| The
Cubans had been fighting the Spanish for independence on
and off since 1868. When Cubans revolted again in 1892,
the American people debated whether to intervene. An explosion
on the battleship Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898 aroused
the American public to action. The United States declared
war on Spain.
American
forces engaged in a fierce battle with the Spaniards at
El Caney and San Juan Hill in Cuba. After the skirmishes,
they occupied the high ground overlooking Santiago. The
Spaniards attempted to escape toward the west along the
coast, but they were no match for the American forces -
all the Spanish ships either burned or sank. The American
troops moved on to invade Puerto Rico which they quickly
captured.
The
war was over, and Spain's possessions in the western hemisphere
fell into America's lap. The
question then for McKinley and the United States government
was what to do with these territories.
The
first issue was Cuba. Many Americans felt that Cuba couldn't
govern itself if it became independent. Others insisted
that Cuba must be granted its independence. After much
debate, the United States decided to grant Cuba limited
independence, but wrote into its constitution (over strenuous
Cuban objection) the Platt
Amendment, which gave the United States
broad powers to intervene in Cuban internal affairs. It
did so several times to protect American investments and
keep friendly rulers.
On
December 10. 1898, the Treaty of Paris, was signed by Spain
and the United States. It formally ended the war between
them. Under this treaty, Spain recognized the independence
of Cuba; ceded Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to
the United States. The Philippines presented a problem.
Part
of Uncle Sam Plants the Flag:
Imperialism in Latin America
|
