Spanish American War

Learning Target: Identify the Causes and Effects of the Spanish American

War

Causes of Spanish American War• American Sympathy towards

Cuban Fight for Freedom against Spanish Rule– “Butcher” Weyler forced 300,000

Cuban Rebels into concentration camps

• Monroe Doctrine – chance to get Spain out of Western Hemisphere

• Economic Interests – sugar plantations

• Yellow Journalism – American Press got American’s behind going to war

• Spark: Sinking of the USS Maine

Valeriano (“Butcher”) Weyler• February,1895, - Cuba• Spanish send Valeriano

("Butcher") Weyler to Cuba to put down Cuban rebellion

• Cuban towns turned into concentration camps, rebels are tortured.

McKinley• November,1896, - US• McKinley elected

president • There was two campaign

promises: – 1) Protect American

business and – 2) Free the Cuban

people.

Yellow Journalism

A type of journalism that distorts and exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers

William Randolph Hearst vs Joseph Pulitzer.New York Journal New York World

U.S.S. Maine • February 15, 1898-

Havana Harbor • U.S.S. Maine was blown-

up • 260 American sailors

were killed after mysterious explosion. Yellow Journalism called for war against Spain ("Remember the Maine"), offer rewards for proof of Spanish plot.

1.What is most noticeable about the example? 2. How is this media making people feel? 3. How would this influence or change peoples mind?

Characteristics of Yellow Journalism

Characteristics of Yellow Journalism:• Headlines in huge print, often of minor news • Many pictures, or imaginary drawings• use of faked interviews, misleading headlines,

and false information from so-called experts • dramatic sympathy with the "underdog" against

the system. • Emotional words and symbols; scare tactics

God Has Told Me

• April,11, 1898, - Washington D.C. • President McKinley asks Congress to declare

war on Spain • Although Spain agrees to all American

demands, McKinley tells Congress that God has told him to attack the Spanish forces.

Important Events

• Sinking of the USS Maine– 266 US Servicemen are killed– Blamed on a Spanish mine

• Admiral Dewey – Surprise attack on the Spanish Fleet in Manila Harbor– All Spanish Ships are Sunk

• Spanish Defeated in Battle of San Juan Hill– T. Roosevelt led the “Rough Riders” to victory

• Spain signs Treaty of Paris Ending the War

Effects of the Spanish American War

• US becomes an Imperialist Power• Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines

become colonies of the US• Cuba gains its independence from Spain,

but becomes a US Protectorate– US will “protect” and partially control Cuba

• Philippine rebels wanting independence declare war on US

Quick Write

• Do you think there is any such thing as a "splendid little war"? What other wars might some people remember as "splendid little" ones? Who might think these wars were not so splendid? Who usually suffers most in a war? Who has to bear the long-term effects of a war?