It seems that the Spanish-American War was started because American commercial interests were being harmed by the continuing conflict between Cuba and Spain. Then, the USS Maine exploded in the Havana harbor and 266 American sailors were killed. The yellow press had a significant role in instigating the war.
The US asked Spain to sell Cuba to the US repeatedly -- but was refused. This book makes an interesting point that the Cubans knew that slavery was important to the island's economy. The Cubans chose to stay with Spain after watching Haiti. That country reached independence only to have a slave revolt destroy the economy of their country.
After the war, the US Navy destroyed both Spain's Pacific and Atlantic fleets. Thus, they had to cede Cuba, the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the US.
Recently, I've read other accounts of the Spanish-American War, this takes a different viewpoint. It spends more time explaining the issues in the US leading up to the opening of the war and the explosion aboard the USS Maine. The descriptions of the divers going down to inspect (and find bodies) were particularly powerful. I was surprised that the extensive inquiries that took place after the explosion were told in great detail.
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I'd heard that the Buffalo Soldiers were important to the Rough Riders but this account gives a bit more info. The companies of black soldiers were volunteers, between 8,000 and 10,000 in number. This is an interesting account of the war but mostly covers the USS Maine and the Rough Riders, leaving out other battles.
The US asked Spain to sell Cuba to the US repeatedly -- but was refused. This book makes an interesting point that the Cubans knew that slavery was important to the island's economy. The Cubans chose to stay with Spain after watching Haiti. That country reached independence only to have a slave revolt destroy the economy of their country.
After the war, the US Navy destroyed both Spain's Pacific and Atlantic fleets. Thus, they had to cede Cuba, the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the US.
Recently, I've read other accounts of the Spanish-American War, this takes a different viewpoint. It spends more time explaining the issues in the US leading up to the opening of the war and the explosion aboard the USS Maine. The descriptions of the divers going down to inspect (and find bodies) were particularly powerful. I was surprised that the extensive inquiries that took place after the explosion were told in great detail.
 Â
I'd heard that the Buffalo Soldiers were important to the Rough Riders but this account gives a bit more info. The companies of black soldiers were volunteers, between 8,000 and 10,000 in number. This is an interesting account of the war but mostly covers the USS Maine and the Rough Riders, leaving out other battles.
