American Empire

So if anyone can help me here. I'm trying to imagine any way for American troops to take and hold a piece of Spain during the Spanish American War. Is there a way for it to happen without Spain pushing a landing force back or interference from other European powers. If anyone can help me out please do so.

If a piece of Spain can be held as American Territory how would it influence America and Spain's actions during WWI and WWII.
 
Spain, IIRC, had a standing army of at least 200,000 troops. Perhaps as much as 400,000. During the Cold War, for Russia to invade China would be to fight that war to China's liking. Same principle between 1898 USA and Spain. An army the size of which the US Army of the day was not ready for. The same goes for the endless guerilla war that the American troops had never before seen.:eek: This was why European "experts" had predicted a long war. But retired US Admiral Mahan said correctly it would be over in four months. That is, if you don't count the War of the Philippine Insurrection. 10 years, IIRC.:eek:
 
I can't imagine what America would even want with a piece of Spain. Sure, there were elements in the U.S. in those days that were itching for empire-building and weren't afraid to get into a tussle with a European power to do it. Otherwise we wouldn't have gone to war with Spain in the first place. But to actually hold a chunk of Europe for ourselves? With 19th-century Europe's notoriously fickle alliance system and enthusiasm for massive ground wars? Where any European power, on any diplomatic excuse, could invade before we'd have time to send in any reinforcements? I think that would be a lot more trouble than it would be worth, even to the empire-builders.
 
What about Gilbraltar itself? Might buy it from the UK?

Unlikely I know, but more likely than anything else I can think of.

Or would taking Spanish Morocco be close enough for you?

THat might be a little easier.
 
What about Gilbraltar itself? Might buy it from the UK?

Unlikely I know, but more likely than anything else I can think of.

Or would taking Spanish Morocco be close enough for you?

THat might be a little easier.


I suppose, I'm trying to think up America with Military bases in close proximity to Germany and Austria Hungary in WWI, and Germany and Italy in WWII. An American Empire in Africa is interesting but at that point European powers had it pretty well carved out.

I love the Gibraltar idea, but I have a hard time seeing Britain giving up such an advantageous position on the strait without a hefty payment.
 
What about Gilbraltar itself? Might buy it from the UK?

Unlikely I know, but more likely than anything else I can think of.

Or would taking Spanish Morocco be close enough for you?

THat might be a little easier.

Why would Britain sell a key holding, a holding that they maintain to this day? Think about it: they get rid of India, the African colonies and the rest of the empoire but not Gibraltar. Why? Because it's important and it's cheap to hold.
 
I suppose, I'm trying to think up America with Military bases in close proximity to Germany and Austria Hungary in WWI, and Germany and Italy in WWII. An American Empire in Africa is interesting but at that point European powers had it pretty well carved out.

The USA could annex Liberia at least.

I love the Gibraltar idea, but I have a hard time seeing Britain giving up such an advantageous position on the strait without a hefty payment.

It would probably be easier for the USA to conquer another enclave from Spain, such as a coastal city in Galicia.
 
First of all, if Britain was willing to sell Gibraltar for any price... don't you think Spain would have bought it a long time ago?

As for a US enclave in Galicia or anywhere else in Spain? Why? It doesn't serve any strategic value like Gilbraltar and would be a running sore in Spanish-American relations for years to come. To say nothing of the costs of maintaining that enclave. Not to mention the European powers such as Britain and France likely won't take well to the US muscling it's way into Europe.

Now, you could sell me on the US wanting to aquire the Canary Islands or maybe Northern Morocco for it's strategic value. Though in the case of Morocco, Britain's likely to pitch a huge fit if a great power tries to outflank their hold on their gateway to the Mediterranian.

To be blunt, we took most of what we could get away with in that war already.
 
Not to mention the European powers such as Britain and France likely won't take well to the US muscling it's way into Europe.

Yes, Germany can tell you that, from bitter experience, you don't take land in North Africa without the French throwing a tisy fit, it was pretty much their 'sphere of influence' outside Morocco, which was mostly French with Spanish and British interests.
 
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