Spanish American War

[123everton]

What did America gain from the Spanish war?
Hawaii, Puerto Rico I think became American land, but were did Cuba and the Phillipines fit in?

[Clanad]

Two historical trains ran into each other in Cuba, culminating in the near destruction of Spain as a world power, from which the nation has never recovered. On one hand, the U.S. had only recently completed total union of the nation under the banner of Manifest Destiny, wherein most citizens saw the rise to the world stage of the still fledgling U.S as inevitable. This move was aided and abetted by powerful and self serving forces in the country that bullied the weak President McKinley into making unforutnate choices.
The second train on a converging track was the continued diminuiation of the once huge Spanish Empire. Beginning with the defeat of the Spanish Armada by ya'll and the loss of Mexico, Peru and Chile, Spain continued to treat the citizens of Cuba with typical Spanish emprical disdain. The term Concentration Camp was coined in Cuba by the Spanish)
William Randolph Hearst and his newspaper publishing empire inflamed the American populace (remember, no TV, radio or internet) with lurid tales, mostly untrue or at least exaggerated, of Spanish mistreatment of the Cubans, and the Spanish attempt to quell the Cuban civil war.
At any rate, McKinley moved part of the U.S. naval fleet into Havana harbor, and, inexplicably, the battleship U.S.S. Maine blew up (still unexplained satisfactorily to this day) precipitating the actual conflict.
The U.S. gained, as you've mentioned. Puerto Rico, the Phillipines (the residents of which didn't want to be the subjects of an American Empire anymore than they had the Spaniards.) Guam was also obtained; Cuba, however was granted independance, but with many restrictions on trade, but not Hawaii, although the U.S. acqusitions of the Spanish American War hastened the annexation of Hawaii as a mid-Pacific base prompted by the usurption of Guam and the Phillipines...

[123everton]

People don't realise, if it had'nt been for the Spanish American War WW1 could've started in 1899 with us (Britain) and her allies as the baddies.
It was only America's little adventure against Spain that made it politically untenable and militarily difficult for it to enter the 2nd Anglo Boer War.

[jake-the-peg]

Sigh

As ever Clanad only tells you the part of the story he wan't you to know

What he doesn't tell you about Cuba's "independance" was the terms of it.

The US retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise it's economic and foreign policy.

see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platt_Amendment

Imagine if the US had gained independence from the UK under such terms and we still had the right to intervene in US policy!

I don't think they'd be calling that independence do you?

[jno]

one outcome was that the USA retained control of Guantanamo Bay, which is on the island of Cuba. It would I think have been better for the reputation of the USA if it had not done so.

[Clanad]

As usual, jake doesn't read very well or only thar which he chooses... "... Cuba, however, was granted independance but with many restrictions on trade..." As the post was nearing it's character limit, the post war treatment of Cuba was not expounded upon, at least to jake's satisfaction.

[jake-the-peg]

How does "many restrictions on trade?" equate even slightly to writing a foreign country's right to intervene in your foreign policy into the constitution of another?

It was the sort of "independence" that Eastern bloc countries had from the USSR.

[Clanad]

I'll be sure to check with you prior to the next answer I post, Jake, to assure quality control and meeting your standards. Do you provide that service to every one or just those for whom you harbor some unknown and indefatigable animosity, most likely related to my being an American? We are talking 1903 aren't we?
The odious Platt Amendment to which you object was rescinded in 1934 by President F.D. Roosevelt and, with the exception of the long term lease on Guantanamo, all sovereignty was reinstated to Cuba. So, your point is?

[123everton]

I was quite happy with Clanad's original answer, it was succinct and to the point, I'm also grateful to Jake for showing us (Roaldo especially) the finer points of the peace treaty.
Now can we all shake and make up?
I never thoyght an obscure war from over 100 years ago could stir up such controversy....

[Clanad]

Thanks for that 123... Good idea!