In 19th century, the essential feature of the American foreign policy were trying to avoid the conflicts with European powers and applied itself for territorial expansion. But the Spanish-American War which took place in 1898, was the United States first time broke the geographic boundaries and began to set a goal as one of the most powerful countries in the world in 20th century. From isolationism to expansionism, the Spanish-American War led America into the modern era, the war was a symbol that the United States was rising power. The Spanish-American War was a war which launched in order to despoil the Spanish colonies. At that time, the Philippines not only had the important economic value, but also was the strategic base of America, so it was necessary to occupy the Philippines. On February 15th, the American vessel the Maine sunk in Havana harbor, and the United States seized the chance as an excuse, began to take military actions to declare war to Spain.
There are many reasons to explain why the United States won this war, and many people consider that the main reason of it is because the huge strength disparity between the United States and Spain. “Spain was even less ready for war than the United States.”(ushistory.org). That’s true, the burgeoning America had strong economic and military potential, and it had built a powerful navy. At the same time Spain had declined, and it was isolated in the National position, also. Especially the Cubans and the Filipinos armed themselves to struggle against the Spanish colonial rule, and suppressed a large number of Spanish troops. “The relations between Spain and the United States had been much disturbed by the state of affairs in Cuba.”(Plagiarism). The brutal crackdown of Spanish troops completely enraged the American government, and endangered the benefits of the local American capitalists.
The United States have ready prepared well for the war, and have built a fleet which was known as the world’s third powerful, deployed in the strong point in the whole world. The congress had conscripted 200 thousand soldiers and owned many advanced equipments. Conversely, Spain was offhand. There were 200 thousand Spanish forces in Cuba, however, only 12 thousand soldiers could meet the enemy attack. Most of them were old, weak, ill or disabled. The Spanish navy just had some old wooden shell warships, and the political situation was in utter confusion. Compared to the United States, Spain did not have any chance to win.
Also, there were still other reasons exist. Cuba and Philippine wanted to be independent and get freedom from Spain, according to current political position, they asked the United States for help. “The relations between Spain and the United States had been much disturbed by the state of affairs in Cuba.”(Plagiarism). And the concentration camp which invented by Valeriano Weyler Nicolau and built in Cuba. It intensified people’s emotion.
The war just continued for ten weeks, but the media played an important role in this war. During the prewar period, the impact of newspaper was to incite the war mood. As representative of Yellow Journalism, New York “News” and the Pulitzer’s “Le Monde Newspaper” became fashionable for a time. The common means were stretching the truth and planning news. “Big newspapers of the time, such as New York Morning Journal owned by William Randolph Hearst , the New York World by Pulitzer, the Sun ( New York ) and the Herald ( New York ) became known for sensationalist writing and for its agitation in favor of war with Spain. These New York newspapers, appealing to the public in support of the Cuban Revolution often exaggerated incidents and their style was imitated by newspapers throughout the country.”(Plagiarism). During the war, these newspaper offered the wartime reports in time. Some of the reporters not only threw themselves to report news, but they also saw actions in the Spanish-American War. Though the yellow journalism which was in full flourish for a short time began its ebb tide, the impacts it left was very influential.
In conclusion, there were many reasons made combined action and cause the United States’ victory. The strength disparity might be the main reason but people cannot define these complete correctly. What they can learn is get the lesson from the history and do not make mistakes again.