The Spanish American War
The Spanish American War during the period of American Imperialism was set in motion by the sinking of the USS Maine in Cuba. There is still much speculation about what exactly sank the ship, but American newspapers sensationalized the event as an act of aggression by Spain to rally public support for war, popularizing the phrase "Remember the Maine!" Click on the image to read a poem by Arthur MacOwen that remembers the event (poem is on page 3 of the source).
America became involved with affairs in Cuba to both ensure Cuban independence and to protect the many businesses and economic ventures America had established in the country. Below is a poem written by Joaquin Miller, an American poet, about the desires for Cuban independence. Examine this document to see what dimensions it adds to the age of Imperialism in American history. What significance does this document have that it was written by an American?