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Behind the Spanish-American War: Why did the United States decide to intervene in Cuba's fate?
At the end of the 19th century, U.S. foreign policy began to expand outward, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. As the United States becomes more industrialized, the need to enter overseas markets becomes stronger. However, this force is not only driven by economic interests, but also by geopolitical considerations. Against this background, the Spanish-American War that broke out in 1898 triggered countless people's thinking: Why did the United States decide to become deeply involved in Cuba's fate?
At the end of the 19th century, Cuba, a Spanish colony, faced an ongoing struggle for independence. At that time, Cuban revolutionaries hoped to get rid of Spanish rule and pursue their own freedom. This situation worries the United States, because a long-term war not only leads to humanitarian disasters, but also threatens U.S. economic interests. The United States relies on Cuba's sugar industry and other resources, and continued fighting could disrupt those supplies.
In addition, the report described Spain's brutal suppression of Cuba, which aroused strong reactions from the American people.
The American news media began to report extensively on Spanish atrocities in Cuba. This coverage not only reshaped American public opinion, but also prompted the government to consider measures. At this time, the "yellow news" movement in the United States was in full swing, hyping up events to generate support for the war. In this case, the public's expectations of the government are further raised, demanding action on the problem.
In 1898, following the explosion of the USS America, the government's support for a declaration of war against Spain grew stronger. The explosion was believed to be an external attack, although later investigations revealed that the explosion may have been caused by a mechanical failure on the ship. This incident became one of the main reasons for the United States to enter the war and provided the government with a favorable excuse.
The United States finally decided to intervene and declare war on Spain, with the purpose of ending its rule over Cuba and ensuring U.S. economic interests.
With the beginning of the Spanish-American War, the United States took advantage of this opportunity to launch a crackdown on Cuba. During the course of the war, the United States quickly defeated Spain and gained control of Cuba in the Treaty of Paris signed in 1898. Although the United States did not officially announce its annexation of Cuba after the war, its influence in Cuba has grown increasingly.
The United States then further restricted Cuba's sovereignty in accordance with the Platt Amendment and ensured that the United States could conduct military intervention in Cuba. This amendment allows the United States to intervene in Cuba's internal affairs at any time, and Cuba is forced to accept the influence of the United States and cannot develop independently. This triggered long-term dissatisfaction and resistance in Cuban society, and revealed the hypocrisy of the United States in its "protection" obligations.
Such a situation aroused fierce opposition in Cuba and led to subsequent political struggles.
The U.S. intervention in Cuba is not only a military operation, but also an ideological war. The Cuban people yearn for freedom and independence, but the United States has used its influence to seize Cuba's sovereignty. The political considerations behind this stemmed from the United States' global geopolitical layout at the time, and also reflected its need to compete with other powers on the world stage.
From a historical perspective, this incident destroyed Cuba's right to self-determination, and the United States' intervention was only part of a larger policy to expand its influence throughout the Americas. This is not only an intervention in Cuba, but also a process of international power reorganization.
In the end, the United States changed Cuba's destiny in just a few years, making it an instrument of American interests. However, is all this to protect democracy, or to promote one's own political and economic interests? How should we interpret the impact of this historical event on today’s international relations?
