Synopses & Reviews
Foreshadowing the twentieth-century experience, the Spanish American War was America's first modern foreign war. Catapulting the United States into an international world power, the war had lasting international implications. Besides America's acquisition of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Guam, the war led the United States to take to the international stage, confronting Germany and Japan (foreshadowing the conflict of World War II), and creating a diplomatic bridge between Great Britain and the United States. For Spain, the 1898-1899 conflict was the death knell of empire, which led to a national crisis culminating in the Spanish Civil War. This volume provides easily accessible information on the naval and army operations, Spanish operations, and the political background to the military events, with an emphasis on future foreign affairs.
The Spanish American War is seminal to an understanding of twentieth-century U.S. foreign relations—in Cuba, the Pacific, especially Japan, and with Great Britain. It is also central to an understanding of twentieth-century Spain. U.S. military history also requires an understanding of amphibious operations, naval and army reform, deployment command and control, and interservice cooperation as reflected in the Spanish American War. This book provides a quick reference to what was once called this splendid little war.
Review
The Spanish-American War is often interpreted as an aberration in America's self-isolation regarding foreign affairs. The war's causes, conduct and consequences are some of the more hotly debated issues in the historiography of American diplomacy....This volume seeks to aid its users in identifying the role of people, organizations, other events, and places in this epoch....A useful book for any college library.Choice
Review
The author and his editorial assistants have done a first rate job in compiling and organizing an excellent reference source for students, scholars, and writers working in this area of U.S. history....Given the resurgent interest in the topic, this new Historical Dictionary Of The Spanish American War should prove to be a welcome addition to the growing body of literature about our first international conflict and the significance thereof. Highly recommended for the reference departments of all major public and university libraries.Colorado Libraries
About the Author
DONALD H. DYAL is Director of the Cushing Library at Texas A&M University (Special Collections, Manuscripts &Archives).
Table of Contents
Preface
Chronology of the Spanish American War
The Dictionary
Bibliographical Essay
Index