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Spanish American War History Channel Discussion Questions

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1. What was this movie about? How did it relate to other material in this module? Did you know about this topic prior to learning about it in HIST 101? While watching, “The Spanish American War | History Channel Documentary” it was clear that this movie was about the USS Maine, and how its destruction resulted in war. The movie paints a vivid picture of the turmoil in Cuba during 1897 when they were trying to win independence from Spain. As a result of this, the president at the time, William McKinley sent the USS Maine to the Cuban capital. While the USS Maine was in Cuba, a mysterious explosion occurred and destroyed the ship and many crewmembers aboard the ship. This was a devastating moment in history, which caused a war between the …show more content…

The Americans believed that the explosion of the ship was an act of sabotage from Spain, so they retaliated and started a war. This movie related to this week’s module because it spoke on the Spanish American War and how it essentially started from the destruction of the USS Maine. The book has a specific section dedicated to the war and why it changed America’s role in the World. Also, the book relates to the movie because they both mention how the American people were so demanding of war, that they denied looking further into the reason behind the explosion of the USS Maine. Additionally, the lectures and chapters in this week’s module also relate to the movie because they both focus on the result of the war and how the occurrence was “A splendid little War”. This event in U.S. history regarding the USS Maine was unfamiliar to me. I knew of the Spanish American War, but never …show more content…

The textbook noted that “the Maine mysteriously exploded” and added that it was later an accident that was caused inside of the ship. The movie added to the text by explaining how the evidence behind the explosion led to the actual determination that the devastation was an accident, not sabotage. This was helpful because I was able to see the entire story and understand why the explosion was later ruled to be unintentional. Also, the movie gave great detail on the moments leading up to the war, which the war is then discussed in the textbook. The textbook focuses mainly on the Spanish American War, whereas the movie focuses specifically on the reason why the war began. So, the movie was definitely beneficial in understanding the full story behind the war. Additionally, the lecture speaks on the entirety of the story, and mention the press just like the movie does. I remember reading in the lecture that, “Newspaper publishers like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer worked up war fever among the public with reports of Spanish atrocities against Cuban rebels”. The movie also touches on this topic and gives further examples of the press and the headlines that encouraged Americans to demand war. This helped me understand the true power that the press had during this time. The lecture also mentioned further evidence behind the explosion

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Dead wake by Eric Larson was a fantastic book. In Larson’s past he has written many books based on historical events. Devil in the white city was great book. H.H Holmes was a very interesting character. This book is based on the Lusitania ship that sailed on May 1, 1915 from the port of New York.

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There are many opinions on how the Maine exploded, was it an accident or was it the spanish? The explosion of the USS Maine was an accident because several other ships had been affected from the explosion. The explosion of the USS Maine was not an accident because Spain was upset with the U.S. for wanting to free Cuba, and there were two gunshots heard. The explosion of the USS Maine was not an accident.

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On the pitch black night of February 15th, 1898 the very elegant USS Maine was demolished by a sneakily placed mine left in the beautiful Havana Harbour. A lot of eyewitnesses have 100% confirmed that this was a crime done by the mischievous people of Spain! The massive explosion happened at 9:40pm. The Spanish have just brutally murdered two hundred sixty innocent men! These amazing people have never attempted anything that would go against the dirty people of Spain in their life!

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The Mexican-American War was the first war to be fought mostly on foreign soil. During this period, the newly formed the United States was eagerly seeking to expand their territory towards the west. When failed attempts to obtain lands by purchasing them from Mexico for the price of $30,000,000 dollars. The U.S. government felt there was little hope of gaining these territories by peaceful means, a war was inevitable. Mexico was still bitter despite Texas gaining their independence in 1836, voluntarily selling their lands to the United States was not an option.

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The letter was published in Hearst’s Morning Journal; in it the letter criticized and insulted President McKinley. This letter increased the anger of the American public toward Spain. On February 15, 1989 USS Maine, which was docked in Havana, Cuba, mysteriously exploded leaving 260 sailors dead. Today, it is believed that the ship most likely exploded due to combustion next to

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Therefore, Veterans bring up the idea in the film that if Fascist can attack Spain who were becoming demarcated, who is to say they would not attack America, a government that is based on democracy? This helped motivated many Americans to volunteer in fighting in the Spanish

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In 1898 Spain and the United States got into a war. The war would essentially end Spain’s empire and propel the United States onto the world stage. The United States got into a war with Spain because the United States, driven by imperialism and social darwinism, desired to have foreign territories. Imperialism is the policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition and/or by the establishment of economic and political control over other nations. The United States wanted to spread democracy and American ideals, that mentality is imperialism and led to the US challenging Spain for colonies which led to war.

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221 Words | 1 Pages

The imperialistic mentality of the American government after the Civil War, led to some degree to the Spanish-American war that would render a great acquisition of land for the United States. However, imperialism would not be the sole factor that led to the war against Spain, but also the sympathy felt by the American government towards Cuba’s efforts in fighting for their independence; additionally, the United States would seek to protect its commercial interests (sugar) in the island. Therefore, after invoking the Spanish to secede from their brutal practices towards Cuban rebels and attain a peaceful end to the situation, the United States arbitrarily sent a navy ship, “The USS Maine” to monitor the area.

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In life everything can be either justified or unjustified. Sometimes when things happen they can come out being unjustified according to some people and justified according to other. When that happens there is normally a huge argument about it. In 1812 Mexico gained its independence from Spain and in 1836 Texas won its independence from Mexico. There was a huge war in 1812 but it wasn't a very controversial war, the Mexican-American war was way more controversial.

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The Mexican American War The people of the United States have one duty, that is to protect. In 1821, Mexico declared its independence from Spain, its mother country. Mexicans wanted a larger population, and in 1845, the annexation of Texas happened, meaning Texas was now a part of the United States. The annexation angered Mexico so, in 1846, the Mexican American War began.

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The Mexican-American War changed the Unites States of America in a monumental way. This war changed The U.S.A.’s relationship with foreign powers and the economic standpoint of the nation. The Mexican- American war, and its strong ties to manifest destiny, shaped the nation in a country bordered by two seas with a chance for common folk and foreigners to have a sustainable life due to the gold rush. The war can also be accounted for the downfall leading to the Civil War over the conflict of slavery due to the land purchased in the wars treaty. Conflict between Mexico and the United States began when Texas, previously part of Mexico, became part of the United States.

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Although many agree that war is no laughing matter, and that there is no such thing as a just war, there are many reasons on why referring to the Spanish-American War as a “splendid little war” could be considered quite accurate. One reason is that although the war was waged against what was once considered one of the world’s largest empires, with a military that had at one time conquered and subdued a large portion of the new world, there were only around 3,000 American casualties that occurred during the short war, and only 380 of those deaths were from combat. Most of the deaths had occurred from something the Americans couldn’t really defend themselves against, which was disease. In the era in which the war was fought, deadly diseases,

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In the year of 1897, during the Reconstruction Policy in Cuba, Spain, “Crane set sail for Cuba to report on the insurrection.” On his way to Cuba, “the ship on which he was traveling, the SS Commodore, sank.” It was this experience that spurred Stephen Crane to write “one of the world's great short stories, "The Open Boat." ” This short story was Crane’s account of the day and a half that he spent adrift with three other men. Though Crane did not reach his ultimate destination of Cuba, Crane did not give up in his pursuit to depict the realities of war (Stephen Crane

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928 Words | 4 Pages

Americans learned more about what happened during the Spanish American War through articles that exposed the violent tensions in Cuba. The Americans then felt the need that we should help Cuba against Spain. The Americans in power wanted to remain neutral, while the public wanted to go to war. The U.S. Maine was a battleship that was sent to Cuba to spy on them and understand the situation in person. While the ship was there, it mysteriously blew up, the blame was put on Spain for the explosion.

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Titanic’s Portrayal of the RMS Titanic of 1912 Movies can be made for entertainment, documentaries, or to describe a historical event. When viewing history directors can recreate scenes that give the audience a better understanding or idea of an incident that has taken place. They do it in a way that uses facts, images, and time perception as if it were happening first hand. The movie the “Titanic” is one prime example of history being brought to life.

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