Circumstances Surrounding the Decline of the Spanish Empire
...ts powerful neighbor, Great Britain. Spain joined the American Revolution in 1779. As a reward for siding with the British, Spain asked for Gibraltar. The British refused this deal. In retaliation, Spain allied itself with France, however failed to recognize America as an independent nation of its own. At the time of it’s decline, Spain was involved in a war with America, The Spanish American War. In 1895 Spanish rule in Cuba had become harsh. The United States became involved to defend U.S. interests in the islands surrounding Cuba in 1898. At this time, the President of America was William McKinley. On April 19, Congress passed a joint resolution stating that Cuba as “free and independent.” By doing so, Congress declared war on Spain. The Spaniards were far less prepared for war than the Americans were. On July 17 the Spanish army surrendered to American forces. While fighting in the Spanish American War, soldiers had to ward off illness and disease. One of the more preeminent diseases existing during the war was the Yellow Scourge. It consisted of several days of high fever and intense muscle and joint pain. The final and m...