The Spanish American War and Its Long Term Effects on Us

Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the “World” newspaper was the main competitor against Will Randolph Hearst, publisher of the “Journal” newspaper. This struggle to be the best would later start the issues that lead to the Spanish-American War. The yellow kid comics were first sold to Pulitzer, who at that time was the leading paper in New York. Hearst wanted the yellow kid’s comics, so he paid the writer R.F. Outcalt more money than Pultizer was paying him. Pultizer then hired another writer to make his own version of the yellow kid comics making the newspapers known as the “Yellow Papers”. The main issue was that readers each wanted the biggest audience. They would overdue anything exaggerates the reports on other countries. Spain controlled Cuba in a very violent and brutal way and how the Cubans repelled would come up in the news a lot.

Christopher Columbus found Cuba in 1492 and was under Spanish rule for 30 years. Cuba later became the world’s biggest sugar producer. A large Cuban independence movement was trying to go against Spain’s harsh rule. In 1868 the group of rebels was formed and was composed of poor whites, slaves, and blacks that were free. The rebellion came back in 1895, which was lead by Jose Marti, a Cuban journalist and poet statesman. He lived in the U.S from 1881-1895 and that whole time he encouraged his people to fight for liberty. He returned to Cuba in 1895 to be killed in his protest against the Spaniards. The Cubans would launch surprise attacks on Spain before retreating in 1896. Spain appointing a new commander Valeriano Weyler forced thousands of Cubans to reconcentration camps where many died from disease sickness and hunger. Many Americans investors were worried about their land and stocks in Cuba but even after pleas of help president Grover Cleveland stayed natural even tho it was difficult with all the cry’s for help. Many Americans heard from newspapers where the only media then and that is why Pulitzer and Hearst fought for popularity.

The “Splendid Little War”, a Spanish-American conflict won by the U.S., was known to carry on magnificent intelligence and spirit. On May 1, Dewey’s squadron stormed into Manila Bay and opened fire; this was when the fighting began. Dewey claimed victory with few casualties. Later, fighting picked back up in Cuba, where the U.S. claimed another victory. The war started moving quickly following those fights. After Spain’s attempt to leave Santiago, the U.S. Navy destroyed the squadron and captured Puerto Rico shortly after. Therefore, this war was sparked by conflict in Cuba and finished off with several victories for the U.S., although we did suffer some casualties.

The Spanish-American war came to an end on August 12,1898, following the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Which meant Spain would accept granting independence to Cuba, ceding Puerto Rico and the Pacific island of Guam to the U.S., and also ceding the Philippines in exchange for $20 million from the U.S. Thus making the United States a colonial empire in possession of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. As this treaty had to go through debating, some people supported it and some did not. This debate went on for a month, and resulted in the supporters winning 57 to 27. The treaty was then ratified on February 6, 1899. After all of this, Cuba still stood as an issue to the U.S. We remained in Cuba for 4 years as the island was left in ruins, to restore order and assist in the recovery of the island. The U.S. finally left Cuba in 1902 after the Platt Amendment provisions, allowing the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and buy or lease land for bases. The provisions were repealed and the U.S. gained control over the Cuban economy, giving the U.S. more power.

This war left America with extreme power, making it an imperial nation. The U.S. would not have become an imperial power without these major events. We started gaining power in the very beginning when we won against Cuba and then pushed off after the yellow papers. Because the U.S. got angered by the sinking of the USS Maine, the splendid little war started. This eventually led to the Treaty of Paris is signed and ratified and Cuba being in America’s possession. Overall the United States gained a lot of power from the Spanish American war. and would most likely not have become an imperial nation if they didn't have so many successions.