The Spanish-American War in 1898 resulted in the emancipation of Cuba, the expansion of the US into former Spanish colonies, and the end of Spanish imperial power. The war triggered the Philippine-American conflict and contributed to US involvement in World War II. It also popularized the idea of manifest destiny and brought more power to newspaper publishers.
The Spanish-American War was a major conflict between the United States and the Spanish Empire. The war took place in 1898 and was fought in various Spanish colonial possessions in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The important results of the Spanish-American War were the emancipation of Cuba, the expansion of the United States into the former Spanish colonies, and the effective end of Spanish imperial power. The war is regarded as a major victory for the United States and allowed for the expansion of an American empire beyond its borders.
Before the war, Spain had been an imperial power in decline, but it still retained valuable colonial possessions in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Many of the Spanish possessions in the New World had already achieved independence, and the inhabitants of these island colonies also sought freedom from Spanish rule. During this time, some US interests were looking to expand their influence in these areas and had previously hoped to buy Cuba from Spain. War was declared after the sinking of an American warship in Cuban waters. The war ended after decisive American victories in Cuba and at the Battle of Manila Bay.
One result of the Spanish-American War was the final end of a Spanish empire dating back to Columbus’ voyage to the New World in 1492. While many of these nations retain Spanish language and customs into the 21st century, Spain’s political influence was limited to its borders. The country would remain largely absent from the global conflicts that marked the first half of the 20th century.
Of the former Spanish colonies, only Cuba gained full independence after the war, but the island remains in an uneasy relationship with the United States in 2011. Another result of the Spanish-American War is that the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico have become US holdings, which immediately triggered the Philippine-American conflict. US territories in the Pacific eventually produced tensions with Japan in the 1930s and contributed to US involvement in World War II. The Philippines would not gain full independence until after that war. Puerto Rico and Guam remain territories of the United States in 2011 and provide important bases for American military forces.
Another result of the Spanish-American War in the United States was the growing popularity of the idea of manifest destiny, according to which the United States had the right and the obligation to control the North American continent and surrounding regions. The results of the war were seen as a major victory for this notion. Theodore Roosevelt was hailed as a great hero during the liberation of Cuba, which led to his eventual presidency. The Spanish-American War also brought more power to the newspaper publishers of the time, who used the conflict to stir up the populace and sell more newspapers.
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