(A) He was determined to go to war with Spain
(B) He felt that war with Spain was inevitable
(C) ** He resisted war with Spain
(D) As soon as it was confirmed that a mine had sunk the USS Maine, McKinley was ready to declare war
EXPLANATIONS BELOW
Concept note-1: -President McKinley found it impossible to resist the mounting public and political pressure for war against Spain. In requesting a declaration of war from the Senate on April 11, 1898, he listed several concerns but stressed the nation’s humanitarian sympathy for the Cuban independence movement.
Concept note-2: -President McKinley attempted to prevent war and endeavored to persuade the Spanish government to adopt a conciliatory policy with the Cuban insurrectionists. The Spanish government yielded too late to restrain the popular demand in the United States for intervention.
Concept note-3: -Annotation: President William McKinley was reluctant to call for war against Spain in 1898. The last president to have served served in the Civil War said he had seen too much carnage at battles like Antietam to be enthusiastic about war with Spain.
Concept note-4: -How did President William McKinley justify American intervention in the Cuban war against Spain in 1898? a. He argued that this would produce enormous profits for American businesses.