The War of 1898: The United States and Cuba in History and Historiography

by Louis A. Pérez Jr.

A century after the Cuban war for independence was fought, Louis Perez examines the meaning of the war of 1898 as represented in one hundred years of American historical writing. Offering both a critique of the conventional historiography and an alternate history of the war informed by Cuban sources, Perez explores the assumptions that have shaped our understanding of the "Spanish-American War--a construct, he argues, that denies the Cubans' participation in their own struggle for liberation from Spanish rule.

Perez examines historical accounts of the destruction of the battleship Maine, the representation of public opinion as a precipitant of war, and the treatment of the military campaign in Cuba. Equally important, he shows how historical narratives have helped sustain notions of America's national purpose and policy, many of which were first articulated in 1898. Cuba insinuated itself into one of the most important chapters of U.S. history, and what happened on the island in the final decade of the nineteenth century--and the way in which what happened was subsequently represented--has had far-reaching implications, many of which continue to resonate today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Latin American History, 19th Century, Military History, School

171 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 1998

About the author

Louis A. Pérez Jr. is the J. Carlyle Sitterson Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also the Editor of the Cuban Journal.

Principal research interests center on nineteenth- and twentieth-century Caribbean, with emphasis on Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Current research project explores the sources of Cuban nationality and identity.

Reviews

[Paul A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louis Perez Jr.’s The War of 1898: The United States and Cuba In History and Historiography serves as an examination of sources and historical interpretations of American intervention in Cuba. Perez sees the ambiguities that exist in the American historiography of the Spanish-American War as an extension of the nation’s identity. He places American historiography on an isolated footing, one that reflects perceived ideals and sets out to make historical narratives fit these ideologies.1 His thesis is primary supported by the contention that American historiography has largely ignored international sources, specifically those of Cuban origin.
Perez chooses to interpret 1898 as a “denouement”, a line of demarcation that takes the United States from a largely isolationist role to that of a world power.2 This fails to recognize the historiographical argument that American imperialism preceded 1898 for the better part of a century as the nation expanded westward and conquered indigenous populations. Regardless, if we assume 1898 as a launch point Perez points out that we must then look to Cuba as a critical component of the historiography. His inclusion of American-Cuban relations during the nineteenth century, including a de facto détente with Spain, helpfully establishes that at the very least 1898 had precipitating circumstances that extended well into the past.3
A valuable but contentious argument that Perez uses involves the status of the Cuban revolution itself. Perez argues that Cuban forces had worn down the Spanish forces and this combined with the horrific Spanish economic state to produce a “near-win” scenario.4 This perspective is critical. Throughout the American historiography of 1898 there is almost no mention of this. It is generally accepted that without American intervention a stalemate would continue. This stalemate threatened American property and lives as well as creating increasingly inhumane conditions for those on the island.
The humanitarianism component of American imperialism maintains a strong presence in the historiography. Perez acknowledges this and covers the Cuba Libre movement in America thoroughly. He references popular culture through music, press, and public speeches. This movement reaches its apex in the form of the Teller Amendment. However, Perez also notes that the immediate reaction from politicians reflected a fear of any real Cuban independence.5 This allows Perez to demonstrate a connection between public opinion and political realities. The desire for a liberated Cuba becomes framed in the public mind as a moral crusade to eliminate Spanish rule. American leaders then launch machinations intended to substitute American hegemony for Spanish, rather than any real Cuban independence. This pushes the historiography to consider a Cuban perspective on American humanitarianism. It becomes a vehicle for rallying public support of American intervention rather than any genuine effort to effect Cuban freedom.
Perez treats the traditional historiography of the USS Maine negatively. He carefully covers the historiography’s handling of the event and largely rejects the “casus belli” whereby American politicians enter the nation into a conflict with Spain almost reluctantly. Perez describes a historiography “rich with layers of far-reaching meaning, moral and metaphysical, epistemological and existential”6 Further, Perez extends meaning to the Maine that allows American historiography to treat 1898 as chance. This chance event, regardless of the actual cause, then generates the necessary political capital and consensus needed for intervention.7 Perez looks elsewhere and identifies the inevitability of Cuban victory as a primary cause of American entry into the Cuban revolution.8 This extends the historiography and creates an international perspective sorely lacking in previous works.
Perez concludes with the seemingly manifest idea that the historiography of 1898 possesses far too much emphasis on American sources. He agrees that the multitude of historiographical explanations all possess legitimate causes of American entry into the Cuban revolution against Spain, however these perspectives (humanitarian, political, social, economic) all either ignore or minimize the Cuban perspective. The conclusion that a Cuban perspective would interject Cuban interests into the historiography, interests which do not always align with American goals.9 Regardless of how much weight one places on Perez’s thesis, at a minimum he creates a contribution to the historiography that demands recognition and forces any future works to consider a broader, international perspective concerning 1898.
Perez provides not only ample sources including the major works involving 1898 in the historiography but an illuminating bibliographical essay as well. This essay in many ways outperforms the narrative itself in that it serves as an excellent blueprint for any further research on American imperialism in Cuba. His analysis extends to the ties between 1898 and the inauguration of Fidel Castro’s rule. The Cuban perspective inherently ties 1898 to Castro, but American historiography does not. The social attitudes that dominated Cuban-American relations post-1898 change when we include a broader perspective as Perez asks for. His bibliographical essay serves as an invaluable tool for any historiographical attempt to broaden the perspectives of 1898

[William Loughridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

school book. one sitting. interesting perspective i guess?

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love historiography and reading an analysis about historians form their conclusions, this book is for you! It really is an historian's history book. Perez is very critical of American historians for having parroted the McKinley administration's talking points. Among his points are that historians have rarely consulted Cuban sources; that Cuban revolutionaries were close to defeating Spain when the USA declared war on Spain in 1898; that American policy had long opposed Cuban independence; that the war was not inevitable; and finally, Mckinley was not a victim of circumstances, he orchestrated the war.

[Isaac Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening. Books like this show the power of history and the damage patriotic jingoism can have on perspective even after the event has long past. Jack Nicholson's quote from the Two Jakes sums up the author's point nicely: "the past never goes away."

[Wes Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. If you are interested in a view on the Spanish-American War, its reasons and ramifications, this is the book for you. Easily read in a few sittings, Perez unlike many academics can actually write in a way that is not considered treatment for insomnia.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reveals the realities of the War of 1898 in a clear and concise way that cuts through the over-Americanization of the event with plentiful evidence.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perez's historiography does an outstanding job recounting how the war of 1898 has been told over the last century while also making his own historical arguments. Perez consulted Cuban and Spanish primary sources that have been overlooked by previous historians to make claims about why the U.S. became involved in the Cuban-Spanish war, how Cubans responded to U.S. intervention, and how effective the U.S. military was in Cuba. These are just a few of the questions he tackles in this meticulously researched book. I was most interested in Perez's claim the McKinley administration intervened in the Cuban-Spanish war not primarily out of idealism for Cuba Libre, but out of U.S. strategic and economic interests. As a public school teacher of U.S. history, I found this book captivating and thought provoking.

[Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The War of 1898 (1998), Professor of History, Louis A. Perez, pragmatically argues that the United States military came into the country of Cuba looking as if their sole intent was to help the Cuban counterinsurgency remove an Imperialist European nation.
Once the military fighting was officially over, the United States declared, Cuba as subjugated land: “The soil occupied by the army of the United States was part of the Union.” And it was not until Cuba signed and agreed to place language in their Constitution that stipulated that the United States would act as a protectorate of the Island nation -- Did the military of the United States agree to leave.

-- A must read for those who are history buffs.

[Todd Stansbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I strongly approve of this book because it is a quick history of the war of 1898 (just like it says on the labels) while also exploring what the histories have said about it in the last century. This war does not get touched on much beyond people considering it "the splendid little war" that America had no choice to get involved in. While debunking those arguments, Perez also offers insight into the actions of others and how those actions have impacted both the US and our place in the world.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, well written critique of the tradition narrative of the Spanish-American War of 1898. American historians are justifiably rebuked for ignoring the historical archives outside the US namely Cuba and Spain and creating an echo chamber narrative driven history that needs to be reconsidered. The critical role of Cuban insurgents has been largely ignored, and the nAmerican role glorified. The "noble aims" of the US government seem instead to be more rapacious than noble. An eye opening book on Americas entry to the world stage as an imperial power.