The Cuban cause gained increasing support in the United States, leading President Grover Cleveland<span> to press for a settlement, but instead Spain sent General </span>Valeriano Weyler<span> to pacify Cuba. His stern methods, including </span>reconcentration<span> of the civilian population to deny the guerrillas support in the countryside, strengthened U.S. sympathy for the Cubans. President </span>William McKinley<span> then increased pressure on Spain to end the affair, dispatching a new minister to Spain for this purpose. At this juncture an anarchist assassinated Cánovas, and his successor, the leader of the Liberal Party </span>Práxedes Mateo Sagasta<span>, decided to make a grant of autonomy to Cuba and </span>Puerto Rico<span>. The Cuban leadership resisted this measure, convinced that continued armed resistance would lead to independence.</span>
The middle colonies had a lot of fertile soil which allowed for wheat and corn to become major trading resources. They also had rice, tobacco, and cotton.
