Of course there were different opinions and beliefs about going to war or not going to war. One side about going to war was the imperialist point of view. Imperialists were persuaded and believed that it was America's destiny to spread and have power worldwide. Imperialist thought that going to war would be beneficial and help with many causes. I would have agreed to have helped out and improve the country but with a different more just approach that wasn't so controlling. Another side about not going to war was the anti-imperialists point of view. Anti-imperialists were against going to war. They wanted to just have peace and stay out of war. They believed that each country should have it's own freedom, power, rights , and shouldn't be abused or treated wrong. Also anti-imperialists think that no one country has this "Right of Conquest". I agree with them but I also think that countries should communicate and help each other out. Maybe not like we want them to be but to let them become manageable so that this can be the most just action.
The President at the time, McKinley, was against war at first. But after time his mind changed and he was convinced to make a call for war to the congress. President McKinley's reasons for wanting war were overall to help, protect, and improve our country, Cuba and the people. Also to make peace so that trading resources may continue. To me President McKinley's reasoning and arguments were for his country and the people. The congress accepted the call and declared war on Spain. The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine wasn't the reason to go into war. The beliefs were the reason and some situations. The explosion was just an unfortunate event at that specific time that just gave more reason to the people and imperialists to go on. I would disagree with about half of McKinley's beliefs and that his actions weren't really his. The imperialists probably got to him and persuade him to begin his unjust actions towards other innocent countries/ islands.
The media played a big role in influencing the U.S. public opinion. The media's opinion became the "real facts" which made many people believe what they were saying. The media imediately put the fault on Spain and made Spain become the "bad guy". Since many Americans were affected by this they also were easily confused about the truth. Well when the truth finally came out, that the explosion was an accident on the ship, it was too late. The U.S. Congress already declareed war over Spain and won.
The results of what the short war affected were different for 3 islands. First Cuba, who this all started for, won it's independence from Spain to loose it the U.S. The U.S. was right to help and improve the country but to control it was wrong. So for Cuba it was unjust. The foriegn policy on Puerto Rico was worse. Puerto Rico was a treaty gift to the U.S. from Spain that ended the war. Spain really didn't have to give the U.S. anything . The U.S. took over Puerto Rico and pretty much destroyed the island making it unjust. The foriegn policy on Dominican Republic was the kindest and most helpful in my opinion. The U.S. helped DR become less comfused, disordered, and helped pay off the many debts that DR owed many countries. The U.S. prety much taught and guided DR to be a country and run it's own government. The U.S. fixed DR and this so far was the best foriegn policy used by the U.S. which is just.
So overall I think that the Spanish-American War was an unjust war. The reason the U.S. got involved wasn't completely supported. There was too much confusion and unfair misunderstandings with the countries. Even though some actions were just and a few things improved, I don't think this was worth a war. For many qualities of this war and because of the facts, in my opinion I would say that the Spanish-American War was and is an unjust war.
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