Why did Cuba enter World War 1?

Answer 1

The US entered the Spanish American War because:

- The US had investments in Cuba and the fighting between the Cubans and the Spanish was ruining the economy.

- The American people sympathized with the Cubans' desire for independence from Spain. They were also horrified by newspaper reports of cruel treatment of captured rebels.

- The growing feeling of power in the US created a desire to remove European influence from areas of US interest.

- The USS Maine sank mysteriously in Havana harbor. It was a huge boat that was sent down to bring Americans safely back the the US. It blew up and America blamed the Spanish, which outraged the American people and sparked the declaration of war. (After the war it was discovered that the boiler blew up. Spanish involvement was never proved.)

Answer 2

The official Cuban reason was because of formal treaties, trade pacts, and business interest in and with the United States.

It is interesting to remember that WWI started as a relativly minor "disagreement" between Austria-Hungary and small "unimportant" Serbia, but due to treaties became a war involving all the major powers and most other countries of the world.

The Cuban government stressed a "moral obligation" to enter the war one day after the US did, since it was the US that was responsible for Cuba's independence. They also claimed a shared "moral outrage" against Germany's submarine warfare. Probably more important were practical financial reasons. If Cuba had remained neutral, all Cuban ports would have been closed to any nation at war. Most of Cuba's trade was with the US. There was also a great deal of pressure from US government ( the US felt some Cuban products were vital to the war effort)and US business interests. Remember, Cuba had been independent less than 20 years and US government and US business influence inside and on Cuban government, population and business was very strong.

Answer 3

On April 11, McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force against Spain. Congress agreed, and on April 20, the United States declared war.

Answer 4

The reason given was the Battleship Maine blew up in Havana Harbor in Cuba which was a Spanish Colony at the time. Our government blamed the Spanish, and invaded Cuba to fight them there.

Answer 5

In search of Independence.