Spanish –American War
Spain is found to give up control over Cuba leaving way to US. Upon occupying Cuba, US is said to assume as well as discharge international law obligations associated with its occupation in order protection to property as well as life. Spain then continues with surrendering colonies to US whereby it submits Porto Rico together with several other islands to US sovereignty. [1]What follows is the surrendering of Philippines Islands to US which led to US admittance of Spanish Merchandise to Philippine Islands’ ports retaining similar terms as those of US Merchandise.
It is after treaty signature that US sends back Spanish soldiers to Spain, giving back arms to them. Since these soldiers had been taken hostage by American forces, the cost of sending them back is paid by the US. The next step for Spain is to go ahead with the evacuation of Philippines and Guam islands operating in similar terms as the ones applied in Porto Rico evacuation process.
Spain will also proceed to release war prisoners as well as several other detainees due to being engaged in political offences, all of which are in association of Philippines as well as Cuban insurrections. US will also follow the same trend as it applies to Spanish soldiers held in Philippines as well as Cuba. There is then a mutual surrendering of indemnity claims by Spain and US in relation to war’s costs against each other’s government. Those Spaniards living in territories whereby Spain surrenders its sovereignty are deemed subject to law operational within country in which they reside.
The treaty signed with regard to surrendering of property confirms a situation whereby Spaniards were expected to retain any form of rights they had obtained to their property which would be in turn respected accordingly. The treaty agreement also gives Spain the mandate to undertake establishment of consular offices within ports of territories whereby sovereignty had been surrendered. [2]As long as the treaty remains valid, each and every government is expected to give merchant vessels equal treatment as it relates to port charges, tonnage dues, light dues as well as clearance dues.
It is also noted that treaty agreements are only assumed by US as long as it occupies Cuba and the same obligations are expected to be taken up by the government that takes on sovereignty from it. Treaty ratification is to be undertaken by US president as per the directions of operational Senate in collaboration with Spain’s queen, following exchange of ratifications at Washington for a period of six months. Upon clarification of treaty provisions as well as directions, it is signed by several respective Plenipotentiaries including William Day, William Frye, Eugenio Rios, Cushman, Davis, Rafael Cerero and Geo. Reid.
Analysis of Spanish-American War in accordance with The North American Review
The analysis of this particular war in accordance with the Review of North-America provides a more detailed picture of the operations taking place in 1988. This process is said to begin with a situation whereby Spain accords Cuba a rather limited autonomy. This is contradictory to the previous version whereby the records talk of ultimate surrendering of sovereignty.
The resignation of Spain’s ambassador within US takes place in 8th February. In the month of March, there is an influence of U.S business as well as Congress by Redfield Proctor a US Senator, favoring Spain. In March 29, the government of US is said to request evacuation of Spanish government from Cuba which it fails to accept. These details are left out in the version of Americas making.
It is then later in year that the key government official in the USA claims his passport back and eventually leaves for Canada. This ignites a state whereby the USA felts that the Spanish counterparts had little or no respect therefore forcing the US to send back another Spanish government official based in Madrid before he could even offer provocation to the US government. Following these happenings, a state of war erupts between the two countries followed by the suspensions of all diplomatic affairs and there after the then US president orders his government to barricade the Cuban borders.
The Cuban government takes the US decision to form blockade with so much resentment thus forcing the Spanish government to intervene. Spain is getting more support from Cuba and PuertoRico with there fleet joining together to defend themselves from the US military. War is then declared officially between Spain and the United State of America. The war between these two countries destabilizes the security in the regions around them and causes more harm to people and the economy is seen to be going down each day.
Some regions around these warring countries are not pleased with some supporting either of the two countries while others like the Portuguese governments choosing to remain neutral. The fight goes on with the US military being mightier thus having clear chances of defeating their opponents which they eventually do after all the Spanish troops sinks into the Cuban island. Following the outcome of these events a Cuban troop assigned in New York seeks the assistance of the general commander of US military to help the delegation to acquire a political evaluation of Cuba.
This action is however taken as a clear benefit to the liberation army of Cuba thus ignoring the governments of other Spanish associates. The Spanish-American war did not end prematurely but at least with some benefits to the Spanish government who ignited the war. The Spanish government is seen to put more pressure on the US government. In due course the Spanish government wants the Philippines Island to remain in their possession. However the United States government is seen to object this decision and it is promising to fight hard to get the Philippines Island back to its habitat and thereby offering them more security from the Spanish troops.
The Spanish government sees the need to put its cabinet in the right order in readiness of the events to come. The then prime minister on 18 may the same year form a more elaborate cabinet. While the Spanish prime minister is busy forming his new cabinet, President McKinley of the United State of America is seen putting his military troops in order in his attempts to save the people of the Philippines Island.
Wesley Merritt the then Major General is leading a US military troop that will fight the Spanish forces and eventually eliminate them completely from the Philippines Islands. The islands are finally in the hands of its dwellers following the effort by the US government. The US governments having helped the Philippines get back what was rightful theirs and calling one of their leaders ‘Emilio Aguinaldo’ from exile thought that this leader would win hearts of many Philippines and eventually rally them against the Spanish colonial administration.
The US government is mistaken since Emilio being dictator sets up a dictatorial form of government hence doing away with the then in place revolutionary government. His decision to form a dictatorial government is however triggered by the hectic condition he finds his country on upon his come back. In May 27 the US Navy blockades the port in Cuba and later on the US army gets ready to launch an attack in Cuba following the retaliation of the Cuban due to the blockade of their Santiago port.
In June the same year the efforts of Philippines and their dictatorial leader finally bears fruits when the phillippines finally gains its independence from its colony. With its government well in place under the administration of Emilio Aguinaldo, the phillippines decides not to give back their island to Spain. Following the defeat of the Spanish navy at a bay in Manila, Dewey gives orders to the troop that is being lead by Manuel, he commands him to put his military troop in place and get ready to back up the Spanish defense force in the embattled Island. His task force is said to comprise of battleship, resistant cruisers, and troop boats.
This order was given in June 15 following their defeat in May 1 1898 after the invasion of the US fleets to the Santiago port in Cuba. With a much larger number of troops, the Cuban forces took strategic plans covering the areas around the port in readiness for the tag of war that was to ensue between the two opposing forces. During this event of July 1, the Spanish force loses three of its leaders; Generals Vara and Linares and the then Navy captain who all died in the battle thus giving the victory to the American troops. Due to the much defeat the Spanish troops have suffered in the hands of the Americans, its fleet is seen planning on how to get their way out of the Santiago bay but their attempts is halted by the strong US squad.
The US troop is stronger now and is determined to finish up the Spanish fleet. This they do by destroying all the ships belonging to their opponents and hereby killing 350 soldiers while 160 of them are left wounded. This is taken as a big blow to the Spanish government thus forcing it to instigate a message via the French diplomat to US urging the US president to put on suspension the hostilities and instead make way for talks to stop the conflict.
The US president upon his consultations with his cabinet agrees on the Spanish request to end the conflict and thereby submits a proposal on the same. The contents of the United State proposal are on peace and reservations concerning the embattled island. However the negotiations for peace are made with the two sides agreeing to sign a peace protocol which is seen as a way forward to put to an end all the hostilities among the two nations in the battle frontage of Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba. [3]
The peace protocol is in due course signed in White House. Later on, the U.S and Spanish administrators for the peace accord are appointed with their first meeting in Paris to finalize the peace deal. However while sending his peace delegation to Paris; the US president is advising his people to persist on the capture of the Phillippines Island during the peace discussion.
His demands and those of his delegation are finally accepted by the Spanish Administration for peace. This is to be followed by the official signing of the peace treaty in Paris by the representatives from both sides. The conflict is settled with Cuba, Puerto Rico and Philippines left at peace and as independent states. For Cuba things are not just going to end owing to the fact that the struggle for its independence has taken a much longer duration to come by.
The independence is finally here, but an act signed in 1902 is felt like it is limiting this independence thus affecting the advancement of the entire Cuban society. The state is perceived to depend on another state for its sovereignty thus making the historians to uphold that the events that lead to the signing of the peace accord were instigation of getting Cuba from the Spanish colony to American colony. [4]
After giving the Philippines Island its independence and declaring Hawaii as part of the island, the united state of America is seen as a source of power with much influence in the growth and advancement of the then new century. The US involvement in the war between Cuba and Spain is taken as key resolution of the transformation of national issues on security matters as from 1914.
According to the historians, the United States has turned the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spanish imperialism to American imperialism. This because the American struggled hard to help this states gain their independence but still has great influence and over these states. The late historian’s are however convinced that the American government forced the Spanish to agree and sign in the peace accord with so many demands on the treaty coming from the American side so as to take over the colonies from their original colonizes.
In accordance with the primary sources as opposed to secondary sources the people of these places were relieved of their colonial rule despite the fact that some authors see it as way of having closer links with the American with the beneficially being the Americans and not the habitats of this place themselves.
In my view I would say that the American fought hard for these countries not to benefit themselves but to help the habitats on these places. This is evident when the then US president Mc McKinley pressured the Spanish government to release the Philippians island which was then in controversy with the Spanish. The said Philippians Island is not to benefit the American in any way as the historians thought.
On the other hand the American brought Cuba into liberation and this is evident by the fact the American government called back a Philippine’s leader from exile whose presence and dictatorial leadership in collaboration with the American government saw Cuban stand on its feet and come out as winners when the Spanish government surrendered and urged the American government to put a stop on the hostilities and instead asked for peace negotiations.
From the analysis of primary sources, it appears like the operation of US regarding colonies’ acquisition was not commensurate with republican form of government since US assumed an intervention between colonies and Spanish Government. However, as the war continued, US revealed its actual stand on the matter as it increased its efforts towards taking control of the Spanish colonies hence the resignation of Spanish government as it gave way to US.
In accordance with anti colonization authors, they emphasized on the situation whereby Portuguese Government failed to support neither Spanish Government nor American government. Among the reasons behind this was that the Philippines had the capacity to support themselves and did not require control from any of their colonizers. [5]
It is possible that objections to Philippine’s allay was understood in flattering terms owing to the fact that it had no much activity in the colonization activity. The main thing that made Philippines show its concern on the whole lot of activities was the instance where its island was captured by Spain and had to let US intervene to regain possession of its island.
Conclusion
It is evident that there is much to say about the Spanish-American war which took place between 1895 and 1898. The two giant are seen fighting for the three colonies that is Cuba, Puerto Rica and Philippines. There is much evidence that bring out controversy between primary and secondary sources. [6] For instance in the primary source we see the American forming blockade on the Cuban Santiago port whereas in the secondary source there is mention of Havana island.
In the secondary source there is forming of Hawaii as a union but this is omitted in the primary source. “Making of America’ source mainly features the signing of peace treaty while the North America Review has its main focus on enforcing the treaty provisions and thereby finalization and signing of actual peace accord particularly the reservation of Philippines Island. From the entire argumentation, my perception would be that although Spanish and America fought to control the colonies there was no much need of the struggle since the existing disagreements would be solved in a much better way; through peace talks.
References
CornellEdu. Library Research Guide For American Indian Studies, retrieved 2010 from www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/ais_guide.html
Alger, R. (2009). The Spanish-American War, Books LLC, pp 17
Chidsey, D. (1971), The Spanish-American War: a behind-the-scenes account of the war in Cuba, Crown Publishers, pp. 29
Stone, H. (1899). The Spanish-American War: the events of the war, Harvard University, pp 12
Topete, P. (1899). Spanish-American War, University of Michigan, pp 19
[1] CornellEdu. Library Research Guide For American Indian Studies, retrieved 2010 from www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/ais_guide.html
[2] CornellEdu. Library Research Guide For American Indian Studies, retrieved 2010 from www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/ais_guide.html
[3] Topete, P. (1899). Spanish-American War, University of Michigan, pp 19
[4] Alger, R. (2009). The Spanish-American War, Books LLC, pp 17
[5] Chidsey, D. (1971), The Spanish-American War: a behind-the-scenes account of the war in Cuba, Crown Publishers, pp. 29
[6] Stone, H. (1899). The Spanish-American War: the events of the war, Harvard University, pp 12
