"Spanish-American War: Death, Taxes, and Incompetence" Topic

"Remember the Maine!" was the battle cry that led America into the Spanish-American War in 1898. The mysterious explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbor killed 260 Americans and triggered hostility toward Spain, the suspected culprit. Spain was no threat to U.S. interests, but some Americans wanted to help the Cubans, who were struggling under Spanish rule, and others had visions of creating an American empire.

Exactly one hundred years ago, on December 10, 1898, the United States signed the peace treaty ending its short and victorious war with Spain. What is not widely known is, first, how inept the U.S. government was in organizing the war, and second, how the tax code changed as a result of the war. Those changes—higher taxes—became part of American life ever after…"
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Armand

When you don't wage a REAL war for more than 30 yrs, it's logical that this kind of things happens. Don't forget that the US army was literally starving at the end of 19th century, it was very small (only 27500 enlisted troops, nco & officers!), underfunded and only recently had started to replace their obsolet Springfield breech loading rifles with the new Krag/Jorgensen, had a severe lack of modern artillery, no modern Mgs. They lacked also a moders Etat Major, and was despised by most of the nation, that saw it as an indrance.

Thanks

Armand