The+Spanish+American+War


 * THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR **

Imperial a mbitions and internal desires of expansionism led to a war with Spain which began in 1898. This conflict would help shape America for the years to come, establishing a relationship with the rest of the world, and establishing a diverse overseas empire throughout the Pacific.

 The war came to the forefront of American minds when yellow journalists published articles that portrayed the Spaniards, who were attempting to silence a Cuban rebellion, as a monstrous force brutally devastating the insurrection. Though there were atrocities being committed on both sides of the battlefield, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph [|Pulitzer] engaged in a circulation war which created enormous popular support for the revolutionaries. After Grover Cleveland proclaimed neutrality, [|William McKinley] stepped in with a more aggressive policy which nearly succeeded in ending Spanish involvement, until two crucial events in February of 1898. First came the publication of the De Lome Letter, which was written by a Spanish diplomat and was highly critical of McKinley’s presidency. This was followed shortly by the sinking of the U.S.S Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor, killing more than 260 US sailors, which was probably an accident but was blamed on the Spanish. The American outcry for war had never been louder, and on April 25, 1898 Congress approved McKinley’s declaration of war.

Beginning in April, and ending in August, the [|Spanish American War] was more of an exercis e in cleaning up the little remaining Spanish resistance than a full military excursion. Thus, Secretary of State John Hay called it “A splendid little war”, a sentiment which the US populous shared. Less than 500 troops died in combat, but more than 5000 died from disease, so the war was not without its problems. In addition to the issue of disease American troops faced a shortage of adequate weaponry, an excessively heavy uniform for the tropical climate, lacking medical assistance, and very little food, most of which was indigestible. Another difficulty faced in the war effort was the mobilization of troops, because the United States had to put heavy reliance on National Guard officers due to the lack of an experienced militia. Although racism played a factor in the American effort, blacks played a crucial role in the cause, fighting at [|San Juan Hill], even winning medals. Segregated forces caused the formation of a well integrated Cuban insurgent force, consisting of Cubans, blacks, and black Cubans.

During the fight for Cuba, a small time military figure Theodore Roosevelt, acting as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, ordered Commodore George Dewey to attack Spanish naval forces at Manila Bay in the Philippines in the event of war. On May 1, 1898 Dewey did just that, and was promoted to admiral as a result of his overwhelming success. Allied with Filipino rebels, the United States finished their ground attack on August 13th with the capture of [|Manila]. Dewey had become the first hero of the war, and back home few paused to think why a war for Cuba’s independence was now gaining them Spain’s remaining colonies.

Initially American commanders had been planning an extended training period in preparation for the fight for Cuba, but when Spanish Admiral Pascual Cervera e vaded the navy at [|Santiago] all plans were lost. Thus ill prepared soldiers thrust themselves into the conflict, and poor strategizing by the US army’s commanding General Nelson A. Miles did little to help the effort. After a series of unsuccessful assaults by General William R. Shafter in search of Cervera, came the crowning achievement of the conflict, the Rough Riders’ charge. Though not commanding officer, Theodore Roosevelt left his job in the navy to secure a position on the battlefront and lead the Rough Riders. In the event he refers to as “the great day of my life” Roosevelt and his men boldly charged Kettle Hill (a part of the assault on San Juan Hill) in the face of heavy Spanish weaponry and emerged victorious. After Cuban retreats, and the defeat of the Spanish navy at Santiago Bay July 3rd Americans emerged the victors following the agreement of an armistice on August twelfth. The war officially ended with the signing of [|The Treaty of Paris] was signed December 10, 1898 and provided for Spain’s recognition of Cuban independence, the ceding of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and Guam in the Pacific, and the acquisition of the Philippines for $20 million.


 * SOURCES **

http://www.knowledgerush.com/wiki_image/0/08/10kMiles.JPG http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2009/05/04/21785000_2.jpg http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/roughriders.htm http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h828.html http://www.spanamwar.com/timeline.htm http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williammckinley http://caskaorg.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452410969e201156f81b002970c-800wi http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/navalbattles1800s/p/santiago.htm http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/nypress.html http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/spanam/events/man-bay1.htm 