The Spanish-American War

Chapter 9 Section 2

Why it matters?

0When America went to war against Spain, the United States acquired colonies and became a world power.

Causes of the War

1. Cubans rebel against Spanish Rule

2. The Yellow Press Inflames Opinion

3. The battleship Maine Blows Up

1. Cubans Rebel against Spanish rule

• Spain had imperialistic control over Cuba

• American entrepreneurs invested millions in sugar cane plantations in Cuba

• Cuba was very unstable, they wanted freedom from Spain.

0Cuba rebelled against Spanish rule.

0 Jose Marti launched a war for independence from Spain. Rebel fighters used guerilla tactics against Spanish forces.

0Brutality of Spanish Tactics

0The Cubans’ struggle for freedom and democracy against Spain as an imperialistic power, is similar to what event that occurred in the United States?

2. The Yellow Press Inflames Opinion

0Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst were rival newspaper publishers increased the dislike of the Spanish government.

0Their publications were called the Yellow Press because they featured a popular comic strip character called The Yellow Kid.

0President William McKinley warned Spanish to establish peace. Rebels insisted on independence but Spain refused.

2. The Yellow Press Inflames Opinion Cont.

0McKinley ordered The USS Maine to Havana to protect Americans in Cuba.

0Hearst publishes stolen letter calling McKinley a weak, stupid, politician. This letter fueled American jingoism which is aggressive nationalism.

3. The Maine Blows Up

0The USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor.

0The Yellow Press accused Spain of blowing up the battleship.

0A “Mine” destroys the battleship

The Nation Goes to War

0Patriotism within America . “Remember the Maine!”

0McKinley asked congress for the authority to use force against Spain to end the fighting in Cuba.

0The 4th resolution was the Teller Amendment which proposed that the United States could not take possession of Cuba.

0The Navy blockaded Cuban ports

American Troops Battle the Spanish

01. Dewey Takes the Philippines

02. U.S. Forces Win in Cuba

1. Dewey Takes the Philippines

0Commodore George Dewey led the Americans in victory of the Battle of Manila Bay.

0Dewey was proclaimed a hero.

0Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo were defeating the Spanish army.

0In August, Spanish troops surrendered to the United States.

2. U.S. Forces Win in Cuba

0American troops landed in Cuba in June 1898.

0U.S. Marines captured Guantanamo Bay, a province of Cuba.

0The Battle of Santiago

0 "Rough Riders" was the name given to the first U.S. Volunteer Cavalry under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt.

0The soldiers were issued out of date weapons and wool uniforms.

Effects of “the splendid little war”

1. The Treaty of Paris

2. Americans Debate Imperialism

3. America Assumes a New Role in the World

1. The Treaty of Paris

0The Treaty of Paris officially ended the war.

0Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Island of Guam.

0Philippines sold to America for $20 million dollars

0The Teller Amendment prevented the United States from taking possession of Cuba.

2. Americans Debate Imperialism

0 Imperialistic supports wanted to maintain power over the Philippines.

0Anti-imperialists formed the Anti-Imperialistic League.

0This league argued against Imperialism, saying that it is a “crime”

0Through the debate against Imperialistic supporters and Anti-imperialists, senate had to consider ratifying the Treaty of Paris.

0 In 1899, the treaty was ratified.

3. American Assumes a New Role in the World

0William Jennings Bryan ran against William McKinley for the presidency.

0McKinley defeated Bryan

0Reelection of McKinley. This signaled American’s continuing faith in his imperialistic policies.

As a result of the War…

0the United States had an empire and a new stature in world affairs.

0The war marked a turning point in American foreign policy.

0America has become a world power.