Section 10-2

The Spanish-American War

Cubans Rebel Against Spain

• Jose Marti- Cuban poet and journalist in exile in New York. Launched a revolution in 1895. He organized Cuban resistance against Spain using an active guerilla campaign, and deliberately destroying American owned sugar mills and plantations. He counted on American intervention to help achieve a free Cuba.

War Fever Escalates

• Valeriano Weyler- Spanish general sent to Cuba to restore order. Tried to crush the rebellion by herding the entire rural population of central and western Cuba into concentration camps.

• Yellow Journalism- sensational style of writing, which exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers.

• U.S.S. Maine- American battle ship that exploded in the harbor of Havana. Helped throw America into war with Spain.

War with Spain Erupts

George Dewey- Commodore of the U.S. pacific fleet. Gave the command to open fire on the Spanish fleet at Manila, the Philippine capital. Within hours his men had captured or destroyed every Spanish ship there.Rough Riders- Volunteer cavalry regiment under the command of Theodore Roosevelt. San Juan Hill- Strategically important. Rough Riders played a minor role in victory, but newspapers declared Roosevelt and his regiment the heroes of San Juan Hill. Treaty of Paris- Treaty signed after the war that had Spain free Cuba, and turned over the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico the United States. It also had Spain sell the Philippines to the United States.