Causes of the Spanish-American War (1898)

1. Explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba

2. The De Lome Letter: Called President McKinley “Weak”

3. The Yellow Press: Exaggerated events in Cuba – feeding babies to sharks!!

4. Inspired by the Declaration of Independence – we want Cuba to experience freedom & independence like the USA

6.02: The Spanish-American War (1898)

Cuba fights for

Independence from

Spain

We want Cuba for sugar

Cuban events sensationalized by the

Yellow Press

2 main journalists:1. Pulitzer2. Hearst

A new Spanish minister is sent to

Cuba –

We send the USS Maine –even though

it’s not ready For battle

The De Lome Letter

From Spanish Minister

Called President McKinley Weak!

The USS Maineexplodes in Havana

Harbor

“Remember the Maine”

No one knows what happened, but we blamed

Spain

The US goes to war With Spain – 3 reasons

1. Yellow Press

2. The De Lome Letter

3. USS MaineExplosion

The Teller Amendment

Agreement with Cuba – we will not try to take them

over after the war

The US blockades Cuban Ports & goes to war with Spain

2 Front War: The US fightsSpain in Cuba & the

Philippines

Admiral George Dewey sent to the

Philippines ( Manila Bay) to destroy the Spanish

Pacific Fleet

Teddy Roosevelt leads the

Rough Riders

at the battle of

San Juan Hill

Most soldier die of diseases

Spain agrees to the

Treaty of Paris, 1898

1. US gets Puerto Rico, Guam, & the Philippines

2. Cuba gets independencefrom Spain

6.02: The Spanish-American War

Effects of the Spanish-American War (1898)

1. Cuba free from Spain

2. US gets islands in the Pacific & the Caribbean

Pacific: Hawaii, Guam, & Philippines Caribbean: Puerto Rica, piece of Cuba

3. US involved in Cuban affairs

4. US becomes a strong international power