For years Americans followed a policy of
isolationism—noninvolvement in world affairs. Following the
Civil War, however, many wanted to expand trade with foreign
nations and add territory to an American empire. While trade
expanded to Japan and China, American influence also increased
in Latin America. Some Americans had another reason for
imperialist expansion. They believed that they had a mission to
bring American religion and culture to the "uncivilized" peoples
of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In 1898 the United States
declared war on Spain. In the late 1800s Cubans had tried
several times to win their independence from Spain, but each
time Spain overpowered them and crushed the rebellion. Many
Americans were sympathetic to the Cubans' struggle. President
William McKinley sent the battleship Maine to protect American
interests in Cuba. On the night of February 15, 1898, an
explosion destroyed the Maine and took many American lives.
American newspapers immediately blamed the Spanish, and on April
25, 1