiated this attempt for freedom from Spain back during 1868 during the Ten Years War or Great War when guerrilla fighters fought Spain for its freedom. Although these uprisings were concluded, Cubans continued to fight for their independence throughout the years. Cuba’s fight for independence and America intervening during this war resulted in turning the tides of history for all sides of the war.
The Ten Years War was Cuba’s attempt to achieve their independence and resulting freedom from Spain prior to the intervention of the United States.
As a result from the spread of independence, a total of 12,000 rebel troops grouped together in attempt to fight for their possible freedom. At first these attempts of freedom was unsuccessful from the party that was formed, but later a successful attack at the village of Yara led to the naming of the revolution as well as the national party of “Grito de Yara”. The rebel army was led by Antonio Maceo who was a very influential figure whose main goal was to free the slaves and provide freedom and independence to the people of Cuba. Both Antonio Maceo and Maximo Gomez fought within the Ten Years war focusing on guerilla warfare. They gained support from the United States during the presidency of Glover Cleveland, but as a result Spain sent Valeriano Weyler to change the situation that was currently in Cuba and to stop the revolts. Weyler had very harsh methods including the reconcentration of the Cubans to prevent support and send Cubans into concentration camps where they will be killed if they did not comply. The camps were very harsh to live in and included scarce food, disease, as well as horrible housing conditions. As a result of his reconcentration policy, over 400,000 people died. After the ten years war, it finally ended conflict between Cuba and Spain and resulted in the treaty of Zanjón. In the treaty, the agreement that
was made was that slaves that were fighting from either side were freed, but this treaty was not enforced as expected and resulted with Cuba still under Spain’s rule. The war was unsuccessful for the Mambises because of their organization, unable to spread the war to Havana, unable to include another country within their war, and internal sabotage.
The roots of this war can be linked to earlier attempts of Cuban independence of Spain, but as time progressed specific acts led to the flare of tension between the United States and Spain. With the election and presidency of William McKinley, he promised to protect American business and free the Cubans. Spain offered the act of self-government of Cuba and Puerto Rico, but Cuba believed that more resistance would lead to independence. In February, a letter insulting to McKinley called “Dupuy de Lome” stated that the United States election of McKinley as a president was indecisive as well as him as a president is weak and that Cuban negotiation was pointless. This letter expressed by the Spanish ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lome led to the anger of the Americans and to the ambassador’s resignation as a result. The battleship called the United States Ship Maine was sent to the Havana harbor in attempt to display the power of the United States while at the same time also protect United States interests during the Cuban war. As a result, at February 10th the ship exploded and it was reported the source was at its hull and it happened on board the ship. Hearst and Pulitzer published plots of the ship sinking and later a United States naval investigation stated that the explosion came from a mine, but Spanish investigation stated that it was an internal problem. Due to this the yellow journalism influenced the call for war as well as creating the enraged climate fueling the causes of war. Hearst was also quoted many times before the times of war setting the mood during the time saying, “You furnish the pictures, I’ll provide the war!” (https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/yellow-journalism) Hearst mainly blamed Spain for the result of the explosion and sinking of the United States Ship Maine and it resulted in the public demanding intervention with Spain due to it. The mood of the intervention of Cuba was mainly swayed by yellow journalism and their sensationalism and many would even support their causes for the war without knowing the true causes by quoting, "Remember the Maine". (http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/spanishamerican/section3.rhtml) as a justification for why they are going to war with Spain in the first place.
The Spanish American war of 1898 ended the rule of the Spanish colonials within the Americas. The war started at February 1895 mainly from the American sympathy of the aggressive acts that Spain used to repress the Cubans due to a rebellion. Assistant Secretary Theodore Roosevelt warned Dewey to attack the Philippines if the war of the United States and Spain were to start. Once Congress replied to McKinley’s request for intervention by blockading Havana and passed the Teller Amendment, which was to promise that the United States wouldn’t permanently control Cuba. This amendment was mainly passed to preserve the independence of the people of Cuba and once accomplished then the United States would leave Cuba in the hands of their people. War was unexpected and undesired, but preparations still continued. The United States had the upper hand in sea to sea combat because they had a small navy, but it was full of regular sailors. Spain, on the other hand, possessed garrisons, but a weaker navy that was a lot weaker. The United States acquired Guam first without a fight, and then the United States Ship Charleston went to the Philippines from Hawaii to assist Dewey. Admiral William Sampson was in charge of the Havana blockade and to extend it along Cuba. On May 1st, 1898, Dewey and his squadron sailed to Manila with six new warships and Dewey quickly overran the old and weaker Spanish fleet without any United States casualty being largely prepared due to Theodore Roosevelt’s telegram. As a result, this has been seen has revenge from The Maine because the Spanish resulted in 400 casualties. With Spain, being an old nation, the United States expected the war to be difficult with regards to their navy, fighting climates and areas, and Spain’s prior fighting experience. The Spanish navy was no match to that of the United States because the ships were old and falling apart compared to the more developed warships of the United States.
Theodore Roosevelt was the Assistant Secretary of the Spanish American war who warned Dewey before the war to prepare for Manila Bay if war were to erupt.
Thanks to Roosevelt sending the telegram to Dewey, he was able to take over Manila Bay with ease and without suffering any casualties. Roosevelt prepared the United States Navy for war with Spain, which proved important in the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt formed his own and the first United States volunteer cavalry unit formed of cowboys, Native Americans, miners, and officials, which formed the “Roosevelt Rough Riders” (http://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/tr-rr-spanamwar.htm). First battle the rough riders participated in was on June 24 at the Battle of Guasimas and it resulted in the Spanish being driven away with seventy rough riders as a casualty and thirty four wounded. Roosevelt’s cavalry as well as black soldiers from both the 9th and 10th cavalry went to Kettle Hill, then San Juan Hill and their victory led to the siege Santiago. Sampson and his naval warships destroyed the Spanish Naval fleet off Santiago, and then on July 17 the Spanish later
surrendered.
The war was quicker than expected because of the lack of wars the United States participated in. Luckily the war lasted for such a short period and ended four months later due the lack of strength in the Spanish naval fleet, which led to the devastation of the Spanish naval fleet in Manila and Cuba. Another reason why Spain lost the war was that the United States was able to efficiently supply Cuba in their war for independence because of their naval dominance as well as the fueled desire for war from the United States due to the yellow journalism and their exaggeration and sensationalism. The United States remained victorious in the war of the old nation of Spain with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10th, 1898. With the signing of this treaty, Spain was forced to guarantee Cuba’s independence while also forcing Spain to give Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States ending the Spanish involvement within the western hemisphere. McKinley refused to give the Philippines back, so the surrender of the Philippines happened after armistice and led to the purchase of the Philippines for an offer of twenty million that Spain later accepted. The Spanish American War affected all sides and led to