Answer: Valeriano Weyler was born in Spain in 1838. Weyler decided to pursue a career in the army. He graduated from the Infantry School (Infantry school gives training in weapons and infantry tactics to infantrymen of a nation's military forces.) in Toledo and by age 20 he had attained the rank of lieutenant. In 1878 Weyler was made a general.
In 1895 he was given the Grand Cross of Maria Cristina for his command of troops in the Philippines. In 1896 when rebellion was in full swing in Cuba, Weyler was named governor with full powers to suppress the insurgency and return the island to political order and the sugar industry to greater profitability. His presence in Cuba led to re-concentration camps. Americans protested against his cruel methods and thus had a reason to war with the Spanish in support of Cuban Independence. Cubans made ruckus of Weyler's inhumanity to their countrymen and won the sympathy of broad groups of the U.S. population to their cause.
Weyler lost his principal support in Spain. He resigned his post in late 1897 and returned to Europe.
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