Unit 6: The Age of Imperialism
and World War I (1890-1918)
Prelude to the Spanish-American
War of 1898
Bell Ringer – Why
Imperialism?
$$$
Imperialism
Review – Why Imperialism?
1.
2.
3.
4.
A policy where one nation seeks to create an empire by
controlling weaker nations is?
a. Jingoism b. Imperialism c. Nationalism
The ______ Thesis stated that the U.S. needed more room to
grow after the West was settled or our economy would suffer.
a. Turner b. Darwin c. Sherman
All of the following groups were in favor of expansion except
_________.
a. Missionaries b. Industrialists
c. Native Americans d. The U.S. Navy
The author of the poem The White Man’s Burden was
_________.
a. Alfred T. Mahan b. Josiah Strong c. Rudyard Kipling
Unrest in Cuba
• By the 1890’s, Spain’s once rich
empire in the Western
Hemisphere had been reduced to
only Cuba and Puerto Rico.
• Americans had invested in
Cuba’s rich sugar industry ($50
M) since before the Civil War and
many wanted to annex it.
• In 1895, Cuban nationals, led by
Jose Marti’, rebelled against
Spain. This conflict became a
violent guerilla war and much
American property was
destroyed.
Red = Spanish Possessions in 1898
Blue = Spanish Possessions in 1700
Guam
Spain Responds to the Rebellion
• Spain sent General
Valeriano Weyler and
150,000 troops to Cuba to
crush the revolt.
• His policy of
“reconcentration” led to
numerous atrocities and
400,000 Cubans died there
as he attempted to restore
order. Weyler was dubbed
“Butcher Weyler” by the
American Press and many
Americans wanted war.
Yellow Journalism
• The news media published
numerous accounts of
Spanish brutality.
• In NYC, two rival newspapers
fed the growing anti-Spanish
sentiment. William
Randolph Hearst’s NY
Journal and Joseph
Pulitzer’s NY World
practiced yellow
journalism - “Write anything
to sell a paper!”
Classic Yellow Journalism
Politicians Get War Fever
• Jingoism- an intense, warlike,
arrogant, national = War fever!
pride; resulted from trumped
up news reports.
• The “jingos” favored an
aggressive policy to pursue
national expansion, even it
meant risking war with other
nations.
• This was fed by yellow
journalism as well as by
members of Congress.
Criticism of McKinley Adds Fire
• Spain’s Ambassador,
Dupuy de Lome’s
letter (Feb 1898) was
published in Hearst’s
newspaper.
• He described
President McKinley
as “weak and a bidder
for the admiration of
the public.”
• Made Americans very
angry! Nationalism!
Remember the Maine!
• The sinking of the USS
Maine added fuel to the
fire (Feb 15, 1898).
• It was sent to Havana to
monitor riots in Cuba
and to protect U.S.
property and citizens.
• Spain was blamed for
the sinking. 266 US
Sailors died.
• “Remember the Maine”
was the battle cry. Did
Spain do it?
Unsolved History - The Death of the USS Maine
America’s New Empire
Exit Slip – Prelude to the
Spanish-American War of 1898
1. Americans became interested in this
island, controlled by Spain, during the
Age of Imperialism?
2. New type of journalism that was really
“anything to sell a paper?”
3. He was the U.S. President during this
crisis?
4. The destruction of this ship angered
Americans and led to war with Spain?