Background History
Description: The USS
Maine that sank in
Havana Harbor.
The Spanish-American War started during the Cuban Struggle for Independence from Spain, in February 1895. Spain's brutality was portrayed to the citizens of the United States by popular newspapers, and Sympathy of others. Demand for U.S.A intervention increased when the battleship USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor, on February 15, 1898. On April 24, Spain declare war on the U.S, and because of the sinking of the ship, the United States to declare on Spain the fallowing day.
Cuba
Cuba was the first Island to initiate their struggle for Independence. During the Cuban Struggle(186-1878), Cuban guerrilla fighters fought for self-government from Spain. Americans view Cuba as a beneficial land. The United States invested millions of dollars in business in Cuba, they traded goods with Cuba, and it only lays 90 miles from the Florida Keys.
Philippine Islands
After the Spanish American War, the Philippines was ceded to the U.S for 20 million dollars by the Spaniards.
On December 21,1898, the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation was signed by President McKinley, which outlined the establishing policies of the Philippine Republic. Even if the Republic was declared, the United States refused to recognized as an official government. The Filipino Government proclaimed their constitution on January 27, 1899.
The Americans who advocated the annexation of the Philippines had many motivational reason: It gave the United States commercial opportunities in Asia, the concern of the Philippine Islands to survive with self-ruling, and fear of other imperial Powers taking control of the Islands.
Due to this, the Philippine-American War broke out, From February, 1899 through the early 1900's. The war between the U.S and the Filipino Rebels was very brutal. U.S troops burned villages, employed tortures on suspects, and Filipino fighters tortured soldiers, and terrorized Civilian spies.
The Colonial government of the United States for the Philippines in 1900 established a degree of self government, social reforms, and economic plans. In 1907, the Philippines elected their first assembly, and in 1946 U.S granted independence to the Philippines.
Puerto Rico
In July 1898, U.S troops invaded the Islands of Puerto Rico. There was very little resistance, and U.S forces secured the island in August, and annexed on October 18. The United States government started to Americanize the Island in the first three decades of possession. They granted full U.S citizenship to Puerto Ricans, and considering making English the official language. On July 25, 1952, U.S approved a new constitution, which made Puerto Rico an autonomous U.S commonwealth.
The Annexation of Puerto Rico benefited the United States because of it's good location, and it granted the increased the benefit of commercial goods.
Description: Theodore Roosevelt leading the Rough Riders in Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.
Description: In June 1898, the first US troops attacked Puerto Rico.
Guam
The annexation of Guam is considered to have an strategical importance for the United States, which links them to Asia. Guam became specifically property of the United States of the Spanish-American War as they were more interested in the Philippine Islands. U.S agreed on the annexation because it secured the Philippine Islands as they were only 1,500 miles apart. During the War, the U.S sent the USS Charleston to invade the island , but when warning signs were sent to the Spanish, they didn't respond. It resulted that the Spanish officials in the islands were not informed of the Spanish-American war, and thirty minutes later, the Spaniards surrounded. Description: The USS Charleston that arrived in Guam.