7.2 Spanish-American War

Spain’s Empire in 1800’s:Cuba, Philippines, and Guam

Cuba’s Independence• Cuba was a colony of Spain and

was mounting a uprising or war for independence.

• General Wehyler of Spain put down the uprising

• 300,000 Cubans go into concentration camps as punishment

• Rural people had 8 days to move into fortified cities or be shot

• 400,000 died• This simply inspired the Cubans

even more to fight for independence

Cuban Insurgence

Cuba’s Independence • The U.S. was VERY interested in the uprising

because of the money invested in Cuban railroads and various plantations.

• These American investments were getting destroyed by Spanish soldiers.

• Over 200,000 Spanish troops were sent to Cuba to put down the rebellion.

• The Spanish general in charge was Valeriano Weyler.

• He quickly earned the nickname “The Butcher” because of his harsh treatment and policies.

American Involvement and Yellow Journalism

• The United States was unofficially neutral in the start of the conflict.• The New York Journal and the New York

World were spreading lies and half truths about the Cuban war for independence.• What led to most Americans supporting

the Cuban rebels was the yellow journalism.

Yellow JournalismA 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

“You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.”

William Randolph Hearst

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“Yellow Journalists”

• Make more $ if they keep you scared and interested

What?

Why?

•Newspaper created highly exaggerated stories

•Made Americans want war!

How did it lead to war?

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

Does Yellow JournalismStill Exist?

America gets involved• President McKinley did not want to involve the U.S. in any

war with Spain.• McKinley sent the U.S. battleship Maine to Havana if any

American citizens were harmed.• February 15th 1898 the Maine went down in the harbor of

Havana Cuba.• This would trigger the Spanish American War.• 266 of the 354 crew died.• When the Maine was attacked, this signaled war for the

U.S.

U.S.S. Maine

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?

The Spanish Perspective

Spanish American War• On April 23rd, 1898 Spain declared war on the United

States.• The U.S. had a better Navy plus better trained soldiers

than the Spanish forces.• On June 14th, 1898 about 17,000 troops landed in

Cuba.• The one thing America did not do was train troops fast

enough. Many troops got sick in the summer heat waiting for deployment.

Around the Same Time In the Pacific Ocean

• Admiral Dewey attacks a Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippines

• Taking the Philippines by land we tell the locals we are there to liberate them from the Spanish

• Dewey travels to Hong Kong to get Emilio Aguinaldo, and leader of the Phillipino independence movement

Fighting the Spanish on Opposite Ends of the Earth

• War on two fronts

Spanish American War • The Rough Riders were a group of soldiers

that helped to capture San Juan Hill which ultimately led to the end of the war.

• The commander was Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.

• On December 10th, 1898, the U.S. and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris.

• This allowed Cuba to become an independent country.

• The U.S. also gained Spanish territories of Puerto Rico and Guam.

• The U.S. also agreed to pay $20 million for the Philippines.

Charge of the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill

African American soldiers at San Juan Hill

Effects of the Spanish American War• US becomes an Imperialist Power• Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines become

colonies of the US (we pay 20 million)• 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

• War with the Philippines begins!

The Water Cure"His sufferings must be that of a man who is drowning, but cannot

drown." -Lt. Grover Flint, Philippine-American War.

“Civilization begins at home”

-- The Philippines are US territory. Can the US give up its own territory?

-- If whites were “morally bound to abandon the Philippines, we were also morally bound to abandon Arizona to the Apaches.”

-- “The barbarian will only yield to force.”

ROOSEVELT’S ARGUEMENTS IN THE 1900 ELECTION CAMPAIGN:

Andrew Carnegie

Anti-Imperialist League

Mark Twain