HIST 2057 : Feb 25 Notes
Document Summary
Imperialism & the spanish-american war: the spanish-american war (1898) The splendid little war - secretary of state john hay. As reports circulated of widespread suffering caused by the spanish policy of rounding up civilians and moving them into detention camps, the cuban struggle won growing support in the u. s. Demands for intervention escalated after feb. 15, 1898, when an explosion, destroyed the american battleship maine in havana harbor, with the loss of nearly 270 lives. The purpose to declare war on spain was to aid cuban patriots in their struggle for liberty and freedom . Congress adopted the teller amendment, stating that the u. s. had no intention of annexing or dominating the island. The war"s most decisive engagement, in fact, took place not in cuba but at. Manila bay, a strategic harbor in the philippine islands in the distant pacific. Here, on may 1, the american navy under admiral george dewey defeated a spanish fleet.