US wants control over Cuba Close to home Business interests▪ US businesses invested billions in

sugar cane plantations Cubans rebel against Spain

(1868-1878) Americans were sympathetic

to the Cuban people

Second War for Independence José Martí (1895) Guerilla campaign—destroyed

property▪ Provokes US intervention by

attacking sugar mills and plantations owned by Americans

American opinion split: Free Cuba! Protect our business!

Sensational style of writing that exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers

William Randolph Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer “You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the

war” Valeriano Weyler

Spanish General Concentration camps in Cuba 300,000 in camps

NY Journal published a leaked letter From Enrique Dupuy

de Lôme—Spanish minister to US

Calls McKinley weak American hostility

toward Spain grows

US ship sent to Cuba Bring home Americans Protect US property

Blows up in Havana harbor 260 killed Reason unclear▪ Newspapers claim Spain guilty

War erupts between US and Spain “Remember the Maine!”

US declares war on April 20, 1898

First battle: Manila, Philippine Islands Commodore George

Dewey’s troops destroy the Spanish fleet and take Manila

Filipinos supported the US Filipino rebels led by Emilio

Aguinaldo help fight

War in the Caribbean See map p. 349 US naval blockade in Cuba

The US navy was superior to Spain’s The US army, however, mainly consisted

of inexperience and ill-prepared volunteers

Volunteer cavalry under Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt Roosevelt gave up job as

Assistant Secretary of the Navy to lead the Rough Riders

San Juan Hill (near Santiago) Rough Riders’ earlier victory at

Kettle Hill cleared the way Minor role in second victory▪ Roosevelt = hero of San Juan Hill!

The Spanish fleet tried to escape the US naval blockade Destroyed

“Splendid little war” 16 weeks long

Ends with Treaty of Paris

Ended the Spanish-American WarResults:

Spain frees Cuba US gets Puerto Rico & Guam Spain sells the Philippines to the US for

$20 million

Some questioned the US’s right to annex the Philippines McKinley claimed God wanted the US to take

the islands▪ BUT most Filipinos were Christians

Other issues:▪ Violates Declaration of Independence▪ We need to focus on race issues at home (Booker T.

Washington)▪ Filipino immigrants might come take American jobs

(Samuel Gompers) February 6, 1899 the Senate approved

the treaty and the US annexed the Philippines