In 1854 The United States attempted to buy Cuba from Spain. Cuba revolted against Spain; it was not successful but in 1886 the Cuban people forced Spain to abolish slavery.
Um.. No way...
Jose Marti was Cuban poet and journalist who launched a revolutionagainst Spain in 1895. He was kicked out of Cuba at the age of 16 due to hisrevolutionary activities.
President McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring home American citizens in danger from the fighting and to protect American property.On February 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine exploded U.S. newspapers used yellow journalism to blame Spain for the explosion. The yellow journalism enraged the American public and pressured the president and congress to declare war on Spain.
On April 20th 1898 America declared war on Spain. A cease-fire (nofighting) was signed on August 12, 1898. On December 10, 1898 a peace treatywas signed.
Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. Spain freed Cubaand gave the United States: Guam and Puerto Rico.
Arguments centered on whether or not the United States had the right to annex the Philippines, but imperialism was the real issue. The problemwas that the U.S. is a democracy, and imperialism goes against the principlesof democracy.