Question

Why did president McKinley believe it was important for the United States to become involved in Cuba’s interest prior to the Spanish American war

Answer 1

Library of Congress > Researchers > Hispanic Reading Room > World of 1898

The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War (Hispanic Division, Library of Congress)

1898 HOME > Introduction > William McKinley

William McKinley

Photographic History of the

Spanish-American War, p. 335.

William McKinley

1843--1901

William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was born in Niles, Ohio on January 29, 1843. He enlisted as a private during the Civil War and distinguished himself in action earning the rank of major in 1865. He served in Congress from 1876 to 1890 and became a strong supporter of protective tariffs. McKinley was elected governor of Ohio in 1891, serving a second term in 1893. By this time, McKinley was considered an important national leader. In 1896, the Republican national convention nominated him for president, on a platform stressing protective tariffs and the maintenance of a monetary standard based on gold.

Presidency

From the beginning of his administration, President McKinley was concerned about the Cuban insurrection. On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine was sunk on an official visit to Havana. President McKinley attempted to prevent war and endeavored to persuade the Spanish government to adopt a conciliatory policy with the Cuban insurrectionists. The Spanish government yielded too late to restrain the popular demand in the United States for intervention. On April 20, Congress adopted a resolution declaring war against Spain. A peace protocol ended hostilities on August 12, 1898. Under the peace treaty signed at Paris on December 10, 1898, Spain relinquished title to Cuba, and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillippines to the United States.

Answer 2

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

President McKinley believed it was important for the United States to become involved in Cuba’s interest prior to the Spanish American war because the President of the United States was interested in protecting the interests of the country in the Caribbean region.

As the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley knew that he had to intervene in the Cuban-Spain conflict due to the economic and political interest of the US in the region. He first made everything to get an agreement that could have given Cuba its independence from Spain, and avoid military intervention. That was not possible and that is why, after the sinking of the USS Main ship, the US declared war to Spain in what was known as the Spanish-American War of 1898.