Spanish-American War :: essays research papers

The ca work of the Spanish-American War relates directly to Cuba, and the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine. In 1895, Cuba was extremely authoritiesally disorganized, and was beginning to rise against Spain. The Cubans soon take a conception that the more damage that they did to the Cuban mainland, the faster the Spaniards would bestow Cuba, and the Americans would help the Cubans to win their freedom. The Americans soon came to Cuba, in an attempt to assist the Cubans in their fight for freedom. The Spanish intervention with Cuba threatened the trade r disclosees that America had near, and with Cuba. By helping Cuba, America would be vastly saving itself economically because these routes were super valuable. During this time you must remember that the United States had a new, powerful Navy, and they were enthusiastic to show their power off to the rest of the world. Cuba served as the perfect detail to put on a show.     When Spanish General Weyler arrived, he controlled the revolution in Cuba by herding the Cuban citizens into enclosed concentration camps. They were detained under rattling unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Many of them died. This treatment of the Cuban people by the Spanish angered the American public, and they demanded that war be declared against Spain. The American people were clearly disgusted by the way the Spaniards treated the Cubans. wherefore wouldnt they be? The Spaniards treated them like scum. They were livid the Americans wanted the government to take action against the Spaniards for the actions they took against the Cubans.      Both Presidents Cleveland and McKinley tried to keep America out of war. In 1896, relation back overwhelmingly passed a resolution that called for President Cleveland to check over the impending situation in Cuba. The anti-imperialist Cleveland refused to do anything. But, on February 15, 1898, the American battlewagon U.S.S. Maine anchored in Havana Harb or exploded. Two hundred and sixty of the American crewmen were killed. On April 11, 1898 President McKinley went to Congress and asked for American troops to stop the war. Congress agreed and on April 25 the U. S. declared war on Spain.     In McKinleys declaration of war against Spain, he stated "For the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the Government of Spain relinquish its authority and Government in the island of Cuba, and to tie its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect.