Final answer:
Many Americans sympathized with the Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule due to historical parallels with America's fight for independence, economic interests, the promotion of the Monroe Doctrine, and the sensationalist yellow journalism that heightened public awareness and support for the Cuban cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many Americans sympathized with the Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule for various reasons. Strong parallels were drawn between Cuba's struggle for independence and America's own fight for freedom from British rule. Additionally, the humanitarian crisis caused by Spanish tactics rallied American public opinion in favor of the Cuban cause. The yellow journalism of the era played a substantial role by sensationalizing the events, thereby galvanizing public support and encouraging the U.S. government to intervene in Cuba.
Among the reasons for American sympathy were economic interests, such as the potential for U.S. businesses to invest in Cuban agriculture and sugar production, as well as political motivations like the furtherance of the Monroe Doctrine. The conflict was viewed by many as a reflection of America's anti-colonial ethos and its support for self-determination and republicanism in the Western Hemisphere. Hence, Americans provided limited aid to the Cubans by the late 1890s.