The Spanish American War – SOL USII.4a and Real Words Summary
The “Splendid Little War” – A Quick Summary
In 1895 Cuban nationalists began a revolt against the Spanish government. The U.S. was concerned about
protection of American business interests in Cuba. American business owned huge tracts of land in Cuba to
grow sugar, and the sugar trade was very profitable for U.S. business.
Cubans had been unhappy with Spanish rule for some time, and Americans were sympathetic. Spain's harsh
attempts to put down the Cuban revolt and cruel treatment of the Cubans increased
support in the U.S. for Cuba's struggle for independence. President McKinley, however,
had personally seen so much death and destruction during the Civil War that he was
hesitant to get involved.
Yellow Journalism
Newspapers, competing for sales, exaggerated stories of the horrors of Cuban life under
oppressive Spanish rule. The Spanish had confined many Cubans to concentration camps.
The press called them "death camps," and wrote headlines like “Spanish Cannibalism,”
“Inhuman Torture,” and “Amazon Warriors Fight For Rebels.” Newspapers sent
hundreds of reporters, artists, and photographers to Cuba to report Spanish atrocities. These newspaper stories
of Spanish cruelty sold newspapers and swayed public opinion in favor of intervention.
One photographer sent to cover the Cuban revolt sent back the message, "There is no war. Request to be
recalled." His boss, William Randoph Hearst, reportedly sent back a cable, "Please remain. You furnish the
pictures, I'll furnish the war." The name Yellow Journalism came from this popular cartoon of the Yellow Kid,
who wore a yellow gown while he mocked upper-class customs.
The Battleship Maine
The battleship Maine was sent to Cuba to show
American concern over Spanish actions and support for
the Cuban rebels. The Maine had been in Havana
Harbor three weeks when the captain wrote the trouble
in Cuba was almost over and the new Spanish governor
had the situation under control.
Then one night the battleship blew up and sank, killing
266 men. The American press immediately blamed the
Spanish, though there was no evidence that the Spanish
were responsible. In order to attract readers, they even
faked pictures showing Spanish soldiers planting mines around the ship. Hundreds of editorials demanded
revenge.
Soon a rallying cry could be heard everywhere -- in the papers, on the streets, and in the halls of Congress:
"Remember the Maine! To ** with Spain." President William McKinley was pressured by Congress into
asking for a declaration of war.
On the Other Side of The World
Spain also had other unhappy colonies around the world, especially on the Philippine Islands in the Pacific
Ocean, and a big part of its navy was stationed there. Soon after war was declared, the United States attacked
and destroyed Spain's fleet in the Pacific so the ships couldn't go help out in Cuba. Then the U.S. helped the
rebels in the Philippines defeat Spain and win their independence.
The U.S. Becomes a World Power
The war itself lasted only four months, from mid-April to mid-August 1898. There were 379 American combat
deaths, but more than 5,000 servicemen died of disease.
What about the war's consequences? Begun over the cause of Cuban independence, the war marked the
emergence of the United States as a world power and the beginning of American overseas imperialism.
Most of the fighting occurred in the Spanish possessions of Cuba
and the Philippines, on opposite sides of the world. (There was
also some fighting in Puerto Rico and Guam, but none in the
United States or Spain).
Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace
treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898. It established the
independence of Cuba, gave Puerto Rico and Guam to the United
States, and allowed the U.S. to purchase the Philippines Islands
from Spain for $20 million.
The war between the U.S. and Spain lasted only 4 months.
Teddy Roosevelt became a national hero by quitting his important government job and joining the Rough
Riders to fight in Cuba. He would become president soon after.
One More Thought on Independence
The U.S. had helped Cuba and the Philippines win their independence from Spain in this war. However, since
the Philippines was sold to the United States, the rebels there declared war on the U.S., and a long and bloody
and very ugly guerilla war followed.
Many Americans thought it was wrong to take over the Philippines after we had fought to set the country free
from Spain. Andrew Carnegie, for example, offered to pay the $20 million himself and let the Philippines be
independent.
The country remained a U.S. territory until it was taken by the Japanese during World War II. The Philippines,
which is made up of more than 7,000 islands in the Pacific, finally gained its independence in 1946, after Japan
was defeated in WWII, and today is an ally of the U.S.
The history books also say Cuba gained its independence in the Spanish-American War. However, it was forced
to include rules in the new constitution saying the U.S. could send troops to intervene if we thought our national
interests were threatened. The government in Cuba was sometimes called a “puppet regime,” meaning it was
officially in charge, but the U.S. was really pulling the strings. In 1959, a revolution overthrew the U.S.-backed
government, and Communist leader Fidel Castro came to power. Castro is still the leader in Cuba, and Cuba has
been an enemy of the United States for nearly 50 years.
Guam is still a U.S. territory. Puerto Rico is a U.S. “Commonwealth,” and may one day vote to become the 51st
state.
SOL USII.4a
What the SOLs Say We Should Know About the Spanish-American
War
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the changing role of the United
States from the late nineteenth century through World War I by explaining
the reasons for and results of the Spanish American War.
• The Spanish-American War was a war between Spain and the United
States of America.
• The war was fought mostly in Cuba and the Philippines.
Reasons for the Spanish American War?
• Protection of American business interests in Cuba $$
• American support of Cuban rebels to gain independence from Spain
• Rising tensions as a result of the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
• Yellow Journalism - Exaggerated news reports of events
Results of the Spanish American War?
• The United States emerged as a world power.
• Cuba gained independence from Spain.
• The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto
Rico.
What were the reasons for the Spanish-American War?
• Protection of American business interests in ______________ $$
• American support of Cuban rebels to gain independence from ______________
• Rising tensions as a result of the sinking of the U.S.S. ______________ in Havana Harbor
• Exaggerated news reports of events, known as ______________
The "Splendid Little War" - A Quick Summary
The war between the U.S. and Spain, lasted only 4 ______________. Most of the fighting occurred in
______________ and in ______________, on opposite sides of the world.
In 1895 Cuban nationalists began a revolt against the ______________ government. The U.S. was concerned
about protection of American ______________ interests in Cuba. American business owned huge tracts of land
in Cuba to grow ______________, which was very profitable for U.S. business. Cubans had been unhappy with
______________ rule for some time, and Americans were sympathetic.
Spain's harsh attempts to put down the Cuban revolt and cruel treatment of the Cubans increased support in the
U.S. for Cuba's struggle for ______________. President McKinley, however, had personally seen so much
death and destruction during the Civil War that he was hesitant to get involved.
Newspapers, competing for ______________, exaggerated stories of the horrors of Cuban life under oppressive
Spanish rule. This was called ______________. The Spanish had confined many Cubans to concentration
camps. The press called them "death camps," and wrote headlines like “Spanish Cannibalism,” “Inhuman
Torture,” and “Amazon Warriors Fight For Rebels.” These newspaper stories of Spanish ______________ sold
many ______________ and swayed public ______________ in favor of ______________, or getting involved.
The battleship ______________ was sent to ______________ to show American concern over Spanish actions
and support for the Cuban ______________. The Maine had been in ______________ Harbor three weeks
when the captain wrote the trouble in Cuba was almost over and the new Spanish governor had the situation
under control.
Then one night the battleship blew up and sank, killing 266 men. The American press immediately blamed
______________, though there was no evidence that the Spanish were responsible. In order to attract readers,
they even faked pictures showing Spanish ______________ planting mines around the ship. Hundreds of
editorials demanded revenge. Soon a rallying cry could be heard everywhere -- in the papers, on the streets, and
in the halls of Congress: _________________________________!
The war itself lasted only ______________ months, from mid-April to mid-August 1898. There were 379
American combat deaths, but more than 5,000 servicemen died of ______________.
Begun over the cause of Cuban ______________, the war marked the emergence of the United States as a
world power and the beginning of American overseas ______________.
Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898. It
established the independence of ______________, gave ______________ and Guam to the United States, and
allowed the victorious U.S. to purchase ______________ from Spain for $20 million.
What were the results of the Spanish American War?
• The United States emerged as a world power.
• ______________ gained ______________ from Spain.
• The United States gained possession of ______________, ______________, and ______________.
Expansionism Quiz Questions, Week of Nov. 13
1. How did the U.S. acquire Alaska?
2. How did the U.S. acquire Hawaii?
3-5.What three places did the U.S. acquire from Spain in the Spanish-American War?
6. Which country gained its independence because of the Spanish-American War? (though
some considered it a “puppet” government of the United States)
7. Who were the two main countries fighting in the Spanish-American War?
8. In which two places was the Spanish-American War mostly fought?
9. Name at least one reason for the Spanish-American War.
10. What was the name given to the wildly exaggerated news reports that tried to get the U.S.
involved and sell more newspapers.
11. What was the name of the ship that blew up and sank in Havana Harbor, leading to more
pressure for the U.S. to get involved?