1. Economic interests: American businesses had invested heavily in Cuba's sugar industry and were eager to protect their investments. The Spanish government's harsh policies toward Cuban rebels, including the use of concentration camps, were seen as a threat to American economic interests.
2. Humanitarian concerns: The plight of Cuban civilians caught up in the conflict also played a role in the US's decision to intervene. Reports of Spanish atrocities, including the deaths of thousands of Cuban civilians in concentration camps, sparked outrage in the United States and led many Americans to demand action.
3. Strategic considerations: The United States was also concerned about Spain's control over Cuba's strategic location in the Caribbean Sea. The Spanish government's refusal to sell or lease Cuba to the United States, combined with fears that another European power might intervene in Cuba, led many American policymakers to believe that war was the best way to secure US interests in the region.
