Describe the circumstances that led to war between the United States and Spain in 1898.

Explain how the war made the United States a world power.

The United States defeated Spain in a war, acquired new overseas territories, and became an imperial power.

• José Martí

Main Idea

Key Terms and Names

• William Randolph Hearst

• Joseph Pulitzer

• yellow journalism

• Jingoism

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Platt Amendment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nPGre7SbkE

The Coming of War: The Cuban Rebellion Begins• Cuba = a Spanish colony, provided wealth for Spain with

sugarcane plantations• In 1868 Cuban rebels declared independence &

began a guerrilla attack against Spanish authorities attack failed & Cuban rebels fled to the U.S. to plan a new revolution.

•Writer/poet José Martí, an exiled leader of Cuba’s revolution, fled to NYC.

•raised $ from Americans & began purchasing weapons/training troops to prepare for an invasion of Cuba

•began a new rebellion in Feb. 1895 - seized control of eastern Cuba, declared its independence set up the Republic of Cuba (Sept. 1895).

• At the start of the Cuban revolution, Americans were neutral.

• But after reports in two newspapers, the New York Journal owned by William Randolph Hearst & the New York World owned by Joseph Pulitzer, Americans began to side with the rebels.

• The newspapers, trying to outdo each other, began to use yellow journalism by running exaggerated stories of Spanish attacks on Cubans.

The Coming of War: Americans Support the Cubans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0XfxtMBF8A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abzd41k_OhQ

• The Cuban rebels attacked and destroyed American property, hoping for American intervention in the war.

• The Spanish appointed General Valeriano Weyler to serve as governor.

• He caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Cuban villagers by sending them to reconcentration camps.

• This led Americans to call for intervention in the war.

The Coming of War: Americans Support the Cubans (cont)

• The Spanish ambassador to the U.S., Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, wrote a private letter, describing President McKinley as weak and seeking admiration of Americans.

•The New York Journal printed the letter, causing Americans to become angry over the insult.

The Coming of War: Calling Out For War

• In February 1898, the U.S.S. Maine, anchored in Havana, Cuba, exploded, killing 266 American officers/sailors

•Although no one knows why the ship exploded, many Americans blamed Spain.

“REMEMBER THE MAINE, TO HELL WITH SPAIN!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCwOtl4rERc

The Coming of War: Calling Out For War (cont.)

• President William McKinley did not want to intervene in the war, fearing it would cost the U.S. too many lives and hurt the economy.

• Within the president’s own political party, jingoism = aggressive nationalism, was very strong.

• In 1898, after much pressure, McKinley authorized Congress to declare war on Spain.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urtm4GpjFu4

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=svEBBr3EvNk

A War on Two Fronts: The U.S. Takes the Philippines• The U.S. Navy’s North Atlantic

Squadron blockaded Cuba

• An American fleet in British Hong Kong was ordered to attack the Spanish fleet in the Philippines–a Spanish colony.

• In May 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a squadron that destroyed Spanish warships in Manila Bay in the Philippines.

• McKinley sent 20,000 American troops to the Philippines and, along the way, seized the island of Guam–a Spanish possession in the Pacific.

• In June, Am. troops advanced toward Santiago Harbor in Cuba• One group attacked the village of El Caney & another group

attacked San Juan Heights• Among the American troops were the “Rough Riders” led by

Colonel Leonard Wood, with Theodore Roosevelt as 2nd in command

A War on Two Fronts: Am. Forces Battle in Cuba

• About one-fourth of the Am. troops fighting in Cuba were Af Am

• Spanish resistance ended with the surrender of Santiago

• On August 12, 1898, Spain & the U.S. agreed to a cease-fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYpdZMFOObQ

OPPOSITION TO ANNEXATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

• Anti-imperialist League– Rule of one people by another went against the most

basic values of American democracy– Possession of colonies would lead to rivalry & armed

conflict– Cheap labor from colonies would lead to lower wages in

the U.S. (Samuel Gompers)

REBELLIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES• Emilio Aguinaldo leads guerilla warfare

against American soldiers in Philippines.• General MacArthur adopts many of

same policies Spanish used in Cuba to fight guerillas.– Reconcentration camps

• Americans build up infrastructure, schools, health services & the economy.

• 1901 Aguinaldo captured Philippine-American war ends (1899-1902)

• 1946 U.S. grants independence

GOVERNING PUERTO RICO• 1900 Foraker Act = Puerto

Rico unincorporated territory, no constitutional rights, Congress passes whatever laws it wants for the island

• 1917 U.S. makes Puerto Ricans citizens of United States – Commonwealth of U.S.

• Debate today over status – Independence? Statehood?

CUBA & PLATT AMENDMENT1901 Platt Amendment CUBA NOW AN AMERICAN PROTECTORATE

1. Cuba can’t make treaty with another nation that would weaken independence/allow foreigners territory2. Cuba must allow U.S. to buy/lease naval bases3. Cuba’s debts must be kept low to prevent foreigners landing troops to enforce payments4. U.S. right to intervene to protect Cuban independence/keep order

REVIEW: CAUSES, COURSE, & CONSEQUENCES OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

CAUSES: •Cuba = an important/highly profitable sugar cane colony of Spain. Beginning in the 1890s, the US & Cuba had an agreement where they would be allowed to set up sugar cane plantations, railroads & mines in Cuba (with Spanish permission). For a long time, trade with the US helped fuel the Cuban economy, until in the late 1890s Cuba hit a depression. Soon, Cubans started calling out for independence from Spain.•Led by rebel Jose Marti, the Cubans began a revolution for their independence, free from Spain. But the rebellion was brutally crushed by Sp. forces; there were many war atrocities, including mass killings/concentration camps in Cuba. News of these atrocities reached the US via yellow journalism, & this angered Americans enough to hate Spain. In addition, many Cuban rebels purposely wrecked American-owned property in Cuba (railroads & factories) in order to influence wealthy business owners to cry for war. •Many Americans wanted war with Spain & would use any excuse to start it. In March 1898, the USS Maine, an Am. navy ship, blew up off of the Havana Harbor, Cuba, & immediately the US blamed Spain. On April19, 1898, the US declared war on Spain. REMEMBER THE MAINE, TO HELL WITH SPAIN!

COURSE: •Fighting in Cuba for the Americans was not as easy as they expected. Many died from disease caused by unsanitary war conditions; more American soldiers died as a result of disease than actual combat. •Soon, Teddy Roosevelt, then Secretary of the Navy, quit his high-paying job to start a group called the “rough riders,” a cavalry unit made up of cowboys & miners. Their courageous war efforts boosted the Am. advance and on July 3 1898, along with the navy, helped defeat & make Sp. surrender on Aug. 12 1898. Teddy Roosevelt would emerge with the medal of honor & labeled a war hero becomes President.

CONSEQUENCES:•Philippines: The US also helped the Philippines gain independence from Spain. However, there was much disagreement between the US and the Filipinos as how the Philippines would be controlled, and if the US should stay behind. After much tension, the US, deciding not to annex the Philippines, left the island in 1902.•Because of the Spanish-American War, the US was able to acquire Guam (territory), the Philippines, & Puerto Rico (commonwealth). •Although it took until 1946 to finally grant them full independence, the US let the Philippines become its own independent country, without annexing it.•More importantly, the Spanish-American war kicked out most of the original colonial powers from the Western hemisphere and solidified the United States as the dominant power of the hemisphere.