The Spanish EmpireThe Spanish Empire

•Areas that were at one time part of the Spanish

Empire

Civil War in CubaCivil War in Cuba

In 1895 civil war broke

out in Cuba between

Spain and Cuban rebels.

• By 1895, Spain had only a few colonial

possessions left

including the

Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba

Cuban RebellionCuban Rebellion

• Spanish General Valeriano Weyler, orders thousands of Cubans (by 1898 1/3 of all Cubans) into concentration camps.

• Any person who failed to obey was shot.

• Food was scarce and famine and disease quickly swept through the camps.

• Over 400,000 Cubans died as a result of the Spanish Policy.

Setting the Stage for WarSetting the Stage for War

• In competition for readership, two New York newspapers wrote exaggerated stories about the Cuban rebellion.

Chapter 10, Section 2

•This yellow journalism sold a lot of papers but had other

effects as well:•It whipped up American public opinion in favor of

the Cuban rebels!

The Yellow Kid

Printed under a headline that read:

• Cuban Babes Prey to Famine

• Thousands of Children

Perishing in Island Towns

• Sights that Sicken Strong

Men

• The New York Journal reports "...blood on the roadsides, blood in the villages, blood, blood, blood!"

When William Randolph Hearst sent a reporter to cover the rumored war, he cabled back that there was no war going on.  Hearst wired back:  “Please remain. You supply the pictures, and I'll supply the war.”

To get the attention of the U.S. government – Cuban Rebels burn plantations owned by U.S. businessmen.

With millions of dollars of business investments in Cuba, the businessmen demand help from President McKinley

The U.S. Battleship Maine is sent to protect U.S. citizens and as a warning message to Spain!

January 28, 1898Passing Moro Castle in Havana

January 28, 1898Passing Moro Castle in Havana

DeLome Letter written to Sp. Foreign MinisterDeLome Letter written to Sp. Foreign Minister

“…it shows once more what McKinley is, weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd, besides being a would-be politician who tries to leave the door open behind himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party.” DeLome – The Spanish

Ambassador to the U.S.DeLome – The Spanish Ambassador to the U.S.

Uh-Oh . . . on February 9, 1898Uh-Oh . . . on February 9, 1898

• New York Journal owner William Randolph Hearst published the letter under the

headline, "The Worst Insult to the United States in Its History."

• Six days later comes the final straw!

Remember the Maine!Remember the Maine!

WAR!WAR!

• President McKinley

feels he has no choice –

On April 11th, 1898 he asks Congress to declare war on Spain.