USA HISTORY

The start of the Spanish American War was, in part, a result of the U.S. involvement in what country?

(A) Guam

(B) ** Cuba

(C) Puerto Rico

(D) Spain

Concept note-1: -Photographic History of the Spanish American War, p. 36. On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898.

Concept note-2: -The reasons for war were many, but there were two immediate ones: America’s support the ongoing struggle by Cubans and Filipinos against Spanish rule, and the mysterious explosion of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor.

Concept note-3: -The conflict, combined with the Spanish-U.S. tariff controversy of the 1890s, had destroyed two-thirds of its productive capacity. Close to 20 percent of its prewar estimated population of 1, 800, 000 had perished, and for those who survived the future was bleak indeed. Cubans had no capital and were heavily in debt.

Concept note-4: -First major battle between Spanish and U.S. Forces: U.S. Commodore Dewey and his Asiatic squadron defeat the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippines.