In February 1898, after the Maine exploded in Cuba, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt sent a telegram to Admiral George Dewey. Dewey was the head of the U.S. fleet in the Pacific. "In the event of declaration of war," the telegram ordered, "[begin] offensive operations in Philippine Islands." The Spanish-American War had expanded to include the Philippine Islands. The islands were halfway around the globe from Cuba.
Battle at Manila Bay The Philippines provided Spain's main base in the Pacific. The islands' people were called Filipinos. They had repeatedly tried to throw off Spanish colonial rule. In 1898, they were trying again. Led by General Emilio Aguinaldo (ah-ghee-NAHL-doh), they had begun attacking the Spanish army and government officials. Now their struggle was about to become part of the war between the United States and Spain.
Dewey's fleet arrived in Manila, the Philippine capital, just five days after the United States declared war against Spain. At dawn on May 1, 1898, U.S. battleships faced Spanish gunships. As naval bands struck up "The Star-Spangled Banner," sailors stood on deck and saluted the flag. These men were about to engage in what would be the first battle of the Spanish-American War.
By 11 A.M., the entire Spanish fleet was burning, sunk, or sinking. Spain's old wooden ships could not compete with the modern steel U.S. ships run by well-trained crews. Only one American had died in the battle.
Defeating the Spanish Dewey blockaded Manila's port until U.S. troops could arrive to take over the city. Filipino fighters that were allied with Dewey surrounded Manila. The Filipinos believed that the coming Americans would help them gain independence. While they waited, Aguinaldo issued the Philippine Declaration of Independence. He also formed a national government and designed a national flag.
U.S. troops showed up. The Spanish agreed to "lose" a fake battle and surrender to the Americans. They did not want to give themselves up to the Filipinos, who resented Spanish rule so intensely.
A long war between the United States
and the Filipinos, who resisted U.S.
control, resulted in heavy casualties.
More than 20,000 Filipinos were
killed before the Philippines became
independent in 1946.
Fighting the Filipinos In a treaty negotiated after the surrender, the United States "bought" the Philippines from Spain for $20 million. Then, in 1899, Congress voted to annex the Philippines.
Aguinaldo's government felt betrayed. The Filipino leader angrily called for "war without quarter to the false Americans who have deceived us! Either independence or death!" More than 80,000 Filipino fighters fought off better-trained and better-armed U.S. troops for three years. Soldiers on both sides tortured prisoners. Americans became increasingly cruel. They harmed civilians and destroyed villages.
Some Americans protested that denying independence to the Philippines violated U.S. ideals. Carl Schurz was a leader among antiimperialists. He said, "We shall, for the first time since the abolition of slavery, again have two kinds of Americans: Americans of the first class, who enjoy the privilege of taking part in the Government …and Americans of the second class, who are to be ruled … by the Americans of the first class."
However, the expansionists won the day. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge argued that "Manila with its magnificent bay … will keep us open to the markets of China." President McKinley himself believed that the Philippines could become "a land of plenty."
More than 20,000 Filipinos and about 4,000 Americans died in the struggle. The revolt was finally put down. The Americans set up a nonmilitary government to "prepare Filipinos for independence." Americans built roads, hospitals, and schools. But the United States did not grant the Philippines independence until 1946.
state the reasons for the war and the stages of the war and the results of the war
1 answer
Reasons for the War:
Cuban Independence: The primary catalyst for the Spanish-American War was the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain. Many Americans sympathized with the Cuban rebels and wanted to support their fight against Spanish colonial rule.
Explosion of the USS Maine: The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898 was a significant event that fueled public outcry and sentiment for war. Although investigations later indicated that the explosion was likely an accident, sensationalist media (yellow journalism) blamed Spain, rallying public support for intervention.
Economic Interests: The United States had economic interests in Cuba and the broader Caribbean region. American businesses had significant investments in sugar and tobacco industries in Cuba, and war was seen as a way to protect those interests.
Expansionist Sentiments: Growing American imperialism fueled desires to expand U.S. territories, with many advocating for the annexation of lands like the Philippines to establish a stronger global presence.
Stages of the War:
Declaration of War: The U.S. declared war on Spain in April 1898, after the impact of the Maine incident and increased pressure from pro-war sentiment.
Naval Actions: The Pacific Theater operations began shortly after the declaration when Admiral Dewey engaged the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. The swift victory by American naval forces marked the first significant engagement of the war.
Capture of Manila: After the naval victory, Dewey blockaded the port of Manila, and U.S. ground troops arrived. Collaborating with Filipino revolutionaries, the U.S. forces laid siege to Manila, leading to its surrender.
Outcome in Cuba: Concurrently, U.S. forces engaged Spanish troops in Cuba, most famously at battles such as San Juan Hill. American troops achieved quick victories, leading to the surrender of Spanish forces on the island.
Surrender of Spain: By August 1898, Spain accepted defeat, and an armistice was declared. The Treaty of Paris was signed in December of the same year, formally ending the war.
Results of the War:
Treaty of Paris (1898): The treaty granted the U.S. control over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines in exchange for $20 million paid to Spain. Cuba also gained independence, but the U.S. maintained significant influence over the island.
Annexation of the Philippines: The U.S. annexed the Philippines, which led to significant resistance from Filipino nationalists who felt betrayed. This resistance escalated into the Philippine-American War.
Casualties: The war resulted in considerable loss of life, with more than 20,000 Filipinos and about 4,000 Americans dying in the conflict. The violence and harsh tactics used during the conflict led to protests and debates about U.S. imperialism.
U.S. Role as a Global Power: The outcome of the war marked a change in America’s role in global affairs, transitioning the nation into an imperial power with colonies across the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Long-term Control: Although the U.S. established a government to prepare Filipinos for independence, true independence would not be granted until 1946, showing the prolonged impact of the war on Philippine-American relations and Filipino sovereignty.
1 answer