Spanish-American War

Aftermath

A war that was in part fueled by the American public's desire to end the alleged abuse of Cuban natives would in the end result in three territorial conquests for the U.S., tens of thousands of Spaniards and Cubans killed, and the deaths of a quarter of a million Filipinos.

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The Spanish-American War is significant in American history, as it saw the largely pacifist nation emerge as an imperial power, equal to most in Europe. The war would mark the beginning of a new American expansionism: over the course of the next century, the United States would have a large hand in various conflicts around the world.

Related Topics:
Pacifist - Imperial - Expansionism

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Congress had passed a resolution in favor of Cuban independence before the war started, and after debate the USA decided to allow this, although American forces occupied Cuba until January 28, 1909. The USA annexed the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam. The idea of the United States as an imperial power with foreign colonies was hotly debated domestically, with President McKinley and the Pro-Imperialists winning their way over vocal opposition. The American public largely supported the possession of colonies, but there were many outspoken critics such as Mark Twain (i.e. The War Prayer).

Related Topics:
January 28 - 1909 - Puerto Rico - The Philippines - Guam - President McKinley - Mark Twain - The War Prayer

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William Randolph Hearst emerged as a national institution: the first media tycoon in American history. The Hearst papers became so extremely successful at agitating public sentiment in favor of war, that he eventually became an archetypal figure in his own right. He had become more influential than even many politicians, and at various levels would be sought after for that influence. Decades later, a young filmmaker named Orson Welles would immortalize the Hearst archetype with Citizen Kane, a portrayal which William Hearst, in later life, would find quite displeasing, though he reportedly never saw the film himself.

Related Topics:
William Randolph Hearst - Media tycoon - Filmmaker - Orson Welles - Citizen Kane

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Another interesting but little-noted effect of this short war was that it served to further cement relations between the American North and South. The war gave both sides a common enemy for the first time since the end of the American Civil War in 1865, and many friendships would have been formed between soldiers of both Northern and Southern states during their tour of duty. The 1890s were a period of reconciliation between the former Yankees and Confederates, marked by "Blue-Gray" Reunions and increased political harmony between Northern and Southern politicians. The "Lost Cause" myth took hold in the popular imagination and many former Confederate leaders were held in general high esteem nationally. The 1890s also saw resurgent racism in the North and the passage of Jim Crow laws that increased segregation of blacks from whites, culminating in the Plessy v. Ferguson decision by the Supreme Court in 1896 that codified the "separate but equal" doctrine into law. The Spanish-American War provoked widespread feelings of jingoistic American nationalism that fused often-divergent Northern and Southern public opinion.

Related Topics:
American Civil War - 1865 - 1890s - Yankee - Confederates - Racism - Jim Crow law - Plessy v. Ferguson - Supreme Court - 1896 - Separate but equal - Jingoistic - Nationalism

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Union and Confederate Veterans had organizations such as the Grand Army of the Republic and the United Confederate Veterans. In 1899 the United Spanish War Veterans was created for the veterans of the Spanish American War. Today that organization is defunct, but it left an heir in the form of the Sons of Spanish American War Veterans, created in 1937 at the 39th National Encampment of the United Spanish War Veterans.

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According to data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the last surviving U.S. veteran of the conflict, Nathan E. Cook, died on September 10, 1992 at the age of 106.

Related Topics:
United States Department of Veterans Affairs - Last surviving U.S. veteran - Nathan E. Cook - September 10 - 1992

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Effects of the Puerto Rican annexation

Over 100 years have passed since the Guanica landing, yet the annexation of Puerto Rico continues to be an intensely debated issue today.

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"The voice of Puerto Rico has not been heard. Not even by way of formality were its inhabitants consulted as to whether they wanted to ask for, object to, or suggest any conditions bearing on their present or future political status...The island and all its people were simply transferred from one sovereign power to another, just as a farm with all its equipment, houses, and animals is passed from one landlord to another." This statement was part of a pamphlet titled, "The Case of Puerto Rico", written by Dr. Julio J. Henna and Roberto H. Todd, leaders of the delegation that had previously advised President William McKinley on the prospective invasion of Puerto Rico, as part of the War against Spain.

Related Topics:
Puerto Rico - William McKinley - Spain

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The Spanish-American War was an unexpected twist in the Antillean revolution, a legacy which had seen prominent figures such as José Martí and Ramon Emeterio Betances not only inspire legions to revolt against Spanish rule in the Caribbean, but to form a federation of the Major Antilles, independent of Spain and the United States.

Related Topics:
José Martí - Ramon Emeterio Betances - Caribbean - Major Antilles - Spain - United States

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"I do not want us to be a colony, neither a colony of Spain nor a colony of the United States," wrote Betances.

Related Topics:
Spain - United States

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The people of Puerto Rico have thrice voted to remain a territory of the United States--rejecting measures both for independence and for full statehood within the union. As residents of a United States Commonwealth, Puerto Ricans are entitled to many of the benefits of statehood but are exempt from Federal income tax and other provisions of Federal regulation.

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