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Spanish American War
Steps to U.S. Involvement
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American interest in Cuba
• Geographic Location (90 mi. south of FL) – Panama Canal a
possibility– Spanish Colony – too
close for comfort
• Business Investments– Large sugar cane
plantations ($50 mil. – 1895)
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Cubans Rebel Against Spain
• 1st revolt (1868-1878) – unsuccessful• Spanish Gov’t in Cuba
– Corrupt, no reforms, no self-gov’t for Cuba
• 2nd Revolt led to War for Independence (1895)– Jose Marti – organized Cuban resistance– “Cuba Libre!” – Free Cuba– Guerilla campaign
• Hit & run, scorched earth policy – Destroyed American-owned sugar mills & plantations
• Hoped to provoke US into intervening to help the rebels
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Second War for Independence
• Spanish Response – Send 200,000 troops &
General Weyler “The Butcher” to crush rebellion
– Atrocities against Cuban people
• Put peasants in concentration camps
• Kill crops, animals & people
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American Public Opinion• Originally split between:
– Supporting rebels in fight for freedom
– Supporting Spain to protect business investments
• Headline Wars – William Randolph Hearst
(New York Journal)– Joseph Pulitzer (New
York World)– Rally support for war
Joseph PulitzerJoseph PulitzerWilliam Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
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American Public Opinion• Yellow Journalism
– Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers.
• Jingoism– Intense burst of
national pride & aggressive foreign policy
Hearst to Frederick Hearst to Frederick Remington:Remington:
“Please remain. Y“Please remain. You’ll ou’ll furnish the pictures, and furnish the pictures, and
I’ll furnish the war!”I’ll furnish the war!”
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The De lome Letter• President McKinley tried
to avoid interventionism– He got Spain to recall
Weyler & modifiy concentration camp policy
• NY Journal published private letter from Spanish ambassador to US criticizing McKinley
• Americans angry over insult to President
• De Lome Letter thwarted progress by McKinley
“…shows what McKinley is, weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd,
besides being a would-be politician who tries to leave a door open behind
himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party.”
~ De Lome Letter
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USS Maine• McKinley sends USS
Maine into Havana Harbor– Evacuate US citizens if
needed (riots)
• February 15, 1898– Maine explodes in
harbor– 260 Americans killed– Press blames Spanish
sabotage
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America Enters the War• “Yellow Press” continue
to whip up anti-Spanish hysteria
• April 20, 1898– US demands that Spain
withdraws• Authorized President to
take military action necessary
– Teller Amendment – guaranteed US would not annex Cuba
• April 25, 1898– 25th –
• Spain declares war on US• US declares war on Spain