causes and effects of the spanish american war essay

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Course: US history   >   Unit 7

• Introduction to the age of empire
• The age of empire

The Spanish-American War

• Imperialism
• The Progressives
• The Progressive Era
• The presidency of Theodore Roosevelt
• Progressivism
• The Cuban movement for independence from Spain in 1895 garnered considerable American support. When the USS Maine sank, the United States believed the tragedy was the result of Spanish sabotage and declared war on Spain.
• The Spanish-American War lasted only six weeks and resulted in a decisive victory for the United States. Future US president Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt rose to national prominence due to his role in the conflict.
• Although the United States promised it would not annex Cuba after victory, it did require Cuba to permit significant American intervention in Cuban affairs.
• As a result of the war, the United States acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines as territories.

The conflict between empire and democracy

Trouble in cuba, a splendid little war, consequences of the spanish-american war, what do you think.

• On American imperialism at the turn of the twentieth century, see George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1776 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 299-377.
• For more on the relationship between empire and democracy, see Richard H. Immerman, Empire for Liberty: A History of American Imperialism from Benjamin Franklin to Paul Wolfowitz (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2012.
• For more on yellow journalism, see W. Joseph Campbell, The Year that Defined American Journalism: 1897 and the Clash of Paradigms (New York: Routledge, 2006).
• See Edward J. Marolda, ed. Theodore Roosevelt, the US Navy and the Spanish-American War (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001).
• On the Spanish fleet compared to the American fleet, see " The Philippines ," Digital History, 2016.
• See Frank N. Schubert, Black Valor: Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Valor, 1870-1898 (New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 1997), 133-173.
• Hay quoted in Walter Mills, The Martial Spirit (New York: Arno Press, 1979), 340; on deaths from disease see The American Pageant: A History of the American People , 15th (AP) edition (Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2013), 616.
• On the Platt Amendment, see Louis A. Perez, Jr., Cuba Under the Platt Amendment, 1902-1934 (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1986).
• Taft quoted in Kennedy and Cohen, The American Pageant , 623.
• For more on the war in the Philippines, see David J. Silbey, A War of Frontier and Empire: The Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 (New York: Hill and Wang, 2007).

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World History Edu

• Spanish-American War

Spanish-American War: History, Causes, Outcome, & Effects

by World History Edu · November 4, 2022

Wars can drag on for years, claim many lives but change very little. However, wars can also be the absolute opposite and help greatly, like the brief and relatively bloodless Spanish-American War. On the other hand, the consequences of it altered the balance of power between the two superpowers involved significantly. Here, we’ll take an in-depth look at the history of the Spanish-American War, discussing its origins, major battles, and other interesting facts.

America’s Early Non-Intervention Policy

In the final decades of the nineteenth century, European countries began to compete for control of overseas territories in Asia and Africa. Many in the United States argued that the country, which was then under President William McKinley ’s rule, should join this game of empires and demonstrate to the world its increasing military power.

However, U.S. officials didn’t want to be a part of it and even declined to help American sugar plantation owners overthrow Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii and conquer the Hawaiian Islands in 1893. This begged the question of how long these moral reservations would last?

Since the United States hadn’t been involved in a major international conflict since its war with Mexico between 1846 and 1848, the Spanish-American War could be regarded as a pivotal point in the rise of the United States as a superpower and a force to be reckoned with.

Causes of the Spanish-American War

• Disturbing reports from Cuba began to trickle in shortly after the coup in Hawaii in 1893. It is worth noting that that Cubans had been under Spanish rule since the 1500s, but unfortunately an uprising broke out in 1895. The Spanish attempted to put down the rebellion by rounding up Cubans and placing them in detention centers, where they suffered from poor hygiene and eventually died in the thousands.
• With the thirst to boost sales, newspapers in the United States stirred up public outrage against the Spanish by publishing many stories about the plight of the oppressed Cubans, who, it was claimed, were suffering at the hands of European tyrants. Some newspapers even reported that the Cubans’ plight was far worse than  the one the United States had suffered under British rule prior to the American Revolution. It was this type of emotion-filled and exaggerated reports that gave rise to the term “Yellow Journalism”.
• Then-United States President William McKinley sent the cruiser USS Maine into Havana harbor to safeguard American citizens and their property during the mayhem. Nine days after arriving in port, the USS Maine was destroyed in an explosion that claimed the lives of 267 American servicemen. The Spanish said that the explosion was caused by a technical problem on board, which they later confirmed to be true, but the Americans were certain that the Maine had been blown up by Spanish sabotage. And so, the anti-Spanish rhetoric and the calls for war increased to alarming proportions.
• The New York Journal and the New York Times’ publications only further added more fuel to the fire with somewhat fabricated stories. Similarly, other American publications reported the story in a way that made the public grow comfortable with the thought of the U.S. waging war against the Spanish Empire.
• Renowned journalists like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were just some of the few publishers whose stories call on the U.S. to wage war against Spain. Their stories on the issue were anything but well-researched. Those articles were very sentimental and often exaggerated the atrocities committed by Spain in order to infuriate the readers. And soon lawmakers on Capitol Hill and political leaders joined the cry for war against Spain.
• Finally, it has been stated the U.S. went to war with Spain because it feared being overpowered by rising imperial nations, especially those in Europe. Advocates of the war, like Theodore Roosevelt, saw the war as a way to expand the U.S. influence in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

After Cuba and the United States signed a trade agreement in 1894, Spain broke it off. When the economically struggling Cubans were hit with new tariffs and trade restrictions in 1895, they once again took up the cause of independence. Spain relied on Cuba for both prestige and trade, and it also exploited the island as a military base. And like many colonial powers of the time, Spain did indeed abuse and oppress its Cuban colony. Image: An American cartoon published in Judge, February 6, 1897

Congress declares war on Spain

The United States declared war on Spain on April 21, 1898

With public outcry too loud to ignore, the United States declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898. The declaration came after several failed attempts at mediation with the Spanish Prime Minister, Práxedes Mateo Sagasta and his forces. The Teller Amendment, introduced that same year by Congress in an attempt to prevent the US colonization of Cuba, stated that the US would aid the Cuban people in achieving independence from Spain but would not conquer the island afterward.

Both President McKinley and a sizable portion of the population had been increasingly irritated by Spain’s harsh repression and abuse of the Cubans, and although he might have had some ulterior motives, the President was focused on helping the Cuban people.

The public mood was dominated by the two countries’ respective war preparations as well as the U.S.’s need for the emancipation of Cuba. Full declaration of war was made later in April; however, the real war began in June, following a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and the mobilization of over 125,000 service personnel. The U.S. Navy was very confident that they could easily defeat the Spanish navy in the naval battle of Santiago Bay.

What really happened during the War?

Tropical sickness caused more deaths among American troops fighting in the tropics than did Spanish firearms. Cuba presented more of a difficulty than Puerto Rico because of the island’s larger Spanish defense force. It’s true that the new navy set for war was formidable, but its ships were largely untested, which worried McKinley.

The American troops were also somewhat inexperienced and fewer than thirty thousand troops and sailors were at the country’s disposal, as many of them were ill-equipped to face off against a dangerous foe. However, with McKinley’s appeal for all able-bodied males, over a million American men swiftly responded, many of them without uniforms and with their own rifles. Despite being subjected to segregation and other impediments, about 10,000 African American men enlisted to fight in the war.

American military planners viewed the fight as a war for the empire, which caught the Spanish by surprise given that they expected the conflict to be depicted as a war for Cuba. Military commanders wanted to gain more naval bases in the Pacific Ocean more than they wanted to liberate Cuba or preserve American interests in the Caribbean.

Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders’ involvement  in the war

Before resigning his position to join the U.S. cavalry as a veteran, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt ordered an attack on the Spanish fleet in the Philippines. This was because the Philippines were a central part of a chain of islands ruled by Spain. Since Cuba was too far away, the first major military confrontation occurred in the Philippines.

The U.S. Navy, under the command of Commodore George Dewey, achieved a resounding success, destroying all of the Spanish vessels with minimal casualties to its own ranks. By mid-August 1899, the U.S army had successfully taken the islands from Spain after having deployed a force there a month earlier.

In 1898, Theodore Roosevelt along with Army Colonel Leonard Wood formed the first United States Voluntary Cavalry during the Spanish-American War. They were popularly known as the Rough Riders. Their efforts played a significant role in helping the United States claim victory over Spain. Roosevelt was praised for his brave actions and awarded (posthumously) the Medal of Honor in 2001. Image: Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill following their victory at the Battle of San Juan

It took a little longer to achieve victory in Cuba itself. Seventeen thousand American forces arrived in Cuba in the month of June. Even though they encountered little resistance from the Spanish at first, by the beginning of July, intense combat had broken out near the Spanish headquarters in Santiago.

The Rough Riders, an all-volunteer cavalry unit led by Theodore Roosevelt, were made up of thrill seekers fresh out of college, war veterans, and cowboys from the American Southwest. They led the attack up Kettle Hill, which was adjacent to San Juan Hill, and eventually surrounded Santiago.

The Spanish fleet attempted a desperate sea escape, but they were met by an American naval blockade and were utterly destroyed. Spain soon lost control of Puerto Rico due to a lack of naval support, allowing American forces to advance with little opposition.

After around 10 weeks of fighting, it was evident that the United States had accomplished its purpose of aiding Cuba’s liberation from Spanish control.

How many died as a result of the Spanish-American War?

The war was declared over by the close of July. Fewer than 350 American soldiers  were killed in combat, another 1,600 were wounded, and nearly 3,000 men lost their lives to disease throughout the conflict’s brief lifespan.

The Spanish, on the other hand, lost more than 700 of their soldiers during the war. And more than 14,000 Spanish troops died as a result of diseases.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris

After months of fighting between Spain and the United States, the Spanish-American War was officially declared over on December 10, 1898, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Spain gave up all claims to Cuba, surrendered up Guam and Puerto Rico, and gave the Philippines to the United States in exchange for $20 million. The 1898 Treaty of Paris significantly reduced the influence the Spanish Empire wielded not just in the Americas but around the globe.

The United States, on the other hand, emerged from the war as a powerful nation as it displayed to world its military might.

Interestingly, during the peace talks, no Cuban nor Filipino delegates were allowed to take part. The fate of Cuba’s independence hinged on whether the United States would keep its promise to protect the island nation’s democracy or instead become a distant oppressor, like Spain.

However, although the United States did not formally seize Cuba, it did compel Cubans to recognize American sovereignty in the country’s new constitution.

America’s Gains from the War

As a result of its participation in the Spanish-American War, the United States reaped many benefits. The victory was especially beneficial to America’s reputation given that it joined the war with the selfless goal of freeing the Cuban people. The withdrawal of Spanish forces from Cuba aided America’s sugar industry as well as other business sectors. There is now a permanent U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay due to a Platt Amendment in 1901 which helped establish America as a superpower both economically and financially.

Dark Effects of the War

The outcome of the war was like a cruel prank for Filipinos who had joined forces with the United States to end Spain’s dominance over the island. The United States did not want the Philippines to continue under Spanish rule, but it also did not want to grant Filipinos their independence since it was believed at the time that the population was not capable of running the country on its own.

Filipino rebels swiftly shifted their focus from Spain to the United States when they realized they had simply swapped one imperial power for another. It took the United States two years of fighting, using the same strategies that the Spanish had employed against the Cuban insurgents, to finally crush the Filipino uprising.

The United States of America brutally crushed Philippine insurgents and claimed the islands for themselves in 1901. It was not until 1946 that the United States granted the Philippines its independence. Then-U.S. President Harry S. Truman issued Proclamation 2695 of July 4, 1946 and officially recognized the independence of the Philippines.

Other Interesting Facts about the Spanish-American War

In an attack headed by Commodore George Dewey, the United States Navy was able to defeat the Spanish navy in Manila Bay eleven days after the war began. U.S. President McKinley, unaware of Dewey’s victory, ordered military planners to prepare an invasion against Manila. Image: The Battle of Manila Bay

Due to the fact that Spain had not fully prepared it military adequately enough to go against a powerful military as that of the U.S., the Spanish-American War ended up being a complete humiliation for Spain. As Spanish rule in the Americas was wiped away following the war, the U.S. rose to staggering prominence in the globe. The U.S. went on to take possession of Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines.

Here are a few more interesting facts about the war:

• More than 280,000 American sailors, marines, and soldiers participated in the Spanish-American War. The total number of Spanish troops in the war was slightly above 300,000.
• Less than two weeks after the U.S. had declared war on Spain, the U.S. naval squadron, led by Commodore George Dewey, decimated Spanish fleet in Manila Bay in the Philippines. The U.S. lost less than a dozen servicemen, while Spain suffered more than 360 casualties.
• Between 1899 and 1902, during the Philippine-American War, the United States lost 10 times more men than it did during the Spanish-American War.
• Although it was believed back then that a Spanish mine caused the sinking of the USS Maine, it remains very doubtful that Spain had any involvement in the ship’s sinking. Regardless of the inconclusive evidence, newspapers plastered sensational headlines pointing finger at Spain.
• Roosevelt’s famous volunteer cavalry, the Rough Riders, played a key role in the war. But unbeknownst to many people, the Rough Riders spent more time fighting on foot than riding their horses during battle.
• Yellow fever and other diseases were the leading cause of death on both sides. The disease killed 20 times more people than the actual battle.
• About two months into the war, the U.S., with the help of Cuban forces, were able to seize control of Guantanamo Bay from Spain. The U.S. would go on to secure a lease deal with Cuba for the harbor in 1903. Since then the U.S. has made annual payments to the Cuba for the area. Today, Guantanamo Bay holds the record of being the oldest foreign military installation of the United States.

Tags: Spanish Empire Spanish-American War Theodore Roosevelt William McKinley

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Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War Essay

Introduction, causes of the spanish-american war, the consequences of the spanish-american war, list of references.

By far and large, the Spanish-American war is viewed by most scholars as one of the major turning points in the history of both America and Spain in terms of their political, social, cultural and even economic structures (Schoultz, 2009). 1

In essence, the Spanish-American was a short-lived war that was fought between the US and Spain beginning in April 1898 and ending in August this same year. However, in the course of the war, other players like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Germany and the Philippines got involved based on their directly or indirect vested interests in the outcomes of the war.

On one hand, there are scholars who are of the opinion that, in spite of the casualties of the war, the Spanish-American war was a necessary endeavor. To support this argument, such scholars point to the positive results that came from the war—especially with regards to the territories that got colonized (Kaplan, 2003).

On the other hand, some scholars criticize the war basing their arguments on the deaths, loss of properties worth millions of shillings, and signing of some treaties which favored the winners of the war while looking down upon the losers, among many other effects that will be duly detailed in the course of this paper.

If we are to get the real picture of the Spanish-American war, then it is inherent for us to dig into the annals of history and get authoritative information on the specifics of the war. It is with that in mind that this paper seeks to give a succinct, yet inclusively representative, chronology of the events of the war—with major emphasis being laid on the causes and effects. Once these events are analyzed, a summative recapitulation will be given.

Preliminarily, it is worth noting that, just like many wars in history, the Spanish-American war was a culmination of any factors all coming together at one time. In this section of the paper, some of the major factors that contributed to the war are going to be divided into three broad areas:

• The Spanish world domination and the American need to overthrow them: This will entail the political, economic, social and cultural factors that pushed the two sides towards the war.
• The influence of the mass media and “Yellow Journalism”: Here, emphasis will be laid on the journalistic practices and stories that contributed to the war.
• The Cuban Connection: This will specifically focus on the Cuban interest by both America and Spain and how the need to control it led to the war.

The Spanish World Domination and the American Need to Overthrow Them

According to Lennon (2002), Spain was considered as the most powerful nation on earth around the mid 1600s. 2 During this time, it controlled several colonies across the world especially in Central and South America, the Caribbean and some sections of Asia.

However, as time progressed, Spain lost some of its colonial territories majorly through civil wars and the struggle for independence. In spite of loosing these territories, Spain still managed to hold on to a few of its colonies like Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Islands and the Philippines in Asia.

Shifting our focus temporarily to USA during this time, Musicant, (1998) says that, having been a former colony of Britain; the United States was initially opposed to the issue of colonization as they deemed it as being immoral and unfair to the countries being colonized.

However, as the 20 th century approached and the dominance of countries like Spain continued to spread like a wildfire; some leaders in USA who ascribed to the notions of mercantilism began promoting ideas in favor of imperialism.

A key principle in Imperialism was ethnocentrism—which purported that some cultures and tribes were more superior to others thus necessitating the need for control of the weaker cultures (Lennon, 2002). It is on the basis of such ideologies that leaders like of Roosevelt and William Jennings Brian encouraged the people in USA to embrace the ideologies of colonialism.

Many other people also came up to provide moral justifications for engaging into colonization including the need to spread Christian and protestant ideas, viability for trade encouraged by linking up with other nations and the better culture that would result from blending with other cultures (Immerman, 2010).

Resultantly, the demand for the US acquiring her own territories grew exponentially and by the 1890s; America had acquired a fair share of colonial territories making it a vibrant and easily noticeable player in the game of world power dominance (Roosevelt, 1913/1967).

It is during this time (the 1890s) that the idea of colonizing nearby assets such as Cuba and Puerto Rico came into central focus. 3 After a few futile attempts of peaceful negotiations for the colonization of these countries failed, it was eminently clear that the only way to colonize the likes of Cuba and Puerto Rico was through war or some form of battle (Loveman, 2010). 4

The influence of Mass Media and “Yellow Journalism”

In the 1890s, very few media organizations existed based on immense costs that were needed to run the outlets (Kaplan, 2003). In America, the domination of the media was by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

The competition between these two media bigwigs led to the birth of journalism whereby facts and ideas would be exaggerated or twisted to get public attention and increase the sale of newspapers (Lennon, 2002). This competition is what later came to be known as Yellow Journalism.

Owing to the increasing rivalry between America and Spain in their world dominance and colonization efforts; Hearst and Pulitzer chose to capitalize on the opportunity by exaggerating facts and events—obviously favoring the USA, which was their mother country.

For example, in the bid to make the Spanish look bad and unwilling to allow Cuba to gain their independence; Lennon (2002) reports that Hearst and his journalists produced fictitious and ridiculously salacious stories of how the Spaniards were oppressing the Cubans.

Soon, public interest in USA regarding the alleged suffering and oppression in Cuba began to grow with several people calling upon President McKinley (USA president at that time) to “do something” so as to change the situation and help the Cubans (DeGuzmán, 2005). 5

It is based on these reports that President McKinley sent American troops into Cuba—something which angered the Spanish and, after a series of other unfortunate events in Cuba which will be explained later, soon led to the war (Schoultz, 2009).

The Cuban Connection

In many ways, the Cuban connection was the major highlight and cause of the war. As was earlier mentioned under the contribution of Yellow Journalism towards the war, the public outcries in USA regarding the Spanish oppression in Cuba pushed the President McKinley towards taking an action—even though, personally, he was not a big proponent of the war (DeGuzmán, 2005).

In January 1898, President McKinley eventually found a reason for justifying his response to the public outcry regarding Cuba when reports by various media indicated that there were escalated riots by Anti-American “Volunatrios and Pro-Spanish people in Havana detesting against the USA saying that it (the US) was poking its nose where it does not belong (Herring, 2008).

It is also around this time that the Spanish Minister to US, Mr. Enrique Dupuy de Lôme is reported to have said that President McKinley was “weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd” (Lennon, 2002).

Not being able to stomach the criticisms anymore, President McKinley decided to send US warships to Cuba. A few weeks later, one of the US warships was sunk and, as earlier stated; the yellow journalists together with the US navy soon corroborated a story alleging that the US Maine disaster, which resulted in deaths of around 250 people, was an act of saboteur by the Spanish (Lennon, 2002).

On the other hand, the Cubans who were in dire need for independence had promised support to the USA, in case they decided to help them fight the common enemy—the Spanish. The culmination of these factors is reason why the war eventually erupted. 6

Before delving into the effects of the war, it is worth taking note of the following facts about the war. To begin with, the war reportedly began on 3 rd July 1898 with the battle of Santiago de Cuba, the fiercest of the naval battle between the Spanish and Americans. In this battle, the Spanish Caribbean fleet was destroyed courtesy of the American soldiers supported by the Cuban independence fighters thus resulting into the besieging of Santiago de Cuba, and, eventually the entire island (Lennon, 2002).

Moreover, Theodore Roosevelt, together with his Rough Riders, were very monumental in the war based on their dedicated attacks and assaults on San Juan Heights and San Juan Hill—two important hills close to the Santiago Harbor which was in great contention (Roosevelt, 1913/1967). 7 Seeing that they were overpowered by the Americans, the Spanish tried to flee from the Santiago Harbor. However, the Americans captured them, sunk their ships and killed 323 people with only one American dying as a casualty (Lennon, 2002). This paved the way for retreat and surrender.

In finality, the Spanish-American war ended after 109 days with the signing of the “Treaty of Paris” being the major highlight. It is from this point where the treaty was signed that we are going to consider the consequences of the war.

Treaty of Paris and The Political Effects

Primarily, this treaty was signed on the December of 1898 (109 days after the war had began) between the US and Spain—with the Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Filipinos being sidelined from negotiations of the treaty.

So, even though the treaty mentioned Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Filipinos, it is clear that the treaty was mainly signed to benefit and satiate the interests of the Spanish and Americans (who were the war winners) while sidelining the losers and people who had apparently contributed greatly towards the starting and ending of the war (Musicant, 1998). 8

In the treaty, America’s possessions, in terms of colonial power, was increased as they were given control of Puerto Rico, and Guam while they sold the Philippines for $20 million (Lennon, 2002). Also, the treaty managed to free Cuba who, for long, had been fighting for their freedom. On the other hand, the US gave back the city of St. Augustine Florida to the Spanish.

It is worth mentioning that, unlike the treaties signed previously, the Treaty of Paris did not give the acquired territories a promise of rights for citizenship or statehood. In other words, the treaty considered the acquired territories like Puerto Rico of being unable to self-govern their own based on their inferior ranks going by the imperialistic characteristic of ethnocentrism (DeGuzmán, 2005).

Additionally, America’s name was added to the list of existing colonial empires—something which they had previously fought against and branded as demeaning during the days when they were subjects of Britain (Lennon, 2002). Other treaties, or rather legal amendments also saw their way into the extensions of this treaty.

For example, before the war, US congress (which chiefly constituted of Anti-imperialists) had passed the Teller Amendment committing to grant Cuba Independence. After the war and Cuba being awarded its freedom, the senate (mainly consisting of pro-imperialists) passed the Platt Amendment which forced a peace treaty on Cuba which forbade the Cubans them from getting into treaties with other nations.

According to Herring (2008), the Platt Amendment was considered to be a stab-in-the back move to the Cubans who had trusted the US and helped them during the war, only for US to go against their words after the war.

As a matter of fact, the Platt Amendment gave the US control of Cuba in terms of providing a permanent Navy base in Cuba and giving them freedom to stabilize Cuban Militarily as they wished. It is from such freedoms that later treaties were signed between US and Cuba thus paving way for the rise of imperialistic strongholds of US in Cuba like the famed Guantanamo Bay.

The Philippine-American War

The annexation of the Philippines, as a result of the Treaty of Paris, caused huge problems. In essence, the Filipino had allied with US during the Spanish-American war hoping that they, just like Cuba, would be able to gain their independence. Failing to accord them independence infuriated the Filipinos and made them feel betrayed. Consequently, on the 23 rd day of January 1899, the Filipinos forcefully proclaimed independence and elected Emilio Aguinaldo as their president.

Immediately, the US responded by sending its army to put down the fake Filipino government thus resulting in war and protests from the natives silently supported by Germans who had vested interests in Puerto Rico.

In spite of not having a strong military influence, the Filipinos dragged the US into a hot battle that lasted longer than the Anglo-Spanish war claiming close to 4000 American lives and immense destruction of properties being witnessed.

However, on 21 st March 1901, America finally managed to capture Aguinaldo, forced him to oath loyalty, take a pension from the US and retire peacefully while ensuring that no more revolts were witnessed from the Filipinos. This, eventually, led to the calming down of the Filipinos and thus the halt of the Philippine-American War.

Socio-Economic and Cultural Effects

The Spanish-American war has both positive and negative socio-economic and cultural effects. Starting with the negative side, Loveman (2010) asserts that the war expectedly resulted in the loss of properties, deaths of useful individuals in the society, and the loss of freedoms and political power—all which had a direct negative economic impact.

To this effect, Herring (2008) reports that the collapse of the Spanish empire—especially in losing Cuba—caused national trauma which, in effect, reduced their economic strength. 9

Still on the negative side, the war resulted in blood between some Spaniards and Americans, Filipinos and the US, Cubans and Spaniards, Germans and Americans (based on the Filipino contention) thus destroying the moral fabric of the relatively good cultural and social environment that previously existed (Musicant, 1998).

On the positive side, however, the war resulted in better economies by some nations, like the US who had new trade avenues in their colonized countries (Lennon, 2002). Cuba’s freedom also had a relative positive impact as the exit of the Spanish paved way for investments by their own people (Schoultz, 2009).

In Spain, modicum economic gains were witnessed from the investments made by Spaniards who came back from US and Cuba pumping money and business ideas into their home economy.

Socially and culturally, some good language patterns emerged. For example, the intermingling between the US and Puerto Rico led to a hybrid of people able to speak English and Spanish on top of their native languages.

Similarly, Filipinos were also able to speak German, Spanish and English on top of their native language (Immerman, 2010). Also, there was an improved interrelation between the Northern and Southern people who, prior to the war were not able to speak to one another (Lennon, 2002).

Other General Impacts of the War

• The birth of opinion-based and hyperbole journalism (Yellow Journalism)
• The shift in global power and recognition of the US as a superpower and the rise of a new generation of imperialist leaders in the USA like Theodore Roosevelt.
• Increased Involvement of Africans into the military based on their monumental impact during the war, for example, Booker T. Washington.

Increased involvement of political groups like the rough riders in national politics

In conclusion, the increase of imperialist leaders getting into the US government led to more expansionist ideas being circulated around the country thus creating the thirst for power consolidation rather than just focusing on progress.

Nonetheless, the lessons learnt from the war by all the involved parties served, and still serves, as a great reminder for the importance of dialogue, peaceful coexistence and good international relations amongst various nations and countries regardless of their different ethnicities.

This, probably, is the reason why, up to date, the politics of international relations still plays an irreplaceably key role in the balance of social, political, cultural, technological and social aspects of our lives.

DeGuzmán, M., 2005. ‘Consolidating Anglo-American Identity around the Spanish-American War’, Ch.3 of Spain’s Long Shadow. The Black Legend, Off-Whiteness and Anglo-American Empire, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Herring, G. C., 2008. From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign relations since 1776. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Immerman, R. H., 2010. Empire for liberty: a history of American imperialism from Benjamin Franklin to Paul Wolfowitz . New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Kaplan, R. L., 2003. American journalism goes to war, 1898–2001: a manifesto on media and empire. Media History, 9 (3).

Lennon, K., 2002. Causes and Impacts of the Spanish-American war , https://luceo.net/spanish-american-war/

Loveman, B., 2010. “The New Navy’, Ch.6 of No Higher Law. American foreign policy and the western hemisphere since 1776 , Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Musicant, I., 1998. ‘State of the Union’, Ch.1 of Empire by Default. the Spanish-American war and the dawn of the American century, New York: Henry Holt.

Roosevelt, T., 1913/1967. ‘An Autobiographical Defense’, Ch.11 of The writings of Theodore Roosevelt, New York: Bobbs-Merrill.

Schoultz, L., 2009. That Infernal little Cuban republic: the United States and the Cuban revolution. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

1 Schoultz, L., 2009. That Infernal little Cuban republic: the United States and the Cuban revolution. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. P.10-20.

2 Lennon, K., 2002. Causes and Impacts of the Spanish-American war .

3 DeGuzmán, M., 2005. ‘Consolidating Anglo-American Identity around the Spanish-American War’, Ch.3 of Spain’s Long Shadow. The Black Legend, Off-Whiteness and Anglo-American Empire, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

4 Loveman, B., 2010. “The New Navy’, Ch.6 of No Higher Law. American foreign policy and the western hemisphere since 1776 , Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

5 DeGuzmán, M., 2005. ‘Consolidating Anglo-American Identity around the Spanish-American War’, Ch.3 of Spain’s Long Shadow. The Black Legend, Off-Whiteness and Anglo-American Empire, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

6 Musicant, I., 1998. ‘State of the Union’, Ch.1 of Empire by Default. the Spanish-American war and the dawn of the American century, New York: Henry Holt.

7 Roosevelt, T., 1913/1967. ‘An Autobiographical Defense’, Ch.11 of The writings of Theodore Roosevelt, New York: Bobbs-Merrill.

8 Musicant, I., 1998. ‘State of the Union’, Ch.1 of Empire by Default. the Spanish-American war and the dawn of the American century, New York: Henry Holt.

9 Herring, G. C., 2008. From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign relations since 1776. Oxford: Oxford University Press. P.15-25.

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IvyPanda. (2023, December 11). Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War. https://ivypanda.com/essays/principal-causes-and-consequences-of-the-spanish-american-war/

"Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War." IvyPanda , 11 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/principal-causes-and-consequences-of-the-spanish-american-war/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War'. 11 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/principal-causes-and-consequences-of-the-spanish-american-war/.

1. IvyPanda . "Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/principal-causes-and-consequences-of-the-spanish-american-war/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Principal Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/principal-causes-and-consequences-of-the-spanish-american-war/.

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Spanish American War

By: History.com Editors

Updated: May 2, 2022 | Original: May 14, 2010

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.

Causes: Remember the Maine!

The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, which began in February 1895.

Spain’s brutally repressive measures to halt the rebellion were graphically portrayed for the U.S. public by several sensational newspapers engaging in yellow journalism , and American sympathy for the Cuban rebels rose.

Did you know? The term yellow journalism was coined in the 19th century to describe journalism that relies on eye-catching headlines, exaggeration and sensationalism to increase sales.

The growing popular demand for U.S. intervention became an insistent chorus after the still-unexplained sinking in Havana harbor of the American battleship USS Maine , which had been sent to protect U.S. citizens and property after anti-Spanish rioting in Havana.

War Is Declared

Spain announced an armistice on April 9 and speeded up its new program to grant Cuba limited powers of self-government.

But the U.S. Congress soon afterward issued resolutions that declared Cuba’s right to independence, demanded the withdrawal of Spain’s armed forces from the island, and authorized the use of force by President William McKinley to secure that withdrawal while renouncing any U.S. design for annexing Cuba.

Spain declared war on the United States on April 24, followed by a U.S. declaration of war on the 25th, which was made retroactive to April 21.

Spanish American War Begins

The ensuing war was pathetically one-sided, since Spain had readied neither its army nor its navy for a distant war with the formidable power of the United States.

In the early morning hours of May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a U.S. naval squadron into Manila Bay in the Philippines. He destroyed the anchored Spanish fleet in two hours before pausing the Battle of Manila Bay to order his crew a second breakfast. In total, fewer than 10 American seamen were lost, while Spanish losses were estimated at over 370. Manila itself was occupied by U.S. troops by August.

The elusive Spanish Caribbean fleet under Adm. Pascual Cervera was located in Santiago harbor in Cuba by U.S. reconnaissance. An army of regular troops and volunteers under Gen. William Shafter (including then-former assistant secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt and his 1st Volunteer Cavalry, the “Rough Riders”) landed on the coast east of Santiago and slowly advanced on the city in an effort to force Cervera’s fleet out of the harbor.

Cervera led his squadron out of Santiago on July 3 and tried to escape westward along the coast. In the ensuing battle all of his ships came under heavy fire from U.S. guns and were beached in a burning or sinking condition.

Santiago surrendered to Shafter on July 17, thus effectively ending the brief but momentous war.

Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish American War was signed on December 10, 1898. In it, Spain renounced all claim to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.

Philippine insurgents who had fought against Spanish rule soon turned their guns against their new occupiers. The Philippine-American War began in February of 1899 and lasted until 1902. Ten times more U.S. troops died suppressing revolts in the Philippines than in defeating Spain.

Impact of the Spanish-American War

The Spanish American War was an important turning point in the history of both antagonists. Spain’s defeat decisively turned the nation’s attention away from its overseas colonial adventures and inward upon its domestic needs, a process that led to both a cultural and a literary renaissance and two decades of much-needed economic development in Spain.

The victorious United States, on the other hand, emerged from the war a world power with far-flung overseas possessions and a new stake in international politics that would soon lead it to play a determining role in the affairs of Europe and the rest of the globe.

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History Resources

Guided Readings: Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

By steven mintz.

Up to our own day American history has been in a large degree the history of the colonization of the Great West. . . . The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization. . . . The frontier promoted the formation of a composite nationality for the American people. . . . The legislation which most developed the powers of the national government, and played the largest part in its activity, was conditioned on the frontier. . . . The pioneer needed the goods of the coast, and so the grand series of internal improvement and railroad legislation began, with potent nationalizing effects. . . . But the most important effect of the frontier has been in the promotion of democracy here and in Europe. As has been pointed out, the frontier is productive of individualism. . . . It produces antipathy to control, and particularly to any direct control. . . . The frontier states that came into the Union in the first quarter of a century of its existence came in with democratic suffrage provisions, and had reactive effects of the highest importance upon the older states. . . .

To the frontier the American intellect owes its striking characteristics. That coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and inquisitiveness, that practical, inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients. . . . What the Mediterranean Sea was to the Greeks, breaking the bond of custom, offering new experiences, calling out new institutions and activities, that, and more, the ever retreating frontier has been to the United States directly, and to the nations of Europe more remotely. And now, four centuries from the discovery of America, at the end of a hundred years of life under the Constitution, the frontier has gone, and with its going has closed the first period of American history.

—Frederick Jackson Turner, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” 1893, Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin 41 (Madison, 1894): 79–112

The two great needs of mankind, that all men may be lifted up into the light of the highest Christian civilization, are, first, a pure, spiritual Christianity, and, second, civil liberty. . . . It follows, then, that the Anglo-Saxon, as the great representative of these two ideas, the depositary of these two greatest blessings, sustains peculiar relations to the world’s future, is divinely commissioned to be, in a peculiar sense, his brother’s keeper.

—Josiah Strong, Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis (New York, 1885), pp. 161

God has not been preparing the English-speaking and Teutonic peoples for a thousand years for nothing but vain and idle self-contemplation and self-admiration. No! . . . He has made us adepts in government that we may administer government among savage and senile peoples. . . . He has marked the American people as His chosen nation to finally lead in the regeneration of the world.

—Senator Albert J. Beveridge, January 9, 1900, 56 Congressional Record 704–12

The West Indies drift toward us, the Republic of Mexico hardly longer has an independent life. . . . With the completion of the Panama Canal all Central America will become a part of our system. We have expanded into Asia, we have attracted the fragments of the Spanish dominions, and reaching out into China we have checked the advance of Russia and Germany. . . . The United States will outweigh any single empire, if not all empires combined. The whole world will pay her tribute.

—Brooks Adams, The New Empire (New York, 1902), pp. 208–209

I transmit to the Senate . . . [an addition to the treaty for] the annexation of the Dominican Republic to the United States. . . . I feel an unusual anxiety for the ratification of this treaty, because I believe it will redound greatly to the glory of the two countries interested, to civilization, and to the extirpation of the institution of slavery. . . . The acquisition of San Domingo is desirable because of its geographical position. It commands the entrance to the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus transit of commerce. It possesses the richest soil, best and most capacious harbors, most salubrious climate, and the most valuable products of the forests, mine, and soil of any of the West India Islands.

—Message from President Ulysses S. Grant to the US Senate, May 31, 1870, on a treaty of annexation of the Dominican Republic in James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789–1897 , vol. 7 (1899), p. 61

The island of San Domingo, situated in tropical waters, and occupied by another race, of another color, never can become a permanent possession of the United States. You may seize it by force of arms or by diplomacy, where a naval squadron does more than the minister; but the enforced jurisdiction cannot endure. Already by a higher statute is that island set apart to the colored race. . . . I protest against this legislation as another stage in a drama of blood. I protest against it in the name of Justice outraged by violence, in the name of Humanity insulted, in the name of the weak trodden down, in the name of Peace imperilled, and in the name of the African race, whose first effort at Independence is rudely assailed.

—Senator Charles Sumner’s response to President Ulysses S. Grant, 1870, in The Works of Charles Sumner , vol. 15 (Boston, 1883), pp. 123–124

First. In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries now existing [in Cuba], and which the parties to the conflict are either unable or unwilling to stop or mitigate. . . .

Second. We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to afford them that protection and indemnity for life and property. . . . Third. The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people and by the wanton destruction of property and devastation of the island.

—President William McKinley’s call for war against Spain, April 11, 1898, in James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789–1897 , vol. 10 (1899), p. 147

When next I realized that the Philippines had dropped into our laps I confess I did not know what to do with them. . . . I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight; and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance. . . . And one night late it came to me this way. . . . (1) That we could not give them back to Spain—that would be cowardly and dishonorable; (2) that we could not turn them over to France or Germany—our commercial rivals in the Orient—that would be bad business and discreditable; (3) that we could not leave them to themselves—they were unfit for self-government—and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain’s was; and (4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died.

—President William McKinley on the Philippines, published in the Christian Advocate , January 22, 1903, quoted in Charles S. Olcott, The Life of William McKinley , vol. 2 (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1916), p. 110–111

Thus . . . I have shown that duty and interest alike, duty of the highest kind and interest of the highest and best kind, impose upon us the retention of the Philippines, the development of the islands, and the expansion of our Eastern commerce.

—Henry Cabot Lodge, March 7, 1900, 33  Congressional Record  (1900), 2629

The Opposition tells us that we ought not to govern a people without their consent. I answer, The rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self-government. We govern the Indians without their consent, we govern our territories without their consent, we govern our children without their consent. . . . Would not the people of the Philippines prefer the just, humane, civilizing government of this Republic to the savage, bloody rule of pillage and extortion from which we have rescued them?

—Senator Albert J. Beveridge, “March of the Flag” Campaign Speech, September 16, 1898, in Albert J. Beveridge, The Meaning of the Times and Other Speeches (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1908), p. 49

A self-governing state cannot accept sovereignty over an unwilling people. The United States cannot act upon the ancient heresy that might makes right.

—Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League, October 7, 1899, in Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz , vol. 6, ed. Frederic Bancroft (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1913), p. 77n1

If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by, and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

—Theodore Roosevelt, “The Strenuous Life” Speech, April 10, 1899, in The Strenuous Life: Essays and Addresses (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1906), pp. 21–22

There is a homely old adage which runs: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” If the American Nation will speak softly, and yet build, and keep at a pitch of the highest training, a thoroughly efficient Navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.

—Theodore Roosevelt, Address at Chicago, Illinois, April 2, 1903, Theodore Roosevelt Papers, Library of Congress Manuscripts Division

It is not true that the United States feels any land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare. All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. . . . Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention . . . [and] force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power.

—Theodore Roosevelt, Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, Annual Message to Congress, 1904, House Records HR 58A-K2; Records of the US House of Representatives; Record Group 233; Center for Legislative Archives; National Archives

Questions for Discussion

• What does Frederick Jackson Turner believe was the significance of the frontier in American history? What might be the implications of the closing of the frontier?
• What did proponents of American expansion argue? How did anti-imperialists respond to their arguments?
• What, in your view, were the relative importance of economic interest, ideology, and strategic interest in encouraging American imperialism?

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Rise of American Power

Causes of the spanish american war, using evidence: why did america invade cuba and declare war on spain.

U.S. History

US Overseas Expansion: Causes of the Spanish American War

Students will use evidence from the documents to analyze why America invaded Cuba in 1898. 

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The Spanish-American War: Causes and Impact

The Spanish-American war was the armed conflict in 1898 between two major countries in that historical period. The fight fundamentally changed the world structure, impacting the future economics and political dominance significantly, hence being an essential event in the development of chronicles (Marolda 4). The research paper will look into the reasons behind the war, its progress, and its effects on the different participants as well as other parties.

First, the background event leading to the war will be discussed. Political dominance over the country was entitled to Spain, as Cuba was its colony. It should be noted that most of the former colonies of Spain were either possessed by other states or gained independence in 1825 (Marolda 16). After numerous wars because of the colonies, the low point of Spanish colonialism was marked (Losang and Demhardt 100). As a result, the metropolitan country itself was in a critical state where it could not adequately manage its provinces.

In such a way, the main reason for the conflict itself was the Cuban crisis. Local people strived to gain independence from the country-suppressor and fully enjoy the benefits of their productions (Marolda 28). The struggle captures the attention of the US because of several factors. Despite the fact that Spain was a metropolitan country, the economic supremacy in the region belonged to the United States. The estimated US investments counted $50 million annually, while the amount of US trade was attributed to about $100 million (Marolda 34). In addition to that, 90% of Cuba’s total exports were transported to the US in 1894, while the country provided 40% of the island’s imports (Losang and Demhardt 102). Therefore, the struggle for Cuban independence disrupted US economic interests and positioned the country against the Spanish side.

Apart from that, the American sentiment played an important role in causing the armed conflict, which emerged in the more critical concept later. The American media posted information about so-called “Concentration areas” in Cuba, where the local people were treated in an inappropriate way (Chaplin 16). The Spanish government did not provide them with adequate shelter, provision, and medical care, which expectedly resulted in death from exposure, hunger, and disease (Marolda 25). Such stories were graphically depicted in the American journals and newspapers, especially in such sensational institutions like New York World and New York Journalasaplin 4). As a result, they caused humanitarian concern among the American population, which was added to traditional sympathy for colonial people struggling for their nation’s independence. Such a social mindset created the demand for intervention, which gained support in the US Congress.

It is significant to be noted that Spain made actions to resolve the conflict and address its colonial problems. In 1897, the new ministry in Spain offered concessions to the colonial people (Marolda 35). Those measures included abandoning the reconcentration policy and granting the Cuban intelligence opportunity to create their parliament with limited self-government powers (Chaplin 17). However, these propositions were made too late, as the insurgent leaders aimed the total political independence at that moment. Consequently, the war continued, and some battles forced the US to intervene because the US citizens’ safety was questioned (Marolda 63). As a result, the American authorities sent the battleship Maine as a tool to grant security for US citizens and property in the region.

The occasion for the start of the war was the explosion of the battleship Maine mentioned above. Although there was no reliable evidence for the Spanish side’s responsibility for the disaster, the US public stimulated by the influence of the aforementioned yellow journalism helped Spain unquestionably guilty (Marolda 101). The strength of the demand and public pressure upon the government was incredibly high. The widespread rallying cry, which sounded like “Remember Maine , to hell with Spain!” quickly became popular (Chaplin 21). The movement was supported by the religious leaders, which created even higher pressure on the US Congress.

At last, the opposition faded after the speech in the Senate by Sen. Redfield Proctor of Vermont. Returning from the tour in Cuba, he described the situation and convinced the politicians in tof necessity to declare the war (Marolda 32). Moreover, one of the arguments to start the conflict was that Spain was unable to end it with the victory (Chaplin 14). The US side offered the mediation of the dispute in the region to reach peace with the insurgents and noted that nothing but independence for the colony was expected.

The Spanish side had a dilemma of resolving this conflict. On the one hand, the country was not ready for the war and its consequences. On the other hand, the action of abandonment on the island meant the government’s disestablishment, including the monarchy (Losang and Demhardt 108). Moreover, the Spanish politicians sought support from other European countries, which did not take any action except for weak verbal cooperation (Marolda 47). In the conclusion of lengthy disputes and debates, the American side demanded Spain to relinquish Cuba, which severed the relations and resulted in the war declaration.

Even though the United States was only interested in Cuba and this region in the very beginning, the process and outcome of the war affewar-affectedcantly more territories and parties. It should be noted that both participants were equally unprepared for the war. As a result of the war mainly dependent on sea power, the evident advantage was on the US side (Marolda 59). Using the powerful new battleships in the North Atlantic Squadron, the American ships attacked the Spanish naval vessels anchored in Manila Bay (Losang and Demhardt 110). The troops’ motivation and perception of the situation played a significant role in the victory of Americans (Marolda 37). Officers and men were extremely confident in their supremacy, while opponents felt they were doomed to defeat and clearly understood their country’s position (Chaplin 19). Therefore, the American party without many losses occupied Manila, weakening Spanish squadrons, and decreasing their war resources.

The armed conflict in Caribbeathe n theatre was characterized by the battles on Cuba and Puerto Rico campaign. As the US-controlled the naval access to the region, Spain could not bring support to the fleet present in Cuba (Marolda 93). The US army consisted of regular soldiers and volunteers, as the public was sympathizing with the insurgents and willed to help (Chaplin 23). The American garrison aimed to trap the Spanish fleet between the army and ships, in such a way making them surrender without any fight and subsequent losses (Losang and Demhardt 113). On July 1, 1898, the Battles of El Caney and San Juan Hill took place, which impacted the progress of the American army into the island (Marolda 23). These events significantly changed the course of action by allowing the troops to penetrate Santiago’s outer defenses. Even though commanders thought about pausing the battles and await while the incidences of malaria and other diseases became less, the Spanish fleet’s attempt to escape impacted contrary decisions (Marolda 49). All the Spanish ships were destroyed or remained in an inoperative condition, meaning that the American party won the battle (Marolda 76). In addition to that, the American commanders occupied Puerto Rico as well. As the situation was with the struggle in the Philippines, the American army experienced few losses.

When the war was practically over, Spain asked French commissioners to arrange the termination of hostilities. According to the protocol signed on August 12, 1898, which resulted from negotiations in Washington, Spain agreed to surrender Cuba (Marolda 108). Furthermore, the agreement stated that the metropolitan country would cede Puerto Rico and the Mariana Islands in favor of the United States. In the Philippines, the US troops would stay in Manila until the peace treaty would be formed and agreed upon (Marolda 99). It was evident that the American politicians had not considered acquiring the territory on the other side of the globe when they started the armed conflict. Despite this fact, McKinley (US president) and his advisers aimed to retrain the US presence in the strategically important region for enhancing the influence in the Far East region (Losang and Demhardt 120). Moreover, given the European aggressions in China, the basement in the Philippines could be action for the security of the US market interests in the area. As a result, the American government demanthe ded transfer of the possession of about 7000 islands and their inhabitants to them (Marolda 93). Spain reluctantly met the requirement, and in the endpoint, the Spanish parties asked to pay them $20 million for the public buildings and works in the Philippines (Marolda 96). The agreement was fixed by the Treaty of Paris, which was the official end of the war movements.

The effects of the Spanish-American war had a long-term impact. Even though the conflict itself was relatively inexpensive in both material and human resources, it became a significant turning point in the participants’ history. The immediate consequences of the war in Spain were destructive for the nation (Marolda 12). However, the tragedy was followed by the renewal in intellectual, cultural, and material aspects. The government and society began to pay particular atten to the internal politics, development, and progress. Transportation, industry, development of mineral resources production fostered in the country, helping it to reestablish economic strength (Losang and Demhardt 115). Therefore, at the beginning of the 20th century, there was a dramatic rising in all social aspects in Spain.

The outcome of the armed conflict for the USA was different but dramatic to the same extent. First, the country increased its land possessions in the world, making it more strategically secure amongst other nations (Marolda 109). Although the stimulus to begin the war was the aim to bring peace to Cuba, the situation was completely different in the result. The country won critical battles in different world regions, which helped it ensure its access to foreign markets (Losang and Demhardt 121). It should be highlighted that shortly after the conflict ended, the US entered the Philippine-American war and experienced even more significant losses than in the fights with Spain (Marolda 111). Despite this fact, generally, the outcome was positive for the country.

There were more changes in the strategic aspect of the country’s politics. The US parties became confident in the necessity to build the Canal in Panama for greater flexibility in transportation. Thus, the US made the Caribbean its lake, and the effect of this event can be observed up to nowadays (Marolda 114). The politicians also understood the importance of the sea weapon and training of men to sea conflicts. Hence, men were stimulated to join the US Navy, which grew significantly after the war, becoming the world’s second largest fleet (Chaplin 25). Besides, the US army, which was seen to be poorly developed in the course of the war, required reforms (Marolda 110). In the course of the war, more men were lost because of exposure and diseases rather than from weapon defeat. That is why the government paid close attention to the development of its soldiery in order to prevent the inevitable unwanted conquests. The US became one of the world’s most strategically influential and essential countries, which had an impact in the Caribbean, the Far East, and later in European relations.

To conclude, the Spanish-American war was a significant event that resulted in long-term consequences in world politics and structure. It can be called the battle of the empire and democracy, as participants had different ideologies. The US decision to enter the war was partially stimulated by the social mind, whereas Spanish politicians decided solely on the basis of considerations for the monarchy. The effect of the outcome can be observed nowadays by looking at the influence of the United States.

Works Cited

Chaplin, Nathan. “The American Press During the Spanish American War: Race, Reconcentration, and Paternalism.” Creighton University , 2018, pp. 1-26.

Losang, Eric, and Imre Demhardt. “Change of Sovereignty and Cartographic Advance: Cartographic Implications of the Spanish-American War of 1898.” Dissemination of Cartographic Knowledge, 2017, pp. 99-128.

Marolda, Edward, editor. Theodore Roosevelt, the U.S. Navy and the Spanish-American War. Springer, 2016.

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The Main Causes and Factors of The Spanish American War

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• 2. Spanish–American War (1898): causes and effects
• Option 2: History of the Americas
• Topic 10: Emergence of the Americas in global affairs (1880–1929)

The Spanish-American War was a major turning point in USA foreign policy; it ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in the US gaining territories in the western Pacific and in Latin America. It thus "marked the beginning of what would come to be called the American century.’ (George C. Herring)Guiding questions:Why was there increased US interest in Cuba by the 1890s?What was the role of the ‘yellow...

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