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what spanish american war fought over

by Graciela Hagenes Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Fought between Spain and America over the INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA
  • Major battles fought in Spanish colonies of Cuba and Phillippines.
  • April 25, 1898 to August 12, 1898 ( 13 Weeks)
  • The United States declared war on Spain after the sinking of The Main.
  • Yellow Journalism inspired America to declare war on Spain

On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898.

Full Answer

What were the main causes of the Spanish American War?

What were the three main causes of the Spanish-American War?

  • U.S. support of Cuba’s independence.
  • To protect U.S. business interests in Cuba.
  • Yellow Journalism.
  • Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.

Which events led to the Spanish-American War?

What were the 3 main causes of the Spanish American War?

  • U.S. support of Cuba's independence.
  • To protect U.S. business interests in Cuba.
  • Yellow Journalism.
  • Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.

What are some facts about the Spanish American War?

USS Maine Explosion and the Spanish-American War

  • Background. Since the late 1860s, efforts had been underway in Cuba to end Spanish colonial rule. ...
  • Arriving in Havana. After discussing this course of action with the Spanish and receiving their blessing, McKinley passed his request to the US Navy.
  • Loss of Maine. ...
  • Investigation. ...
  • Aftermath. ...

Who was the winner of the Spanish American War?

The United States quite easily won the Spanish-American War. The war was fought on essentially two fronts, the Philippines and the Caribbean. In the Philippines, the modern United States navy bottled the obsolete Spanish navy in Manila Bay, destroying most of it in essentially a single day. American troops and...

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Where was Spanish-American War fought?

PhilippinesCubaPuerto RicoGuamAsia‑PacificCaribbean SeaSpanish–American War/Locations

What was the main outcome of the Spanish-American War?

The war ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas. Spain subsequently turned its focus inward and experienced a cultural renaissance and two decades of significant progress in agriculture, industry, transportation, and other areas.

What were the three main causes of the Spanish-American War?

MatchU.S. support of Cuba's independence.To protect U.S. business interests in Cuba.Yellow Journalism.Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.

Why was Spanish-American War fought?

The reasons for war were many, but there were two immediate ones: America's support the ongoing struggle by Cubans and Filipinos against Spanish rule, and the mysterious explosion of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor.

What is the Spanish-American War summary?

The Spanish-American War was an 1898 conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin America.

Who benefited from the Spanish-American War?

The Treaty of Paris was most generous to the winners. The United States received the Philippines and the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico. Cuba became independent, and Spain was awarded $20 million dollars for its losses.

What were the causes and results of the Spanish-American War?

Many agree that the main causes of the Spanish–American War was Cuba's struggle for independence and the sinking of the USS Maine on 15 February 1898. An explosion, then thought to be caused by a mine, killed over 260 of the 354 American crew members.

Why did Spain lose its colonies?

Spain lost control of its main colonies in America essentially for the same reasons as England lost the US: the colonies liberated themselves. Speaking of the Philippines and small islands, which remained, they were gradually wrestled from Spain by other European countries and the US.

What was the Spanish-American War?

The Spanish-American War was a conflict between the United States and Spain that effectively ended Spain's role as a colonial power in the New Worl...

What were the causes of the Spanish-American War?

The immediate cause of the Spanish-American War was Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain. Newspapers in the U.S. printed sensationalized acc...

Where did the Spanish-American War take place?

The main theatres of combat in the Spanish-American War were the Philippines and Cuba. Fighting centred on Manila, where U.S. Commodore George Dewe...

How did the Spanish-American War end?

Spain’s military was outmatched from the opening of hostilities, and an armistice signed on August 12, 1898, brought an end to the fighting. The Un...

How did the Spanish American War end?

How did the Spanish-American War end? Spain’s military was outmatched from the opening of hostilities, and an armistice signed on August 12, 1898, brought an end to the fighting. The United States occupied Cuba and took possession of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The bloody struggle for independence in the Philippines resumed in 1899, ...

What were the causes of the Spanish American War?

What were the causes of the Spanish-American War? The immediate cause of the Spanish-American War was Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain. Newspapers in the U.S. printed sensationalized accounts of Spanish atrocities, fueling humanitarian concerns.

What did Proctor describe in his observations of the war-torn island?

In matter-of-fact and unsensational language, Proctor described his observations of the war-torn island: the suffering and death in the reconcentration areas, the devastation elsewhere, and the evident inability of the Spanish to crush the rebellion.

How did the Cuban war affect the U.S.?

The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, which began in February 1895. The Cuban conflict was injurious to U.S. investments in the island, which were estimated at $50 million, and almost ended U.S. trade with Cuban ports, normally valued at $100 million annually. On the insurgent side, the war was waged largely against property and led to the destruction of sugarcane and sugar mills. Of more importance than its effect on U.S. monetary interests was the appeal to American humanitarian sentiment. Under the Spanish commander, Capt. Gen. Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau (nicknamed El Carnicero, “the Butcher”), Cubans were herded into so-called “reconcentration areas” in and around the larger cities; those who remained at large were treated as enemies. Spanish authorities made no adequate provision for shelter, food, sanitation, or medical care for the reconcentrados, thousands of whom died from exposure, hunger, and disease. These conditions were graphically portrayed for the U.S. public by sensational newspapers, notably Joseph Pulitzer ’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst ’s recently founded New York Journal. Humanitarian concern for the suffering Cubans was added to the traditional American sympathy for a colonial people struggling for independence. While these aspects of the war created a widespread popular demand for action to halt it, the U.S. was faced with the necessity of patrolling coastal waters to prevent gunrunning to the insurgents and by demands for aid from Cubans who had acquired U.S. citizenship and then had been arrested by Spanish authorities for participating in the rebellion.

What countries called on McKinley to refrain from armed intervention in Cuba?

On April 6 representatives of Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia called upon McKinley and begged him in the name of humanity to refrain from armed intervention in Cuba. McKinley assured them that if intervention came, it would be in the interest of humanity.

What would Spain do instead of accepting U.S. mediation?

Instead of accepting U.S. mediation, it would seek the pacification of the island through the Cuban cortes about to be elected under the autonomy program. Spain at first stated that an armistice would be granted only on application from the insurgents but on April 9 announced one on its own initiative.

What was the Spanish government caught on the horns of?

The Spanish government was caught upon the horns of a cruel dilemma. It had not readied its army or navy for war with the United States, nor had it warned the Spanish public of the necessity of relinquishing Cuba. War meant certain disaster.

Why did the Spanish-American War happen?

Fought between April and August 1898, the Spanish-American War was the result of American concern over Spanish treatment of Cuba, political pressures, and anger over the sinking of USS Maine. Though President William McKinley had wished to avoid war, American forces moved swiftly once it began.

What happened at Santiago de Cuba?

In the ensuing Battle of Santiago de Cuba, Sampson and Schley either sank or drove ashore the entirety of Spanish fleet. While the city fell on July 16, American forces continued to fight in Puerto Rico.

What caused the sinking of the ship in 1898?

On February 15, 1898, the ship exploded and sank in the harbor. Initial reports indicated it was caused by a Spanish mine. Incensed by the incident and encouraged by the press, the public demanded war which was declared on April 25.

Where did Dewey search for the Spanish?

With the declaration of war, Dewey crossed the South China Sea and commenced a search for Admiral Patricio Montojo's Spanish squadron. Failing to find the Spanish at Subic Bay, the American commander moved into Manila Bay where the enemy had assumed a position off Cavite.

Where did the US V Corps begin?

The first groups of troops were assembled at Tampa, FL and organized into the US V Corps with Major General William Shafter in command and Major General Joseph Wheeler overseeing the cavalry division ( Map ). Ferried to Cuba, Shafter's men began landing at Daiquiri and Siboney on June 22.

When was the blockade of Cuba imposed?

Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress. While a blockade of Cuba was imposed on April 21, efforts to get American troops to Cuba moved slowly. Though thousands volunteered to serve, issues persisted in equipping and transporting them to the war zone.

When did the USS Olympia battle Manila Bay?

USS Olympia leads the US Asiatic Squadron during the Battle of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898. Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command

What was the Spanish American War?

The Spanish-American War, fought over Cuban independence and lasting less than six months in 1898, afforded North Carolinians a brief interlude in a period of intense political confrontations. In response to President William McKinley 's call for troops following the sinking of the USS Maine on 15 Feb. 1898, North Carolina recruited two regiments of white troops and a third of black enlisted men and officers. North Carolina, Illinois, and Kansas were the only states to recruit all-black regiments for service. A number of problems plagued the 1st and 2nd North Carolina Regiments, including large numbers of desertions, medical discharges, low morale, oppressive heat, and a lack of training in loading, aiming, and firing rifles.

Who was the first naval officer to die in the Spanish American War?

The state's first fallen soldier, and the first naval officer to be killed in the conflict, was Ens. Worth Bagley of Raleigh. Bagley was killed in action at Cardenas, Cuba, on 11 May 1898. The most widely acclaimed North Carolina army ...

What was the name of the camp in the 2nd Regiment?

On 18 May 1898 Col. W. H. S. Burgwyn of the 2nd Regiment announced that the new camp would be named Camp Dan Russell after the state's governor, Daniel Lindsay Russell.

Where did the 2nd Regiment leave for?

Since the 2nd Regiment left for new posts in Georgia and Florida in late July 1898, by 2 August only a surgeon, a chaplain, a few guards, and a handful of attendants remained in the camp hospital caring for 27 patients, some with typhoid fever. When the 2nd Regiment returned to Raleigh in September at the end of the war, they occupied Camp Bryan Grimes. By October 1898 the North Carolina State Fair had taken over the site of Camp Dan Russell.

How did the Spanish American War affect the Presidio?

Impact of the Spanish American War on the Presidio. The mark of the brief war with Spain and the longer conflict with the Philippines is evident throughout the Presidio. The arrival of large numbers of troops spurred its transition from a frontier military outpost to a modern army base.

Why did the US go to war with Cuba?

The reasons for war were many, but there were two immediate ones: America's support the ongoing struggle by Cubans and Filipinos against Spanish rule, and the mysterious explosion of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor.

What military base was used to stage the campaign against Manila?

The military base best suited to stage this campaign was the Presidio of San Francisco.

What is the name of the gate that the Spanish used to mark the San Francisco Presidio?

8 - Lombard Gate:Two sandstone pillars, ornamented with army insignia and flanked by captured Spanish cannon mark the Presidio’s main entrance. The gate was built in 1896 to permanently mark the boundaries as well as to improve the post’s appearance to San Francisco civilians. Most troops en route to the Philippines passed through this gate to meet awaiting ships.

Who brought the gun to San Francisco?

Publisher William Randolph Hearst brought the gun to San Francisco by the time of the 1906 earthquake and the Army acquired it in 1973 to exhibit at the Presidio. Horse drawn ambulances entering Lombard Gate en-route to Letterman Hospital around 1900. Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Park Archives.

Who was the leader of the Philippine rebels?

Philippine rebels had been waging guerrilla warfare against Spanish colonialism long before the U.S. became involved. Their exiled leader, Emilio Aquinaldo, communicated with the U.S. Army already on its way to the Philippines. He believed the United States would help the "Insurrectos" gain independence from Spain.

What was the cause of the Spanish war?

The causes of the conflict were many, but the immediate ones were America's support of Cuba's ongoing struggle against Spanish rule and the mysterious explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor. It would be the first overseas war fought ...

What was the Philippine fight for independence?

The Philippine Fight for Independence. The United States’ drive to extend influence across the Pacific instigated a Philippine American War. Fighting broke out on Feb. 4, 1899, and eventually far exceeded that against Spain.

Which country did the United States give independence to?

government had other plans. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris, on December 10, 1898, which ended the war against Spain, the United States opted to give Cuba its independence but keep the Philippines, to the dismay of the Philippine nationalists.

When did the first soldiers leave the Presidio?

The first soldiers left the Presidio in May 1898, and consisted of the 1 st California Infantry and the 2 nd Oregon Infantry Regiments. Soon soldiers from Washington, Montana, Iowa, Wyoming, Kansas, Tennessee, and Utah would be stationed at the Presidio in addition to the regular garrison.

Who was the leader of the Insurrectos?

Their exiled leader, Emilio Aquinaldo, quickly made contact with the attacking force already on its way to the Philippines, in the belief that the United States would help the "Insurrectos" gain independence from Spain. But expansionists in the U.S. government had other plans.

Did the Philippine rebels fight the Spanish?

Fighting in the Phililppines. Most Presidio troops got to the islands too late to fight the Spanish in the brief war. However Philippine rebels had been waging guerrilla warfare against Spanish colonialism long before the U.S. became involved.

What was the Spanish American War?

The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere and secured the position of the United States as a Pacific power. U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to ...

Why did the US fight against Spain in 1898?

The war that erupted in 1898 between the United States and Spain was preceded by three years of fighting by Cuban revolutionaries to gain independence from Spanish colonial rule. From 1895–1898, the violent conflict in Cuba captured the attention of Americans because of the economic and political instability that it produced in a region within such close geographical proximity to the United States. The long-held U.S. interest in ridding the Western Hemisphere of European colonial powers and American public outrage over brutal Spanish tactics created much sympathy for the Cuban revolutionaries. By early 1898, tensions between the United States and Spain had been mounting for months. After the U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor under mysterious circumstances on February 15, 1898, U.S. military intervention in Cuba became likely.

When did the US military intervene in Cuba?

After the U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor under mysterious circumstances on February 15, 1898, U.S. military intervention in Cuba became likely. On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish forces, ...

What did the Treaty of Guam and Puerto Rico do for the United States?

Apart from guaranteeing the independence of Cuba, the treaty also forced Spain to cede Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. Spain also agreed to sell the Philippines to the United States for the sum of $20 million. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899, by a margin of only one vote.

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Overview

The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was a period of armed conflict between Spain and the United States. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, leading to United States intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. The war led to the United States emerging predominant in the Caribbean region, and resulted in U…

Historical background

The combined problems arising from the Peninsular War (1807–1814), the loss of most of its colonies in the Americas in the early 19th-century Spanish American wars of independence, and three Carlist Wars (1832–1876) marked the low point of Spanish colonialism. Liberal Spanish elites like Antonio Cánovas del Castillo and Emilio Castelar offered new interpretations of the concept of "empire" to dovetail with Spain's emerging nationalism. Cánovas made clear in an address to the University …

Path to war

The first serious bid for Cuban independence, the Ten Years' War, erupted in 1868 and was subdued by the authorities a decade later. Neither the fighting nor the reforms in the Pact of Zanjón (February 1878) quelled the desire of some revolutionaries for wider autonomy and, ultimately, independence. One such revolutionary, José Martí, continued to promote Cuban financial and political fr…

Pacific theater

In the 333 years of Spanish rule, the Philippines developed from a small overseas colony governed from the Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain to a land with modern elements in the cities. The Spanish-speaking middle classes of the 19th century were mostly educated in the liberal ideas coming from Europe. Among these Ilustrados was the Filipino national hero José Rizal, who …

Caribbean theater

Theodore Roosevelt advocated intervention in Cuba, both for the Cuban people and to promote the Monroe Doctrine. While Assistant Secretary of the Navy, he placed the Navy on a war-time footing and prepared Dewey's Asiatic Squadron for battle. He also worked with Leonard Wood in convincing the Army to raise an all-volunteer regiment, the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. Wood was given comm…

Cámara's squadron

Shortly after the war began in April, the Spanish Navy ordered major units of its fleet to concentrate at Cádiz to form the 2nd Squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Manuel de la Cámara y Livermoore. Two of Spain's most powerful warships, the battleship Pelayo and the brand-new armored cruiser Emperador Carlos V, were not available when the war began—the former undergoing rec…

Making peace

With defeats in Cuba and the Philippines, and its fleets in both places destroyed, Spain sued for peace and negotiations were opened between the two parties. After the sickness and death of British consul Edward Henry Rawson-Walker, American admiral George Dewey requested the Belgian consul to Manila, Édouard André, to take Rawson-Walker's place as intermediary with the Spanish gover…

Aftermath

The war lasted 16 weeks. John Hay (the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom), writing from London to his friend Theodore Roosevelt, declared that it had been "a splendid little war". The press showed Northerners and Southerners, blacks and whites fighting against a common foe, helping to ease the scars left from the American Civil War. Exemplary of this was the fact that four former Confederate States Army generals had served in the war, now in the U.S. Army and all o…

1.Spanish-American War: Causes, Battles & Timeline

Url:https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/spanish-american-war

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Url:https://www.britannica.com/event/Spanish-American-War

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