Writing the Document
Pierce and the South want Cuba, so they write a document to Spain...
This document is titled The Ostend Manifesto
The Process of writing the ostend manifesto
The Ostend Manifesto was meant to be a secret remaining with Great Britain, Spain, France, US Ministers, and ambassadors. The document was written by James Buchanan, John Young Mason, and Pierre Soulé. It was written in Ostend, Belgium on October 9, 1854.
Although it was meant to be a secret, information was later leaked to the public.
Ostend, Belgium in the 1850's
James Buchanan
Would later be the 15th President of the United States, he was morally opposed to slavery but believed it was protected by the US Constitution. He also wanted to keep the peace between pro and anti slavery factions.
John Young mason
A United States representative from Virginia. He supported slavery and Franklin Pierce's ideas.
Pierre Soulé
US Minister to Spain and a Franco- American attorney. He is also part of the pro- slavery faction.
Contents of the ostend manifesto
The Ostend Manifesto pushed for Spain to sell Cuba to America for 120 million dollars. The document also hints that if Spain rejects this proposal, the US would use force to capture Cuba.
The document also highlights that America would be able to utilize Cuba to it's full extent and that the US could control the slave revolts occurring in Cuba.
Since Cuba is in close proximity to America, the writers of the Ostend Manifesto believed that it would be easy to take control and challenge Spain if necessary.
