Spanish-American War

U.S. becomes a Superpower

Isolationism vs. Expansionism

• Isolationism > national policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs.

• No alliances.• No conflicts.• Spur economy.

• Expansionism > actions used by one nation to exercise political or economic control over a smaller or weaker nation.

• Why become imperialistic?

Reasons for Expansion

• Superiority > Anglo-Saxonism• European competition• Strategic military bases• New markets for expanded trade• Natural resources• Protect investments

What country is this?

Cuba

Why is Cuba important?

• Proximity to the U.S. >> 100 miles

• Owned by Spain• One-third of the

world’s sugar• $100 million of U.S.

trade per year• Cubans want

freedom

Cuban Revolution

• Jose Marti-Cuban writer and revolutionary

• U.S. was officially neutral

• U.S. citizens support Cubans Why?

Spain’s Reaction

• Spain sends 200,000 troops to the island

• General Valeriano Weyler (“The Butcher”)

• Cubans destroyed American properties. Why?

• Spain sets up concentration camps

New President, New Policy?

• William McKinley is elected in 1896

• Productive diplomacy with Spain

• Cuban rebels still called for independence

• McKinley sends ships

February 15, 1898-sinking of the Maine

What is yellow journalism?

• Writers exaggerated or made up the news stories to attract readers. Why?

• Newspapers in 1898• Who used yellow journalism in 1898?• 2 tycoon journalists

William Randolph Hearst

Joseph Pulitzer

War Begins

• Commodore George Dewey attacks the Philippines (a Spanish possession)

• Battle over by noon

• 1 U.S. death

War in Cuba

• U.S. Army is poorly trained• Community based fighting units• Swamps >> malaria and yellow fever• Buffalo Soldiers >> Who led them?• Stephen Crane >> wrote battle

stories

Who were the Rough Riders?

Rough Riders

• Voluntary unit of the First Cavalry

• Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt

• Diverse backgrounds

• Battle of San Juan Hill

Treaty of Paris

• Cuba given independence (with U.S. protection)

• U.S. gains the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam (formerly Spanish possessions)

• U.S. gives Spain $20 million

The Big Picture

• 4 month war• 385 U.S. deaths from battle• 2,061 U.S. deaths from disease• Healed sectional wounds• Made U.S. a naval power >> Need

for a canal to connect oceans