Spanish-American War
CHAPTER 9 SECTION 2
Essential Question
 What were the causes and effects of the Spanish-
American War?
Cubans Rebel Against Spanish Rule
 By 1897 American businessmen had invested $50
million in Cuban business ventures
 Cuba is only 90 miles off the coast of Florida and was
a colony of Spain
Jose Marti
 Cuban patriot who led a revolt in 1895 to “Free
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Cuba”
Rebel forces used guerilla warfare and hit & run
raids against the Spanish
Spanish deprived rebels of food and recruits
American property was destroyed
Americans worried about their economic interests in
Cuba
Yellow Press
 Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst
increased American dislike for the Spanish
government
 They were referred to as yellow press because their
newspapers contained a popular comic strip with a
character called “The Yellow Kid”
 To sell papers they exaggerated Spanish atrocities
and compared Cuban Rebels to American Colonists
America Steps In
 Spain refused to grant Cuban independence
 McKinley sent USS Maine to Havana Harbor to
protect Americans in Cuba
 Hearst published a private (leaked Letter) written by
Spain’s ambassador to DC calling McKinley weak
and stupid
 Letter fueled American jingoism (aggressive
nationalism)
“Remember the Maine”
 Feb. 15, 1898, an explosion tore through the hull of
the USS Maine as it was docked at Havana Harbor
 266 American sailors were killed
 The US blamed Spain…initial investigation blamed a
mine, follow-up investigations had doubts; official
cause unknown
 US Patriots urged their fellow Americans to
“Remember the Maine”
McKinley Reacts
 April 1898 Congress sent Navy to blockade Cuban
ports and called for more than 100,000 volunteers in
the Army
 This prompted Spain to declare war on the United
States
 200,000 enlisted!
Dewey Takes The Philippines
 May 1st, 1898 Commodore George Dewey sailed into
Manila Bay in the Spanish controlled Philippines
 Americans surprised and destroyed the Spanish fleet
docked in the bay
Emilio Aguinaldo
 Led Filipino revolt against Spanish on land
 U.S. sent 15,000 troops to help and the Spanish
surrendered
U.S. Forces Win In Cuba
 June 1898 Americans land in Cuba
 U.S. Marines had already captured Guantanamo Bay
 Army headed to Santiago
Conditions for a U.S. Soldier
 Poorly trained
 Equipped with obsolete weapons
 Heavy wool uniforms to fight in Cuba!
 Corrupt officials
 Given contaminated/rotted food
Diversity
 General Shafter went to Santiago with national guard
units, African-American 9th &10th cavalry regiments,
and Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
TR’s Rough Riders
 Made up of rugged westerners and upper class
easterners
 Famous Battle: San Juan Hill
 Goal: Secure high ground around Santiago
 Result: 2 days later Spanish tried to flee, but were
forced to surrender
Effects of War
 3000 Americans died
 380 in combat
 The rest from disease (malaria & yellow fever)
 Pretty easy victory for Americans
 Dilemma: What to do with new Spanish holdings?
 Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam
Treaty of Paris
 Signed by Spain & U.S. in 1898 to officially end the
war
 Spain gave up Cuba, Puerto Rico & Guam
 Spain sold the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million
Debate
 Teller Amendment prevented U.S. from keeping
Cuba, but what should the U.S. do with the
Philippines?
 Anti-Imperialists wanted to grant Filipinos their
independence
 Imperialist wanted to keep the Philippines
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Educate, uplift, and civilize them
Another country would just take them over again without U.S.
protection
Valuable stepping stone to trade with China
New Role of The U.S.
 As a result of the Spanish-American War, U.S.
gained an empire and became a global power
 The war was a turning point for American foreign
policy