Why Did Volunteers Decide To Fight In The Spanish-American War?

The Spanish-American War was the first American-involved war fought after the end of the Civil War. It was the first War fought by an all-volunteer army. The War took place during a period of great waves of migration within and immigration to the United States. There were freed Black slaves, Native Americans, Chinese, Filipinos, Mexicans, Cubans, American Caucasians and European/Eastern European Caucasians. These various groups worked in all types of occupations -- farmers, laborers, tradesmen, medicine, law, clergy, etc. -- and some did not have any defined occupations or trades.

When the government sent out word that there was a need for volunteers to form army units to fight in this War, almost 200,000 men and women came forward. They were looking for a chance to represent their country, to help other people who had been oppressed like they had, to learn new skills and get paid by the Government (to help their families), and to take advantage of the "Manifest Destiny" policy of the U.S. Government. Many of those who signed-up felt that this War would be the chance for them to earn money and make a move to a new location to make better lives for themselves and their families. The U.S. Government was overwhelmed with the sheer numbers of volunteers; they were also ill-prepared to train and provide for these individuals. Still, these volunteers would represent the first and last time that there was a totally volunteer army -- up to the end of the Vietnam War in the 20th Century. These volunteers were well-documented by the Government and they and there families were compensated -- on the battlefield, off the battlefield, and in death.

Not all of those who enlisted were fighting on the front lines; there were many different types of positions to be filled -- and, for the women, there were the roles of nurse, cook, seamstress, etc. This was the first time in history that individuals of all races and nationalities in the United States would come together and work as a cohesive unit to fight against the Spanish forces -- instead of just fighting against each other. And because there were so many different ethnicities and nationalities of people, with such a varied degree of backgrounds and skill levels, they were able to teach each other new skills -- and learn that just because you were a different skin color, ethnicity, or nationality, you could still work together for a common goal; you could even gain an appreciation and an empathy for other people with whom you might have never encountered under other circumstances. It also brought together men and women working for the U.S. Government in defense of oppressed people outside of the U.S., in another foreign country. Some of those who were immigrant volunteers to the military units, had fought against the Spanish in their native countries as well -- i.e., the Cubans, the Filipinos, etc.

The common threads which seem to have brought all these people together to fight in the Spanish-American War seems to have been a sense of pride as Americans, the desire to help other oppressed people, and a desire to move forward and better their lot in life.