McKinley Calls for War: U.S. Joins Cuba’s Fight for Freedom—Or Does It?

What Happened?

Cuba had been trying to throw off Spanish rule for years, and many Americans sympathized. When the battleship Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 252 sailors, war fever exploded—despite later findings that it was likely a mechanical accident, not sabotage.

President McKinley, who had hoped for a peaceful solution, asked Congress to authorize military action. Congress agreed, and by late April, both the U.S. and Spain had declared war. The press dubbed it a crusade for Cuban independence, but the U.S. walked away with control over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines—and a military presence in Cuba for years to come.

Future president Theodore Roosevelt gained fame charging up San Juan Hill with his 'Rough Riders,' but the real legacy was strategic. The U.S. now had territories in both the Caribbean and the Pacific, and Hawaii was quietly annexed that same summer. A war about liberation had quickly become a blueprint for expansion.

While Americans celebrated victory, critics—then and now—questioned the motives. Was it really about helping Cuba? Or was it about power, prestige, and profits? Today, many historians view the Spanish-American War as the launchpad for U.S. empire-building—and a warning about what happens when emotion, media pressure, and geopolitics collide.

Why It Matters

April 11, 1898 wasn’t just a turning point for Cuba—it was a turning point for the U.S. too. What looked like a humanitarian mission quickly became a story of power and possession. It taught the world that the U.S. wasn’t just a republic anymore; it was becoming an empire. Today, we’re still wrestling with the legacy of that moment—how far should a democracy go to 'spread freedom,' and what are the costs when it decides to stay?