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Causes And Effects Of The Spanish American War

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The Spanish-American war began when an unknown ship sank the USS Maine in Havana, which was sent to protect U.S. citizens and property after the anti-Spanish riots. Yellow journalism contributed to the U.S. declaring war by using “sensational stories that tugged at readers’ heartstrings to sell papers.” These papers blamed Spain for the sinking of the ship, even though they had no evidence to prove it. Spain declared war on April 24, 1898 and the U.S. declared war the next day. These declarations of war began the Spanish-American war. It lasted only four months. The Spanish-American war not only ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas, but it also “resulted in the U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin …show more content…

10, 1898), Spain renounced all claim to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.” Cuba also became an United States protectorate. The treaty ended up causing a heated debate in the U.S. However, there were Philippine insurgents who fought the Spanish rule in the war who quickly turned against the new residents. Almost 10 times more American lives were lost subduing the insurgents than in beating the Spanish. “Nevertheless, President McKinley's expansionist policies were supported by the American public, who seemed more than willing to accept the blessings and curses of their new expanding empire.” The Spanish-American war was an important turning point of both sides. The U.S. became a recognized world power. They came out of the war “with far-flung overseas possessions and a new stake in international politics.” All of this would eventually lead to the U.S. playing a determining role in Europe’s affairs and the rest of the planet. Spain was also affected and changed. The war freed them from imperial ideology. It allowed Spain to look to their future for the first time and consider, on their own terms, the knowledge of its historical being and it development. In a way, the was also liberated

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