USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

[SOURCES]
Why did the battles of the Spanish-American War begin in the Philippines instead of Cuba?

(A) Both the United States and Cuba considered the Philippines a neutral “no-man’s land”.

(B) When the United States declared its support for Cuba, the Philippines allied itself to Spain.

(C) The United States and Spain both wanted to own the Philippines, and whoever won would have rights to the islands.

(D) ** The Philippines represented Spain’s largest remaining colony, and there had been resistance brewing there.

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -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-2: -In Paris on December 10, 1898, the United States paid Spain $20 million to annex the entire Philippine archipelago. The outraged Filipinos, led by Aguinaldo, prepared for war. Once again, MacArthur was thrust to the fore and distinguished himself in the field as he led American forces in quashing the rebellion.

Concept note-3: -U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict.

Concept note-4: -Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the victorious power to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million.