The USS Maine Explosion: A Turning Point in a Decision to Declare War
Before the Maine Exploded...
- Cuba was in the midst of a revolution against Spain and was trying to gain its independence
- Trade between the U.S. and Cuba dropped by two-thirds, causing the U.S. to become interested in what was happening in Cuba
- 400,000 Cubans had died from fighting or concentration camps run by the Spanish
- There was a strong opposition to U.S. intervention -- too costly and too many lives would be lost
- Americans had a general dislike of Spain, mainly because of conflicting values
- Spain was seen as a cruel empire, while America was a democratic nation
...the idea of war was threatening, but still preventable
- The war was a foreign issue -- Should we help Cuba?
- The U.S. was not directly involved, which is why some people opposed the war
- They believed that it was not the job of the United States to be the "regulator of the wrongs on earth"
- President McKinley was avoiding war as best as he could, believing that it would affect the nation's recovering economy
- However, he was sympathetic to Cuban independence
- McKinley attempted to get Spain to reach a settlement with the Cubans
- If they were not able to do so in three months, the U.S. would have to intervene
- Spain tried to help Cuba set up an autonomous government
- There were Spanish military riots from Spaniards who were opposed to the Cuban autonomous government
- The USS Maine was sent to Havana to protect American property, investments, and 8000 of its citizen
- A letter, written by the ambassador of Spain, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, criticized McKinley by calling him weak.
- This made anti-Spanish feelings in the U.S. rise.
