The Spanish American War

1898

What were the causes and effects of the
Spanish-American War?

War Clouds Loom

�Cubans had been under Spanish rule since the landing of
Columbus in 1492.

■The people of Cuba wanted their independence.

�In 1868, they staged a revolt that was put down ten years later.

�In 1895, a new revolt broke out.

▪ Spain is NOT happy!!!

▪“It’s time to punish these rebels”

Multiple Choice

From whom did the Cubans want to get their independence?

• Spain

• USA

• Great Britain

• Mexico

OH NO!!!!!

�Spain responded with a policy of reconcentration.

�The forced movement of large numbers of people into detention camps for
military or political reasons.

�After about 200,000 Cubans died in the camps

■ Cuban exile Jose Marti appealed to the United States for help.

U.S. Concerned

�Many Americans were sympathetic toward the Cuban cause.

■The cause drew a parallel to America’s struggle for freedom against the British.

■Geographically close.

■Media dramatized events.

�Others who had money invested in Cuba, wanted the United States to intervene to
protect their interests/investments.

■American investors were tied to sugar and rice plantations, railroads, and iron
mines.

Open Ended

Why was the US sympathetic to the Cubans?

The Power of the Newspaper

�Despite all the negative news coming from Cuba, neither President Cleveland nor
President McKinley would intervene.

�Newspaper publishers William Randolph Hearstand Joseph Pulitzertried to
provokeAmerican citizens to call for WAR.

■“You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war” W.R. Hearst

■Headlines sell newspapers!!!! Sold newspapers equals revenue.

�Through “yellow journalism”, they ran headlines and stories that played up the
horror in Cuba.

�Finally, when fighting broke out in Havana, Cuba’s capital city, President McKinley
sent the battleship Maine to protect American lives and property.

What is “yellow journalism?”

YELLOW JOURNALISM: style of reporting and displaying news in a
sensational way that distorts the truth

Multiple Choice

What is yellow journalism?

• A type of journalism that focuses on foreign news

• A form of media that tells the truth in harsh way

• Sensational news that distorts the truth

• The type of paper that was used for special news reports

What Happened?

�On February 15, 1898, the great ship exploded and sank,
taking the lives of 260 men.

■
Americans blamed Spain, and “REMEMBER THE MAINE”
became the battle cry for revenge.

�Who do you think sank the Maine?

▪WHY???

Multiple Choice

Who was blamed for the explosion of the USS Maine?

• Cuba

• Spain

• Mexico

• Germany

•Which of these causes do
you believe had the biggest
impact on the decision to
declare war against Spain
by the United States?

•Why?

•In your opinion, was it
necessary for the United
States to go to war against
Spain?

QUESTIONS

The United States Goes to War

�Although President McKinley wanted to make peace with Spain, he finally
gave in and asked Congress to declare war on April 11, 1898.

■Surprisingly, the first battle was fought NOT in Cuba, but in thePhilippines,
another Spanish colony.

�Where are the Philippines located?

Why might the U.S. be
interested in the Philippines?

Multiple Choice

Where was the first battle of the Spanish-American War fought?

• Philippines

• Cuba

• Mexico

• Vietnam

It’s on

�Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Rooseveltbelieved the war
would expand, so he telegraphed Commodore George Dewey to move
American ships to the Philippines.

■Dewey then received help from a Philippine rebel leader, Emilio Aguinaldo, who
was already fighting to rid his land of Spanish rule.

▪Americans soon took control of the islands.

Multiple Choice

The Philippines were able to gain their independence

• True

• False

War in Cuba

�When the war shifted to Cuba, the main fighting took place near the city
of Santiago and at sea.

■
Theodore Roosevelt, who had given up his navy post, led theRough
Ridersunit in a successful charge up San Juan Hill, which became a
highlight of the war.

Multiple Choice

Who led the Rough Riders?

• George Washington

• Abraham Lincoln

• Ulysses S. Grant

• Theodore Roosevelt

Cuba Falls

�The U.S. Navy then destroyed the Spanish fleet trapped in
Santiago Harbor.

■
Within two weeks, the Spanish surrendered Cuba.

■
The United States then focused their attention on Puerto Rico

�U.S. forces invaded Spanish controlled Puerto Rico and quickly brought it under U.S.
command.

An American Empire

�In December 1898, the United States and Spain signed a peace
treaty.

■
The treaty that ended the Spanish-American War was called the
Treaty of Paris.

■
Cuba gained its independence, but not the true independence it
sought (the U.S. now has control of the island)

�The United States paid Spain $20 million and took control of Puerto Rico,
the Philippines, and the Pacific islands of Guam and Wake.

■
“A Splendid Little War” = The Spanish-American War

�Fighting lasted about four months

�Less than 400 Americans dead from combat while more than 4,000 dead
from disease and spoiled food.

Multiple Choice

After the end of the war, Cuba was now in the control of the US

• True

• False

Why are some Americans upset?

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�Expand means to get bigger.

▪Reasons for imperialism- Political, Economic, Religious, Military, Social.

�Many Americans were unhappy about acquiring colonies, but not
the expansionists.

■They were eager to open new businesses and to spread the idea of democratic
government.

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�Many Americans said taking colonies violated the principle of the
Declaration of Independence.

■Also, acquiring colonies brought the risk of future wars.

Open Ended

Why would some Americans be upset even though they won the Spanish-American War?

The U.S. Becomes a World Power

�The United States replaced Spain as a colonial power in the
Caribbean.

�Cuba was independent in name ONLY.

■
Congress forced the Cuban government to adopt the Platt
Amendmentin its constitution.

� This amendment limited Cuba’s power and made it a U.S.

protectorate

▪An independent country whose policies are controlled by an outside

power.

Multiple Choice

What was the Platt Amendment?

• It limited Cuba's power and became a US protectorate

• It allowed Cuba to become a US state

• A treaty that granted the US the right to build a naval base in Cuba.

• It allowed Cuba to have a say within the US government

Free from Spanish rule

�The Foraker Act of 1900

■
This act gave Puerto Rico limited self-rule, and its people became
U.S. citizens.

�However, many of the islanders wanted their freedom.

Is Puerto Rico a
U.S. state?
--------------
What is their
connection to the
U.S.?

Multiple Choice

Puerto Ricans are US citizens?

• True

• False

Why were the Pacific islands
important to the United States?