On April 21st, 1898 America became involved in its first war with Spain when it declared war on Spain ostensibly to fight for Cuba and the Philippines, and also for the mysterious explosion of the Main, which the American office of the present blamed on the Spanish. Sarcastically, this war has been referred to as a “Splendid little war.” It got this nickname because there was a lot of criticism of the war as an “ill-conceived war.” Critiques came from America, who had criticized Europe for imperialistic, expansionist doctrine.
The Treaty of Paris was the resolution finally signed between the US and Spain. It was disproportionately in favor of the victor, The US. The result of the treaty made the American people questions the honest of their government. Ostensibly, The United States had engaged in a war to liberate Cuba, yet in a treaty allotted them the territory of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. (US History.org, n.p.). Previously the United States had supported an isolationist policy to avoid entangling themselves in the same problems they saw Europe as having with her colonies. Under the Monroe Doctrine. The war was seen as not only costly and unnecessary, but a reversal of the US position on being a nation and not an empire.
The Spanish American War, or “The Splendid Little War” had danger not just of entangling the US into spats with territories; it represented a complete reversal of the international political philosophy that operated under imperialistic tendencies. Like any war, the war was sordid, and innocent victims lost their lives (NPS,.gov). It was ill-conceived, like the Bush II’s war with Iraq. The event that justified going to war—the sinking of The Main—had been spun to paint Spain as the guilty party responsible.
Work Cited
"The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
United States. National Park Service. "Spanish American War." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 2 Nov. 2014. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
United States. National Park Service. "Spanish Ame
