SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Aka- the splendid little war
CAUSES:
1. 1st Cuban Rebellion against Spain
A. Spanish had oppressed the Cubans in order to profit off of their sugar
plantations.
 1/3 of the Cubans were enslaved until 1886
 Cuban Independence: Unsuccessful
2. 2nd Cuban War for Independence
A. Josi Marti : Cuban Journalist launched the revolution in 1895: Cuba Libre!
B. American desire to protect its investments in Cuba
C. US supported Cuba economically ($50 million)
D. Citizens smuggled guns from Florida to Cuban Rebels
PUBLIC OPINION
Opinion was SPLIT
Some want to protect their interest and investments with
Spain
Others are enthusiastic about the Rebel cause Comparing it
to the American Revolution!
“Cuba Libre” vs.“Give me liberty or Give me Death!”
WAR FEVER ESCALATES
Spain sends: General Valeriano Weyler
 Herds entire rural population of central and western Cuba into barbed war
Concentration camps
Civilians could not aid rebels
Thousands die from hunger and disease
CAUSES CONTINUED:
1.
A.
B.
C.
Yellow journalism that intensified U.S. public anger at Spain
William Randolph Hearst: the New York Journal
(Spanish fed Cuban rebels to sharks and dogs)
Joseph Pulitzer: the New York World (Cuba: “blood, blood, blood”)
2. The De Lome Letter1. Written by Spanish Ambassador to the US
2. Intercepted by Cuban Agents and printed in the New York Journal
3. Called McKinley “weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd”
3. The explosion of the USS Maine.
A. USS Maine had been sent to Havana Harbor to ensure Americans safety in the event
that Rebels attack
B. Killed 290 sailors
NEGOTIATIONS?
McKinley wanted Spain to give Cuba independence
SO……..
Spain refused and war was declared April 25, 1898
THE WAR
A.
B.
Lasted 4 months and consisted of 2 fronts: Cuba
& the Philippines
Philippines:
1. Roosevelt (Secretary of Navy) instructed
George Dewey that if war broke out
Philippines must be attacked
1.
Victory for the US
C.
Cuba:
1. Teller Amendment: once Cuba is freed
from Spanish rule, the US would leave
the government to the people of Cuba
1.
Rough Riders: organized by Roosevelt, it
was a group of volunteers to fight
A. Seized Kettle Hill then assisted
soldiers in seizing San Juan Hill
2.
Buffalo soldiers: 9th and 10th African
American calvarias
1.
Victory for US after weeks of fighting
Treaty of Paris
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Spanish give up claims
to Cuba
US buy Philippines,
Puerto Rico, & Guam for
$20 million
Some wanted to annex
the Philippines into the
US others did not
July 4, 1946 Philippines
were granted full
independence
Guam and Puerto Rico
are still owned by the
US today
PLATT AMENDMENT
1. Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation that would weaken its
independence
2. Cuba had to allow the US to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba
3. Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent foreign countries from landing troops
to enforce payment
4. The US would have the right to intervene to protect Cuban independence and
keep order.
C. Jay Taylor, Puck, 3 June 1896 "The Cuban melodrama"
THE NOBLE HERO (to the HEAVY VILLAIN) “Stand back,
there, gol darn ye! If you force this think to a fifth act,
remember that’s where I git in my work!”
Detroit News, 1898
Cartoon of three dancing figures representing
Hawaii, Cuba and Philippines with caption 'Hurrah
For The Fourth Of July We're Coming In On
Independence Day Celebrations Too' published in
the Minneapolis Journal, July 2, 1898
Chicago Record-Herald, 1901.
Miss Cuba Receives an Invitation.
MISS COLUMBIA (to her fair neighbor): “Won’t you
join the stars and be my 46th?”
Represents Cuba entering its second
year of independence.
W.L. Evans, Cleveland Leader, 1903
After the First Mile.
Chicago Inter Ocean 1905
UNCLE SAM to PORTO RICO: “And to
think that bad boy came near being your
brother!
HOMEWORK!
Read Chapter 18 by Monday!
Map Activity!