American presidents do not declare war because a few journalists tell them to do so.
The pressure for war did not come merely from newspapers and outraged common people.
U.S. businessmen had invested about $50 million in sugar plantations, railroads, mines, and other enterprises in Cuba. They wanted a greater U.S. presence on the island to protect and expand their investments.
Meanwhile, American imperialists such as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge urged the building of an American overseas empire. Imperialists wanted overseas naval bases and a strong navy to allow U.S. commerce to expand abroad.
The urgings of empire builders were at least as strong an influence on President McKinley as the popular wish to help Cubans achieve freedom.
Related Posts
-
Where do old newspapers go and How do recycling facilities recycle newspapers?
For years, mountains of old newsprint were blithely tossed out along with other household and commercial waste. Today, as we slowly realize our natural resources are less than infinite, we are recycling about…
-
How long did Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders exist as a cavalry fighting force during the Spanish–American War?
Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders did not exist for very long, except in American legend. Teddy Roosevelt, anxious for a war with Spain, resigned as Secretary of the Navy and was authorized to put…
-
Who Discovered Weak and Strong Forces and What is the difference between the Weak Force and the Strong Force?
For several centuries scientists thought that gravity and electromagnetic forces governed the universe. Then twentieth-century physicists found atomic nuclei composed of positively charged protons. Why didn't they fly apart since positive electrical forces…
-
What was the American Civil War and How long did the American Civil War last?
The Civil War (also known as the War Between the States and the War of Southern Independence) was a military conflict between the United States of America (the Union) and eleven secessionist Southern…
-
How many Americans died in the Mexican American War and Was the Mexican American War easy to win?
The Mexican American War was not easy for the 13,000 Americans who died fighting it, most of them succumbing to disease in unhealthy camp conditions. Over a year's worth of battles were fought,…
-
How many countries were involved in World War I and When did the United States join World War I?
World War I lasted from 1914 to 1918. It began as a war between two European countries, Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The underlying causes of the conflict were rooted in European political and economic…
