The spanish-american war

The Spanish-American War
Main article: Spanish-American War
Main article: Propaganda of the Spanish American War

Detail from Charge of the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry and Rescue of RoughRiders at San Juan Hill, July 2, 1898 depicting the Battle of San Juan Hill.Spain and the United States went to war with one another in the Spanish-American War. It began in April 1898. Hostilitieshalted in August of that year, and the Treaty of Paris was signed in December.

In June 1897, President William McKinley had appointed Stewart L. Woodford to the post of Envoy Extraordinary and MinisterPlenipotentiary to Spain. Spain had severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. on April 21, 1898 and Woodford left his post the same day.

The war began after the American demand that Spainpeacefully resolve the Cuban fight for independence. This demand was rejected, though strong expansionist sentiment in the United States may have motivated the government to target Spain's remaining overseasterritories: Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam and the Caroline Islands.[17]

Riots in Havana by pro-Spanish "Voluntarios" gave the United States a reason to send in the warship USS Maine toindicate high national interest. Tension among the American people was raised because of the explosion of the USS Maine, and "yellow journalism" that accused Spain of extensive atrocities, agitatingAmerican public opinion. The war ended after decisive naval victories for the United States in the Philippines and Cuba.

Only 109 days after the outbreak of war, the Treaty of Paris, which ended theconflict, gave the United States ownership of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam.

Spain had appealed to the common heritage shared by her and the Cubans. On March5, 1898, Ramón Blanco y Erenas, Spanish governor of Cuba, proposed to Máximo Gómez that the Cuban generalissimo and troops join him and the Spanish army in repelling the United States in the face...