Spanish-American War Discussion Highlights Long Island Ties
American imperialism, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War were the focus of a recent discussion hosted by historian Richard V. Acritelli, featuring guest Liam Carballal. The wide-ranging conversation examined how U.S. foreign policy decisions more than a century ago continue to echo in modern geopolitics.
The dialogue on Acritelli’s program, the Fog of War, began with the 1898 explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, an event that helped propel the United States into war with Spain. While contemporary yellow journalism portrayed the blast as a Spanish attack, modern historians largely attribute it to an internal accident caused by flawed ship design. Nonetheless, sensational reporting fueled public outrage and accelerated America’s path to war.
The conflict elevated Theodore Roosevelt, whose Oyster Bay home, Sagamore Hill, remains a lasting Long Island connection to the era. As assistant secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt aggressively prepared the fleet for war. The swift defeat of Spain at Manila Bay under Admiral George Dewey signaled the arrival of the United States as a global naval power.
However, the aftermath in the Philippines proved far more complicated. After purchasing the islands from Spain for $20 million, the United States faced resistance from Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo, who had expected independence. What followed was a brutal insurgency marked by guerrilla warfare, disease, and controversial tactics such as the “water cure,” an interrogation method widely condemned as torture.
The conversation also examined America’s broader expansion at the turn of the century, including the Open Door Policy in China and Roosevelt’s backing of the Panamanian revolt that enabled construction of the Panama Canal. While strategically transformative, these moves reflected an assertive foreign policy often described as gunboat diplomacy.
Throughout the discussion, Acritelli and Carballal emphasized the enduring tension between strategic necessity and moral consequence. The wars of 1898 reshaped America’s global standing, but they also revealed the complex human costs of empire — a dynamic that continues to shape debates over U.S. power and responsibility today. Check out the full interview at www.hmtcli.org.