The journalist told the people of Spanish treachery and the death of the American sailors that died on the Maine. 2 Two weeks after the destruction of the Maine, Congress issued 50 million dollars for war preparation. The navy reported that the explosion was external and for that reason Spain was held responsible. 3 According to Peggy and Harold Samuels, the destruction of the Maine "contributed to the outbreak of the Spanish War and thus the rise of American imperialism." 4.
The war with Spain was a war of destiny according to President McKinley. McKinley stated, "The war with Spain was undertaken, not that the United States should increase its territory but that oppression at our very door step should be stopped." 5 McKinley thought that duty destiny resulted from duty and that it was all the plan of God. McKinley, other politicians felt that this was a mission from God and that they could not be found unworthy to carry it out. 6 .
The Philippines was gained by the United States from Spain. Acquiring this group of islands was seen as a specific case of manifest destiny. President McKinley made comments that some of the other territories gained, such as Puerto Rico, were just war indemnities to bring about an end to Spanish rule, but he thought that the Philippines was different. McKinley voiced that the Philippines was a necessity for expansion and that it was destiny that had allowed the united States to acquire this territory. 7 McKinley said that he had been criticized because of the Philippines and claimed that he was not deserving of it because the Philippines came as a "gift from God." 8 .
The idea that manifest destiny played a role in the Spanish American War is something that can be understood and found plausible. The idea of coincidence can also be used to explain events of the war. Manifest destiny was an old idea reborn to fit the time. The old thought of manifest destiny was that it was America's right to hold all of the territory from ocean to ocean within the country's natural boundaries.
