Essay On The Spanish American War

During the last years of the nineteenth century, the United States would find itself involved in what John Jay, the American secretary of state, later referred to as a "splendid little war; begun with highest motives, carried on with magnificent intelligence and spirit, favored by that fortune which loves the brave." From an American standpoint, because there were few negative results, and so many significantly positive consequences, John Jay was correct in calling the Spanish-American War a "splendid little war." The defeat of the Spanish forces marked the end of their rule in the Americas and also marked the rise of the United States as a global military power. Despite the outdated weaponry and tactics of the United States Army, the U.S. Navy’s extensive pre-war planning, and the outbreak of disease contributed significantly to the U.S. victory in the Spanish American War.

The extent to which the U.S. prepared for the impending Spanish-American war gave them a significant advantage over the Spanish from the beginning of the conflict. The U.S. began their pre-war planning with the creation of Naval Colleges, which weren’t new, but a significant role in anticipating attacks during wartime. Most major strategic decisions were anticipated by the Naval War College studies and the secretary's war planning boards (Spanish-American War; war plans and impact on U.S. Navy). At the beginning of 1898 the fleet of the United States Navy consisted of six battleships, two armored cruisers, thirteen protected cruisers, six steel monitors, eight old iron monitors, thirty- three unprotected cruisers and gunboats, six torpedo boats, and twelve tugs; much more than the Spanish. (War plans and impact on U.S. Navy). Not only did the U.S. prepare for...

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... of unsanitary living quarters, they discovered that it was carried by mosquitoes in 1900 (Scourge of the Spanish American War, 6).

It is indisputable that despite the outdated weaponry and tactics of the United States army, the U.S. Naval fleet, disease, and its extensive pre-war planning contributed significantly to the U.S. victory in the Spanish American War. The extent to which the U.S. prepared for the impending Spanish-American war gave them a significant advantage over the Spanish at the beginning of the conflict. The Quality of Spain’s weapons were greater than that of the United States. Vessels like the Solace and ships of different specialties won the battle at sea, and from beaches, on land. The outbreak of disease also contributed heavily to casualties on both sides. These reasons significantly added to the U.S.’s victory in the Spanish American War.