The Spanish-American War occurred during 1898 and was between the United States and Spain (Trask, 2011, para 1). The war was caused mainly by the intervention of the United States in Cuba’s struggle for independence. World War I on the other hand occurred at around 1914 and was a war for international superiority mainly between Britain and Germany though other countries such as the United States were also involved in the war. Both the Spanish-American War and World War I impacted on the United States. In some instances the impacts from the two wars were different while in other instances they were similar.
A significant impact of the Spanish-American War on the United States is that it gave the country new territories such as Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. After the United States defeated Spain in the war it took over some of the latter’s colonies which was a welcome move amongst most Americans. World War I on the other hand never resulted in the United States acquiring new territories though the country was on the side that won the war.
The Spanish-American War helped to repair the relationship between North and South America. The war had given these two continents a common enemy which they had never had since the 1865 Civil War. The presence of a common enemy helped foster good relations between soldiers from both the north and the south mainly during their working together. This was a significant impact since most of the soldiers involved in the Spanish-American War were sons and daughters of veterans of the Civil War both from the north and the south. While the Spanish-American War helped improve regional relationships for the United States, World War I helped improve international relationships for the country.
Both the Spanish-American War and World War I resulted in increased participation in world affairs by the United States. The war against the Spaniards is however noted as the entry of the U.S. into world affairs. World War I on the other hand resulted in more participation in world affairs as compared to the Spanish-American War.
World War I and the Spanish-American War all resulted in economic stability in the United States. The war against the Spaniards had helped end the Panic of 1893 and this fostered population and economic growth in the United States. World War I on its part led to industrial growth in the U.S. as manufacturers increased production to provide for the war. Increased technological innovation which begun after the Spanish-American War increased during World War I as manufacturers tried to establish ways of producing more material for the war and in a shorter time span than before. The growth of the economy after both wars led to increased employment. This increase was more notable in World War I as the growth in industries resulted in increased demand for labor. It is important to note that unlike the period after the Spanish-American War where the employment opportunities increased mainly for the Americans, World War I increased employment opportunities mainly for African-American and women as most of the American men were actively involved in the war. The increased employment rates after both wars led to improved living standards for those living in the U.S. as they now had an income to sustain their demands.
Other notable similarities in the impacts of the two wars for the United States included loss of life and property during the wars, growth of the military, and increased patriotism mainly due to national pride after the victories in both wars.
Both the Spanish-American War and World War I had significant impacts on the United States. Some of the impacts of the two wars are similar such as increased economic growth, increased patriotism, loss of life, and increased participation in world affairs. Other impacts are different such as the U.S. acquiring new territories after the war against the Spaniards which did not happen after World War I. As can be noted from the discussion above, the U.S. gained more than it lost during both wars.
Trask, D. (2011). The Spanish- American War. Hispanic Division Library of Congress.
Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/trask.html
