War on Spain

On February 9, 1898, the New York Times printed a letter made by a Cuban agent, it was written by Enrique Dupuy de Lom, the United States ambassador. The letter said, McKinley as “weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.” The nation was furious over that insult. Then on February 15, 1898, when the Maine was ripped apart in Havana Harbor it exploded and sank. Nobody knew why it exploded.

Within the Republican Party, jingoism aggressive nationalism was very strong. Many Democrats also demanded war, the Republicans feared that if McKinley did not go to war the Democrats would win the elections in 1900. April 1, 1898 McKinley asked congress to authorize to use force. On April 19, 1898 the congress proclaimed Cuba independent, demanded that Spain withdraw from the island and to use force if it was necessary. On April 24, Spain declared war on the United States, for the first time in 50 years, the United States was at war with another nation.