The Spanish-American War

• Causes– Rebellion in Cuba

• Cuba had been a $50 million investment by Americans for its sugarcane

• When Cubans (led by Jose Marti rebelled against Spanish rule in 1895, they used guerrilla tactics to inflict massive damage to Spanish forces

• In response, the Spanish created large reconcentration camps for tens of thousands of Cubans died from disease and starvation

• Many Americans supported the Cubans because of the human rights violations AND to protect economic interests

The Spanish-American War

• Causes:– Yellow Press: newspapers that used sensationalist

headlines and exaggerated stories in order to gain readers• Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) and William Randolph

Hearst (New York Journal) used pictures and exaggerated headlines to sell papers• In 1898, the Journal published a letter from a Spanish

ambassador that called President McKinley a “weak and stupid politician” calling it the “Worst Insult to the United States in Its History”• Jingoism: aggressive nationalism

The Spanish-American War

• Causes:– McKinley warned Spain to establish peace or the US

would be forced to intervene– To prove his point, McKinley ordered a battleship

(the USS Maine) to Havana harbor as a show of force– On January 25, 1898, the USS Maine blew up, killing

266 of the 350 members of the crew– Immediately, the Yellow Press accused Spain of the

destruction, calling for all out war• One problem: there was no conclusive evidence that

Spain had anything to do with the Maine

The Spanish-American War

• Causes:– Due to pressures from Americans who called for

war, Spain agreed to certain demands such as the closure of reconcentration camps

– McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force. 8 days later, Congress passed 4 resolutions that amounted to a declaration of war

– US Navy quickly blockaded Cuban ports and the president called for 100,000 volunteers

– As a result, Spain declared war on the United States

The Spanish-American War

• War in the Pacific– Commodore George Dewey led a large squadron

of American ships into Manila Bay (Philippines) and conducted a surprise attack on the Spanish

– No American deaths in the battle; 400 Spanish killed

– Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, rebelled against the Spanish army at the same time

– August, 1898, Spanish troops surrendered

The Spanish-American War

• War in Cuba– American troops landed in Cuba in June, 1898

excited for war– The Spanish army, while formidable, was not their

only obstacle:• American troops were poorly trained and supplied• Improperly dressed for the harsh tropical climate• Fed rotten or contaminated food to save money

The Spanish-American War

• War in Cuba– American Army consisted of regular units,

National Guard, and cavalry units– Rough Riders: • Led by Theodore Roosevelt• Rugged Westerners and Upper-Class Easterner that

embraced the “strenuous life”• Helped the US win the Battle of San Juan Hill

The Spanish-American War

• War in Cuba– After defeat at San Juan, the Spanish navy in

Santiago desperately tried to escape the Island• They were destroyed by the American Navy• Eventually, Spain surrendered Cuba• Americans took possession of Spanish-controlled

Puerto Rico and the war came to an end

The Spanish-American War

• Effects of the War– Treaty of Paris:• Signed in December, 1898• Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam• Spain sold the Philippines to the US for $20 million

The Spanish-American War

• Effects of the War– When the US went to war with Spain, Congress

passed the Teller Amendment, which prevented the US from taking control of Cuba

– The Philippines, however, were not under the same deal• Pro- if the US didn’t control the Philippines, someone

else would• Con- Imperialism goes against what our government

stood for

The Spanish-American War

• Effects of the War– Debate over the Philippines (and Imperialism as a

whole) almost prevented the US from signing the Treaty of Paris

– The population showed their preference: McKinley (Imperialist) defeated William Jennings Bryan (Anti-Imperialist)

– Changed American’s foreign policy