“Nothing was left but the Spaniards that is to say, indolence, pride, cruelty, and infinite superstition. Therefore, the negative view of our country, which had its genesis in the Dutch, French and English propaganda spilled during the imperial period, was elevated to the degree of historical narrative with the rise of the powers that had rivaled the Hispanic Monarchy for the rule of Europe, and later, the most prominent heir of these. However, the long-term consequences were even more damaging for the Hispanic interests: the United States collected, renewed, and amplified the Spanish black legend. In addition to granting the independence of Cuba, which would take place in 1902, Spain had to cede the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. With the war cry “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!”, the Americans destroyed the Spanish forces. In this way, the sinking in Havanna of the American second-class battleship Maine, sent basically to intimidate Spain, was used by the William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers, today the Hearst Group, one of the main media empires in the world, to convince the public opinion of Spain’s guilt and the need to start a war against this country. The escalation of mistrust between the governments of the United States and Spain was on the rise, while in the press of both countries there were strong smear campaigns against the adversary. Taking advantage of the growth of the independence movement in Cuba, the United States interfered in the conflict with a doubtful, if not invented, casus belli to seize the last Spanish overseas territories. The enlightened and liberal ideas that had entered the United States in the eighteenth century were added to their sympathies for the new rising republics in the South, increasing the anti-Spanish sentiment. Spain, which had been an important supporter of the 13 Colonies during the American War of Independence against the English (at the risk of creating a bad precedent in the Spanish territories of America, as in fact happened), became the main enemy of the United States in the late 19th century. His dark style is a direct reference to the new enemy of England and the US at the time: Adolf Hitler. In the film “The Sea Hawk” (1940), Felipe II is portrayed as a fascist tyrant who contemplates a huge map of the world and plans the invasion of England. The military disaster starring the remains of the Spanish Empire facing the emerging American army was firmly supported by a propaganda campaign that renewed the bad image of the Spaniards worldwide.Īs it would later be the case with the Germans, the Japanese, and the Communists, the Spanish became the recurring enemies of the United States even in the movies. But the truth is that the black legend against everything Spanish was present until well into the 20th century – when other enemies absorbed the American interest – precisely because of the 1898 war. The oldest thing is ten years old”, reads one of the most popular quotes from the humorist Woody Allen. In the United States, they do not remember the war against Spain in 1898.
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