Question

How did cuban and philippine revolutions against spain in the 1890's affect u.S foreign influence?

Answer 1

In the 1890s, Cuba wanted to get their freedom from Spain.  People like Jose Marti petitioned Americans to side with the Cubans and the poor treatment they were receiving from Spain.  Also, there was a lot of support in the newspapers called "yellow journalism" where American people were sympathizing with the cause to go against Spain in war.  This especially was true with a man nicknamed "The Butcher", Valeriano Weyler, who was a military leader from Spain placed in Cuba to put people in concentration camps.  

As a result, America felt a strong sense of patriotism and business reasons to go to war with Spain.  After the USS Maine exploded, the United States declared war on Spain.  

A similar situation happened in the Philippines, where Spain had a high influence and America did want to free the Philippines from Spain, but then also had their own agenda to take over the Philippines, as it was in a strategic location in the Pacific for trade.  

Answer 2

The Spanish-American War was a conflict that lasted ten weeks and was fought in the Caribbean and the Pacific, as part of the Cuban and the Philippine Wars of Independence.

The US had been backing Cuban revolts against Spain for a few years, and anti-Spanish propaganda in the US agitated public opinion against Spain.

The trigger for the conflict was the mysterious sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. Political pressures from the Democratic party ended up pushing the Republican president William McKinley into a war.

The US Naval power proved decisive, and despite a good performance by Spanish troops, American, Cuban and Philippine forces obtained the surrender of Santiago de Cuba and Manila. The result was the 1898 Treaty of Paris, very favourable to the US.

The treaty gave Americans temporary control of Cuba and ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine Islands.  More importantly, it had a huge impact on the national psyche of the Americans. It gave rise to a new debate about the wisdom of expansionism as it gave them possession of several islands spanning the globe.