So in January of 1898, the Cubans were on the verge of victory in their battle for independence against Spain. And while the US government was happy to see Spain out of the picture, they had no intention of allowing Cuba to be independent. Since the days of Jefferson back in the 1790s, almost every presidential administration in Washington had imagined Cuba would eventually be US territory. The newly elected President, William McKinley, wanted to take Cuba without war if possible. But some, like future President Teddy Roosevelt, couldn’t wait to turn it into a war.