american history the spanish-american war mr. leasure 2014 – 2015 harrison career center

American HistoryThe Spanish-American

War

Mr. Leasure 2014 – 2015

Harrison Career Center

Why did Cuba rebel against Spain?Key Question #1

Why did Cuba rebel against Spain?

•The Spanish Empire was crumbling by the end of the 19th century.


•Spain had controlled most of North American, Central America, and South America.


•By 1890, Spain only had a few colonies.


•Among them were the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Ocean.


•Cubans revolted against Spain multiple times during the 1800s but Spain defeated the rebels each time.


•In 1895, an economic depression caused Cubans to rebels. Spain sent a harsh general to crush to crush the rebellion.


•Spain forced Cubans from their homes and placed them in camps guarded by Spanish troops.


•Thousands died of starvation and disease in the camp.

What factors influenced the United States to declare war on Spain.Key Question #2

What factors influenced the U.S.?

•The revolt in Cuba caused alarm in the U.S. and business leaders were concerned the fighting would cause a disruption in trade between the U.S. and Cuba.


•The revolt in Cuba caused alarm in the U.S.


•Business leaders were concerned the fighting would cause a disruption in trade between the U.S. and Cuba.


•Most Americans became outraged when the press began to describe the atrocities in the Cuban prison camps.


•American newspapers attracted readers by printing stories that described – and often exaggerated – news about Spanish cruelty.


•This sensational style of writing was known as Yellow Journalism.


•The public wanted to go to war by President William McKinley did not want war.


•McKinley reluctantly demanded Spain halt its harsh treatment – or else.


•McKinley sent the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba.


•The U.S. battleship was sent to Cuba to protect U.S. citizens due to the fighting.


•In February, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine exploded and sank – killing 260 sailors.


•No one knows what caused the explosion – most historians today believe it was an accident.

•Even so, Americans blamed Spain.


•“Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!” , became the U.S. call to arms.


•On April 20, 1898, President McKinley signed a Congressional Resolution that called for Cuban independence and demanded withdrawal of all Spanish Forces from Cuba.


•The U.S. gave Spain 3 days to respond and but Spain refused.

•The Spanish-American war started.

How did the Spanish-American War affect the Philippines?Key Question #3

..affect the Philippines?

•The U.S. fought for Cuban independence but the first major battle took place in the Spanish colony on the other side of the world – the Philippine Islands.


•Many Filipinos had also revolted against Spanish rule on their island too.


•When the war started, the U.S. navy met the Spanish navy at Manila Bay in the Philippines.


•Within a few hours, the U.S. navy destroyed the Spanish fleet and killed 380 sailors – not one American was killed.


•Within months, U.S. armed forces took control of the Philippine Islands.

How did American forces defeat the Spanish in Cuba?Key Question #4

..defeat the Spanish in Cuba?

•When the Spanish-American War started, the U.S. army only had 28,000 men.

•After 4 months, over 200,000 more joined up.


•Among the new recruits was Teddy Roosevelt.

•Roosevelt helped to organize a cavalry unit nicknamed the Rough Riders.


•In June, the Rough Riders and 16,000 soldiers set out for Santiago – the Spanish stronghold in Cuba.


•To control Santiago, U.S. soldiers had to capture San Juan Hill – they attacked July 1.


•Two days later, U.S. forces captured the hill and destroyed the Spanish naval fleet in Santiago harbor.


•A week later, U.S. forces took Puerto Rico.


•On August 12, 1898, Spain signed a truce with the United States. For Spain, 400 years of glory had come to an end.


•U.S. government officials declared the Spanish-American War had been a “splendid little war”.

What demands did the U.S. make of Spain after the War? Key Question #5

What demands did U.S. make.. ?

•After the war, the U.S. demanded that Spain give up other colonies after the war.


•Spain had no choice but to agree – the Paris Peace Treaty was signed in December 1898.


•The U.S. did not know what to do with the Philippine Islands.


•The Filipinos believed they were fighting for freedom but the U.S. decided to make the Philippines an U.S. colonies.


•The U.S. was reluctant to give Cuba complete independence.

•Cuba had to add the Platt Amendment to the Cuban Constitution.


•The Platt Amendment gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs anytime there was a threat to “life, liberty, and property”.


•Cuba also had to allow a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.


•Puerto Rico became an American territory – the U.S. set up the government and appoint top officials.


•The Puerto Ricans had little to say in their own affairs.

How did Americans feel about the results of the War?Key Question #6

How did Americans feel about.. ?

•There was a roar of approval for the Spanish-American War.

•Many Americans hoped their nation would surpass the glory of the old Spanish-Empire.

american history the spanish-american war mr. leasure 2014 – 2015 harrison career center

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