Spanish American War

American Ambassador John Hay, in writing to Theodore Roosevelt from London, called the Spanish-American War "a splendid little war." Explain what you think Hay meant by this.

In the 500 years since Europeans began colonizing others parts of the world, many countries have won their independence through various means. During the late 1800s, Cuba and the Philippines began to fight for their own freedom from Spain, which led the United States and Spain in to the Spanish-American War.

Tensions were mounting between Spain and its remaining colonies in the Caribbean and the Pacific in the late 1800s. Cuba revolted against Spain between 1885 and 1889. The Cubans decided the best course of action would be using guerilla warfare in an attempt to exhaust Spain, which greatly outnumbered them. In an effort to impede the guerillas, General Valeriano Weyler resorted to the act of reconcentration which forced civilians living in the countryside to relocate to central locations where the Spanish could monitor their actions. In December 1896, President Grover Cleveland warned Spain that the U.S. might take action in Cuba is Spain failed to settle the conflict. When the reconcentration efforts failed to stop the insurrection, PrÐ"ÐŽxedes Mateo Sagasta, leader of the Liberal Party, decided to grant limited autonomy to Cuba in 1898. However, leaders of Cuba rejected the offer, insisting on independence (Trask).

During this time, relations between Spain and the Philippines were becoming very strained. On July 3, 1892, JosÐ"© Rizal established La Liga Filipina, a political action group that desired reforms in the Spanish administration of the Philippines be achieved through peaceful means. However Rizal was arrested only three days later and the organization lasted only a year. AndrÐ"©s Bonifacio was among those who felt that groups such as La Liga were slow and ineffective. Also in 1892, Bonifacio formed the Katipunan Ð'- an organization committed to enacting change through force. Relations grew even tenser until the Grito de Balintawak, issued by Bonifacio, began the Philippine Revolution in 1896 (Trask).

The United States urged Spain to end the conflicts several times prior to 1896, but the end did not appear imminent. William Warren Kimball compiled a strategic study of the implications of war with Spain, including an operation to free Cuba through naval action, which included blockades around Cuba, attacks on Manila, and strikes on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. On February 8, 1989, Spain's ambassador to the U.S., Enrique Dupuy de LÐ"Ò'me, resigned his position the day before the New York Journal published de LÐ"Ñ-me's letter criticizing President McKinley. Only one week later, the U.S.S. Maine exploded while providing a U.S. naval presence in the Havana Harbor,