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Most important of the Caribbean islands was Cuba where by the mid 1890s major shares of the local sugar, tobacco and iron interests were American owned.
其中最重要的就是古巴，而在19世纪90年代之前古巴当地的糖，烟草和铁，大部分都是美国的
In 1895 Spain's harsh colonial regime caused Cuba to revolt.
1895年，西班牙严苛的殖民政权致使古巴奋起反抗
As the Cuban revolution raged wealthy American businessmen begged President William McKinley to protect American interests there.
随着古巴革命愈演愈烈，富有的美国商人请求总统威廉·麦金莱保护美国在古巴的利益
On February 15th 1898 the US battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbour.
1898年2月15日，美国战舰缅因号在哈瓦那港被炸沉
260 American sailors died, just how and why the Maine sank is still disputed a century later
260名美国战士阵亡，缅因号为什么会被炸沉，至今仍是个谜题
but even back then it was pretty clear that the Spanish didn't do it.
但即便是当时，也看得出来并非西班牙人所为
But popular opinion hipped up by the press demanded revenge,
但是媒体的大肆报道掀起了民意的愤怒，要求报复
won April 19th 1898 a joint resolution of congress declared Cuba free and independent, that's interesting.
1898年4月19日，联合决议大会宣布古巴自由独立，这是个很有意思的事件
It was signed by McKinley the next day, what it meant was the war with Spain was officially on.
麦金莱在宣言上签了名，这就意味着正式和西班牙开战
The US military was completely unprepared for war,
美国军队完全没有准备好参战
the army consisted mainly of raw volunteers led by ancient Civil War veterans, both Northern and Southern.
军队里大多数都是新兵，由参加过内战的北方和南方的老兵带领着
