the spanish-american war causes – rebellion in cuba cuba had been a $50 million investment by...
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The Spanish-American War
• Causes– Rebellion in Cuba
• Cuba had been a $50 million investment by Americans for its sugarcane
• When Cubans (led by Jose Marti rebelled against Spanish rule in 1895, they used guerrilla tactics to inflict massive damage to Spanish forces
• In response, the Spanish created large reconcentration camps for tens of thousands of Cubans died from disease and starvation
• Many Americans supported the Cubans because of the human rights violations AND to protect economic interests
The Spanish-American War
• Causes:– Yellow Press: newspapers that used sensationalist
headlines and exaggerated stories in order to gain readers• Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) and William Randolph
Hearst (New York Journal) used pictures and exaggerated headlines to sell papers• In 1898, the Journal published a letter from a Spanish
ambassador that called President McKinley a “weak and stupid politician” calling it the “Worst Insult to the United States in Its History”• Jingoism: aggressive nationalism
The Spanish-American War
• Causes:– McKinley warned Spain to establish peace or the US
would be forced to intervene– To prove his point, McKinley ordered a battleship
(the USS Maine) to Havana harbor as a show of force– On January 25, 1898, the USS Maine blew up, killing
266 of the 350 members of the crew– Immediately, the Yellow Press accused Spain of the
destruction, calling for all out war• One problem: there was no conclusive evidence that
Spain had anything to do with the Maine
The Spanish-American War
• Causes:– Due to pressures from Americans who called for
war, Spain agreed to certain demands such as the closure of reconcentration camps
– McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force. 8 days later, Congress passed 4 resolutions that amounted to a declaration of war
– US Navy quickly blockaded Cuban ports and the president called for 100,000 volunteers
– As a result, Spain declared war on the United States
The Spanish-American War
• War in the Pacific– Commodore George Dewey led a large squadron
of American ships into Manila Bay (Philippines) and conducted a surprise attack on the Spanish
– No American deaths in the battle; 400 Spanish killed
– Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, rebelled against the Spanish army at the same time
– August, 1898, Spanish troops surrendered
The Spanish-American War
• War in Cuba– American troops landed in Cuba in June, 1898
excited for war– The Spanish army, while formidable, was not their
only obstacle:• American troops were poorly trained and supplied• Improperly dressed for the harsh tropical climate• Fed rotten or contaminated food to save money
The Spanish-American War
• War in Cuba– American Army consisted of regular units,
National Guard, and cavalry units– Rough Riders: • Led by Theodore Roosevelt• Rugged Westerners and Upper-Class Easterner that
embraced the “strenuous life”• Helped the US win the Battle of San Juan Hill
The Spanish-American War
• War in Cuba– After defeat at San Juan, the Spanish navy in
Santiago desperately tried to escape the Island• They were destroyed by the American Navy• Eventually, Spain surrendered Cuba• Americans took possession of Spanish-controlled
Puerto Rico and the war came to an end
The Spanish-American War
• Effects of the War– Treaty of Paris:• Signed in December, 1898• Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam• Spain sold the Philippines to the US for $20 million
The Spanish-American War
• Effects of the War– When the US went to war with Spain, Congress
passed the Teller Amendment, which prevented the US from taking control of Cuba
– The Philippines, however, were not under the same deal• Pro- if the US didn’t control the Philippines, someone
else would• Con- Imperialism goes against what our government
stood for
The Spanish-American War
• Effects of the War– Debate over the Philippines (and Imperialism as a
whole) almost prevented the US from signing the Treaty of Paris
– The population showed their preference: McKinley (Imperialist) defeated William Jennings Bryan (Anti-Imperialist)
– Changed American’s foreign policy
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