Introduction to the Spanish-Introduction to the Spanish-American WarAmerican War

U.S. History

Mrs. Janiak

PLHS

A. Map of Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico• Cuba was a Spanish colony• U.S. had $ invested in Cuba since the Civil War, mostly in sugar

plantations• A Cuban revolt began from hatred of Spanish rule and frustration

over falling sugar prices.• Spain imprisoned rebels with brutal treatment

B. Explosion of the U.S. battleship Maine

• 1898 President McKinley ordered the battleship into Havana Harbor to protect U.S. citizens and property against the Cuban rebellion and Spanish hostility.

• A huge explosion destroyed the battleship, killing 260 sailors

• There was no conclusive evidence to explain who had sunk the Maine…

C. Newspaper headline of the Maine explosion

• Newspapers in the U.S. called for U.S. intervention in Cuba to avenge what they believed was an act of Spanish aggression.

• This is typed of journalism is called- “yellow journalism:” reporters purposely tried to stir up emotions and sell more papers without paying much attention to the real facts.

• Anti-Spanish feeling was also spread by a group of Cubans in New York

D. Political cartoon

• Rebel publicity fed to newspapers to stir up Cuban support

• President McKinley originally opposed U.S. military action against Spain, even proposing a cease-fire between Spain and Cuban rebels.

• McKinley later fell to public and political pressure- war broke out between the U.S. and Spain in the Philippines May 1, 1898

E. Outbreak of War in the Philippines• The Philippines were another

Spanish colony.• Leading a command from

Hong Kong, Commodore George Dewey sunk the entire Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila, only 1 American died

• Dewey obtained the help from Filipino patriot Emilio Aguinaldo, who organized an uprising against Spanish forces.

• Aguinaldo was under the impression that the U.S. would grant the Philippines independence after Spain was defeated… or so he thought….

F. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders• T.R. commanded a volunteer

unit of cowboys, college students and adventurers to Cuba.

• Their determination and spirit became legendary after their charge up San Juan Hill surrounding Santiago, taking control.

• U.S. Navy sunk the Spanish fleet in a one-sided battle in Santiago Harbor= end to the Spanish colonization in Cuba.

• U.S. then turned their attention to Spanish- controlled Puerto Rico, which the U.S. conquered.

H. United States Colored Calvary

• U.S. troops were segregated during the Spanish-American War• Very crucial to the U.S. success, the 9th and 10th Colored Calvaries

did not receive a fraction of the praise that the Rough Riders did.• U.S. soldiers fighting in this war also dealt with:

– Typhoid– Yellow fever– Death by tainted meat

I. Cartoon of Uncle Sam• U.S. involvement and victory did not end

involvement for the U.S. in Cuba after the war.

• McKinley set up a military government while Cuba drafted their Constitution.

• U.S. insisted that their Constitution include the Platt Amendment: limiting Cuba’s foreign interaction and gave the U.S. the right to establish naval bases on the island, sending troops if needed to keep order.

• Signing the peace treaty with Spain- U.S. acquired:

– Philippines– Guam– Puerto Rico