<P> After the American Civil War and Cuba 's Ten Years ' War , U.S. businessmen began monopolizing the devalued sugar markets in Cuba . In 1894 , 90 % of Cuba 's total exports went to the United States , which also provided 40 % of Cuba 's imports . Cuba 's total exports to the U.S. were almost twelve times larger than the export to her mother country , Spain . U.S. business interests indicated that while Spain still held political authority over Cuba , economic authority in Cuba , acting - authority , was shifting to the U.S.A. </P>
why was there so much interest in cuba both before and after the civil war
sugar markets