Spanish-American war: Birth of a Superpower: part two

The US had declared Cuba under its protection, Spain refusing to give up control of Cuba and declared war, so the US army and Navy were called upon. The first battle was in Manila Bay in the Philippines, a couple US battleships, commanded by Dewey, snuck past the cannons on the shore of Manila entering the bay to find ill-equipped defense. The Spanish ships were old and almost obsolete; their cannons didn’t have the accuracy or range of the US ships. The Spanish ships knew they would be defeated so they retreated to shallow waters, so that their ships wouldn’t sink under the water line. This was an extremely moral boosting star to the war. Newspapers wrote about Dewey as a hero and about how the Spanish were defeated without a sweat and with no US casualties. There were songs written about Dewey the spread all around the US raising moral.

During the battle at Manila camps were being set up in the south for military training, and organization for the large standing army along with volunteers. Teddy Roosevelt formed a regiment of volunteers known as the Rough Riders, a group of well-trained men from hot climates created pacifically to be used to the similar climate of Cuba. The base of operations was in Florida and within a very short amount of time they were ready to ship out. After the recent Civil war President McKinley wanted to reintegrate the southern generals back into command. One of the too main general was the nephew of the confederate general Robert E Lee.

Although things were looking very good for the US there would be a few obstacles to overcome. The main were foreign diseases such as Yellow Fever and malaria. Also the terrain was much different than what many were used to from fighting the civil war. Also there would be some equipment shortage for example summer uniforms, some soldier died from heat exhaustion wearing wool clothes.

The first land based move was to land on the eastern coast, were the most Cuban rebels were positioned. It was not long before the Spanish fleet landed in Santiago, in south Cuba. The US had the dis advantage of being the attacking force, and the Spanish bases were fortified with spotlights and modern cannons and the US rifles let off black smoke when fired creating easy targets. However the US was still triumphed it all battles. For example the battle San Juan Heights, bases position atop two hills that were heavily defended.  Snipers were positioned in the trees. Another disadvantage in the US rifles give of more smoke making them easier to shoot at. Even with all these disadvantages the, after a 7 hour stalemate, the rough riders were able to get through the defenses and take the fort alone with Gatling guns, a new technology. Eighty one US soldiers died and one hundred twenty four Spanish died.

In other parts of Cuba Yellow fever and Malaria began to set on for the both US and Spanish. The rainy season was approaching so the Spanish fleet decided to make a run for it, their ships breaking out of the blockade. The last battle, the battle of Santiago, took place on July 3^rd some Spanish ships get past the blockade only to be quickly gained upon and sunk by superior guns, including far range cannons and rapid fire cannons, and superior coal and engines. The war was over.

The remaining Spanish basically surrendered and were sent back to Spain. The US replaced the government until they could sustain their own. Spain had to pay twenty million dollars to pay for the war and give up their remaining colonies, Puerto Rico and Guam. Spain was no longer a world power, and instead the US had more influence better economy and stronger military. The war is known as the splendid little war for the ease in which it was won.