Good Example Of Spanish-American War Essay

Spanish-American War was the first entry onto the world arena of American imperialism, which got an important island bases spanning the global participation (Herring, ch.8). For Spain, events in 1898 were a turning point, unique in its significance, because they pushed hardest crisis processes that shaped the development of the country in the XX century.
Causes of a military conflict between the United States and Spain are fairly obvious. One has only to reproduce the general course of events: The United States, having exhausted the possibility of expansion in the territories under their control, switched to the development of the disputed areas. In the first place, in Washington focused on a geopolitical theory justifying the need for the channel in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As the main objects of "interest" implies the Pacific Ocean as a zone of relatively weak interest of "great powers", and Latin America. This involved the conversion of the Caribbean into the inner waters of the United States and to defend the canal from the Atlantic coast, where competitors have strong positions. Americans were lucky as nodal strategic points were controlled by inert colonial empire, Spain.
This country long ago lost most of its colonies, dragging the existence of the "sick man of Europe." Internal problems of the Spanish kingdom made the possession of the remains of the former colonial power in the face of Cuba and the Philippines, in general, unnecessary. By the end of the XIX century. Metropolitan economy has lost the last communication with the colonies. However, the ideological charge of “Spanishness” (Hispanidad), pride of successes of the old civilization prevented the realization of unnecessary ownership of distant Cuba and especially the Philippine archipelago. The descendants of the conquistadors despite the obvious tried to keep these bridgeheads in case of restoration of the empire, "in which the sun never sets."
At the same time over the population of Cuba and the Philippines actually puts experiment was to find out how long the ideology can replace daily bread. The Spanish market was closed for the colonial goods - tobacco, maize and sugar and exploited only local customs duties export, parasitizing, in fact, on a continuous impoverishment of the population of the colonies.
The reaction of the victims of the experiment revealed in a growing fight against the Cubans and Filipinos metropolis parasites. As a result, the Spaniards were forced to invest the proceeds from the exploitation of colonies, and a fair share of own revenues in endless war against the rebels. Even with a statement of the situation as a catastrophic one, Madrid obviously late and only tightened the game already lost. In this regard, it suffices to recall that Spain has the dubious honor of creating the concentration camp system, because it appeared in Cuba, the term "concentration areas loyal citizens." The organizing principle of such areas was very simple, anyone who was in the allotted reservation, be loyal, and who remained at the old place, was considered an accomplice of the rebels and subject to punishment. The fact that the "areas of concentration" people were starving and dying in droves from epidemics, was unseen by Spanish generals.
Meanwhile, the liberation movement against the colonial policy of Spain was spreading and received international, or rather American support. Mutual economic interest of Cuba and the United States can be no doubt: the growing North American industry could absorb the Cuban sugar exports without a trace. In addition, the United States needed a Cuban (and if possible in Philippine) bridgehead. It is fair to remember that even in the middle of the XIX century. US offered a noble Spanish hidalgo buy from them to Cuba, but the deal fell through. Now, the White House has had an opportunity in some other way to get the rights to this island. As occasion was used with a win-win position "legal outlook" question of human rights violations in the vicinity of US possessions. It was obvious that these rights are respected by the Spaniards weak. Thus, the agreement of a certain system of moral principles and political and economic interests are obvious. Initially, the emphasis is on Washington internal rebel forces, which counted only reinforce American weapons. When it became apparent lack of such support, had to find a reason for direct conflict with Spain.
As such, the United States began to consider the capture of the Spanish American filibustering vessels are delivered on the island of smuggled weapons. Relations between Spain and the United States such incidents, of course, did not improve. It is in the United States was clearly realized the need for the information component of the conflict and delivered a brilliant PR-experiment. The ability to build a "black and white" picture of the world in their full strength in the days before the Spanish-American War, and the information component has since become an important part of American foreign policy.
Until 1896, the administration of Democrat Cleveland Preparatory activities in this direction: the press described the cruelty of the Spanish soldiery, cartoonists draw horns and hooves governor Weiler, author of "The doctrine of concentration", there were calls to intervene in order to protect investments in the Cuban economy, beyond that it did not go. This is a reason why this war was called a “newspaper-made” one.(Campbell) To the active phase should finish the first phase of construction of warships and create an army capable of fighting with the Spanish veterans, accustomed to the conditions of colonial conflicts. During this time, with Spain happened next problem: the Philippines began a movement similar to the Cuban. At the same time the White House came a new Republican President McKinley tuned very strongly in the Cuban issue.
On the roads of Havana anchored American armored cruiser "Maine" which had been sent to protect U.S. citizens and property after anti-Spanish rioting in Havana(History.com). The Spaniards made it in their water, not wanting to aggravate relations. Under mysterious circumstances 15 February 1898 the cruiser exploded and sank, taking with him the life of 266 American sailors. The Spaniards made to Havana American commission to investigate the causes of the incident. Nature of the injuries pointed to an internal explosion, but the commission has ignored this fact and left for home, where in full swing preparations began for a war. Properly configured public opinion in the United States willingly supported a guilty verdict Spanish side. For 19 April, the Congress adopted a resolution demanding that Spain left Cuba, leaving her in the care of the United States. Following the call for volunteers and began deploying fleet. Since April 21, US Navy ships began to seize Spanish transport on Cuba.
At this time, the Spanish Prime Minister M. Sagasta undertook feverish diplomatic efforts to seek international support. However, the major European powers were not interested to intervene in the Spanish problems, because the support of Spain did not promise any benefits. Powers held inert-friendly position with regard to Spain. Their support was manifested only in a joint statement in Washington on April 7, 1898, in which the White House was called for restraint. Disappointed with the possibility of finding allies and at the same time avoiding the thought of voluntarily renouncing their overseas possessions, April 23, 1898 Spain declared war on the United States. And on April 25, the US announced the beginning of military operations(Beede, 121).

Works cited

Herring, George C. From Colony To Superpower. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.
Campbell, W. Joseph. 'Press Role In Spanish War A 'Yellow' Myth | Newseum'.Www1.newseum.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
HISTORY.com,. 'Spanish American War - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.Com'. N.p., 2015. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
Beede, Benjamin R. The War Of 1898 And U.S. Interventions, 1898-1934. New York: Garland, 1994. Print.