Final answer:
The United States became involved in Cuba and the Philippines during the Spanish-American War to expand its influence, pursue strategic interests, and establish military and trade presences in the Pacific region. The resulting U.S. policies in both territories faced criticism from anti-imperialists and resistance from the local populations who sought independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States got involved in the war about Cuba and the Philippines primarily due to strategic interests and the ideology of expanding American influence. Following the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, the U.S. officially entered the Cuban War of Independence. This intervention was part of a larger strategy that not only focused on the liberation of Cuba but also on the extension of American power into the Pacific, including the Philippines. The Spanish-American War was seen by some in the U.S. as an opportunity to establish naval bases in the Pacific, to open up trade with China, and to assert American dominance in the region. The hope was to acquire colonies that would serve as strategic points for military power and commerce. After the war, the Treaty of Paris led to the independence of Cuba and the U.S. acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from Spain. However, the U.S. presence in the Philippines faced backlash from anti-imperialists at home and resistance from Filipinos who had expected independence after the Spanish defeat.
In both Cuba and the Philippines, the United States enforced policies that would retain their influence. The controversial Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba's affairs, while in the Philippines, military strategists under the influence of theories like those of Alfred Thayer Mahan aimed to use the islands as a strategic foothold in Asia. The American military engagement in the Philippines was fraught with moral and humanitarian issues, as civilians suffered under the consequent warfare and occupation.