Why was the americans attack on manila harbor in the philippines important for a quick american victory in the spanish american war?

Question

Why was the americans attack on manila harbor in the philippines important for a quick american victory in the spanish american war?

The United States relied on war supplies from Asia and securing the Philippines protected those.

The United States was able to crush the Spanish fleet in Manila thereby making it a war on the Caribbean only.

The United States protected Filipinos and they in turn came to the United States aid during the Spanish American war.

Answer 1

This attack was important for a quick American victory in the Spanish American War because it allowed the United States to neutralize the Spanish naval presence in the Pacific. By quickly capturing Manila harbor, the United States was able to prevent Spain from using its naval forces in the region to launch counterattacks or provide reinforcements to their forces in the Caribbean. This effectively limited the war to the Caribbean theater, where the United States Navy was dominant and able to quickly defeat the Spanish fleet. Additionally, securing the Philippines also played a role in protecting American interests in Asia and ensuring a steady supply of war materials from the region.