Spanish American War Original Poster
Bombardment of Matanzas
Bombardment
of Matanzas - original poster copyright date is 1898
by the American Lithograph Company.
This poster was issued with the Truth Magazine No. 382, June 15, 1898
Sketched from the Herald Tug - Artist Reuterdahl of Key West
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The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States. It ended with the Americans defeating the
Spaniards. Revolts against Spanish rule had been endemic for decades in Cuba and were closely watched by Americans; there had been war scares before, as in the Virginius Affair in 1873. By 1897–98, American public opinion grew angrier at reports of Spanish atrocities. After the mysterious sinking of the American battleship Maine in Havana harbor, political pressures from the Democratic Party pushed the government of President William McKinley, a Republican, into a war McKinley had wished to
avoid. Compromise proved impossible, resulting in an ultimatum sent to Madrid demanding it surrender control of Cuba immediately, which was not accepted. First Madrid, then Washington, formally declared
war. April 25, 1898 – Bombardment of Matanzas, Cuba by US Navy. Matanzas became the location of the first action in the Spanish/American War. The city was bombarded by American Navy vessels, just after the beginning of the war. Artist: Henry Reuterdahl (August 30, 1871 – December 21, 1925) was an American painter highly acclaimed for his nautical artwork. He had a long relationship with the United States Navy. In addition to serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve
Force, he was selected by President Theodore Roosevelt to accompany the Great White Fleet voyage in 1907 to document the journey. In addition to his artwork, he was a frequent writer on naval topics, and served as an editor of Jane's Fighting
Ships. |
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