LAD #21

McKinley's war message was a statement made by McKinley explaining why the United States felt the need to intervene with the war occurring between Spain and Cuba. In 1898, the Cuban government rebelled against the Spanish, with the intent of winning their freedom. However, after three years of bloodshed and fighting, neither side's outcome could be determined or even guessed. The United States decided to enter the war on the side of the Cubans with the immediate offense of the USS Maine's destruction. McKinley stated that the war between the Spanish and the Cubans was negatively affecting American citizens and their economy. The United States had been trading partners with Cuba before the war, and it was impossible to continue trading relations while Cuba was fighting Spain. Also, McKinley figured that because the war had gone on so long with no clear outcome on the horizon, it was time to intervene before more unneccessary lives were lost on either side. The United States chose to protect Cuba and the citizens of Cuba, and to protect their trading relations with Cuba by siding with them. In addition, the United States empathized with the Cubans, remembering their own fight for independence. While these were all valid reasons for allying with Cuba in the war, the destruction of the USS Maine was the last straw, bringing the United States into the war as well.