Comprehensive Study Notes on Cuba and the Spanish-American War

Cuba is an island located in the Caribbean Sea.
It is the largest island in the Caribbean.
Historically, Cuba was a possession of Spain for several centuries, particularly during the 1500s through the 1700s.

Spain had one of the largest empires in history, encompassing territories from Argentina and Chile up to Mexico and various Caribbean islands.
The Spanish Empire began to decline in the early 1800s due to revolutions and wars of independence throughout Latin America.
Examples of independence movements:
- Mexico declared independence in 1810.
- Several South American and Central American countries gained independence in the 1820s and 1830s.
By the mid-1800s, Spain's empire had collapsed to merely Cuba and Puerto Rico, along with the Philippines and some minor Pacific islands.
Spain's weakened status made Cuba ripe for revolution.

By the 1860s, the Cuban populace sought independence from Spanish colonial rule.
Jose Marti emerged as a key leader in the Cuban revolutionary movement, advocating for independence.
Marti was primarily an intellectual, writer, and poet rather than a military figure; he sought support from the United States to aid Cuban efforts against Spain.
- He traveled to Key West and New York City to garner support, writing extensively to American newspapers on behalf of the Cuban cause.
- Marti framed the Cuban struggle in terms of American values: freedom, independence, and liberty.

Marti initiated a second revolution in the 1890s, seeking to rally international support.
- American sentiment began to shift as reports of Spanish brutality surfaced.
General Valeriano Weyler, appointed by Spain to suppress the rebellion, became notorious for his harsh methods:
- He arrested, tortured, and executed Cuban rebels, employing severe tactics such as concentration camps.
- These actions were labeled atrocities, drawing significant media attention in the United States.

American newspapers exploited the situation, with prominent figures like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst leading sensational reporting, dubbed "yellow journalism".
Exaggeration became a common tactic to boost newspaper sales, with headlines often inflating casualty numbers.
Such journalism stoked American sympathies towards the Cuban cause, framing the Cuban struggle as relatable to America's own revolutionary past.
- The combination of compassion and economic interest motivated some Americans to favor intervention.

A significant number of American businessmen had investments in Cuba and were directly affected by the instability there:
- American interests included hotels, sugar plantations, tobacco factories, and distilleries.
The unrest led to failures in business operations due to the absence of labor, as workers were either jailed or killed.
This economic hardship contributed to pressure for the United States to intervene, as businessmen sought to restore stability to their investments.

In early 1898, the USS Maine was dispatched to Havana Harbor ostensibly to protect American citizens and businesses in Cuba.
The ship was sent with the permission of Spanish authorities after the U.S. communicated its intentions.
The USS Maine exploded in February 1898, resulting in the deaths of over 240 Americans.
- Initial conjectures blamed Spain for the explosion, intensifying American outrage and calls for war.
- Historians later concluded the explosion was likely an accident caused by an internal event rather than external sabotage.

The explosion of the USS Maine provided the immediate pretext for declaring war on Spain.
American public opinion was heavily influenced by press coverage urging retaliation against perceived Spanish aggression.
The war was characterized as a short conflict, facilitated by the United States' superior military resources.

This war lasted approximately three months, resulting in a decisive victory for the U.S. over Spain.
The U.S. Navy implemented a blockade of Cuba, limiting supplies and support for Spanish forces.
American military strategies included:
- A strong naval blockade to hinder Spanish reinforcements and supply lines.
- Collaboration with Cuban rebels in the field against Spanish troops.
The war brought international respect and imperial expansion aspirations for the United States, with hopes of acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

At the time, Theodore Roosevelt was serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and was eager for war, portraying combat as a means to assert masculinity and national dominance.
Roosevelt's proactive measures:
- He communicated with Commodore George Dewey, urging him to prepare for action in the Pacific ahead of formal declarations, aiming to catch the Spanish Navy off guard.
- Dewey successfully engaged and neutralized the Spanish fleet upon arrival in Manila during the outbreak of the war.

Roosevelt organized and led a volunteer cavalry unit known as the Rough Riders, comprising varied groups including college football players, policemen, and cowboys.
They were initially a cavalry unit but went to battle on foot due to delays in receiving horses.
Roosevelt’s leadership and the Rough Riders became a notable aspect of the American forces, particularly during engagements in Cuba.

The Spanish-American War marked a significant transition in American foreign policy, showcasing the U.S.'s emerging role as a global power and setting the stage for continued involvement in international affairs post-war.