THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY AND THE NAVY OF 1898
George Dewey
FOREWORD.
CAUSES OF THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
On the 23d of April, 1898, war was declared between the United States and Spain. To understand how this came about, we must go back a great many years.
Ever since the island of Cuba was discovered by Columbus in 1492, the one thought of the Spaniards has been to gain wealth from the island without giving anything in return.
For many years, most of the Cubans have been little better off than slaves. They have always been very poor and have had to do the hard work on the plantations and in the cities. At best, they have never been able to make much more than enough to pay the taxes imposed upon them by the Spanish government.