Latinos You Need to Know

• Benito Juarez- 1st Native American to become President of Mexico

• Reduced power of the military in gov’t

• Tried to separate church and state

• Introduced a policy of tolerance for all religions

• Elected 1861

Latinos You Need to Know

Latinos You Need to Know

• 6 months after he took office, he suspended payments on the foreign debt

• French responded by invading Mexico

• Austrian noble Maximillian becomes Emperor of Mexico

• Juarez defeats the French in 1867- Maximillian executed- Cinco de Mayo

Latinos You Need to Know

• David Farragut- From a family that fought in the American Revolution. He became an admiral in the US Navy

• Captured New Orleans and bombarded Vicksburg

• Captured Mobile Bay- “Damn the Torpedoes- Full speed ahead!”

Farragut

Farragut’s Flagship the “Harford”

Spanish-American War1898

Write down these Questions…

• What were Latinos trying to achieve in Cuba/Puerto Rico during the War?

• What role did the media play in involving the USA in the War?

• Why were the Americans welcomed when they arrived?

• What did Latinos think of the American presence after the War ended?

• Can you make a comparison to American presence in Iraq today? Explain.

Wars for Independence

• Simon Bolivar had plans to invade Cuba and PR, but they were cancelled because the US backed Spain’s control of the islands.

• 1868-1878- 10 years war for Cuban independence failed. Americans sympathize with rebels.

• 1886- slavery abolished on island

Wars for Independence

• Jose Marti- leader of Cuban war for independence- lived in New York

• Admired American democracy but criticized US racism and materialism- love of $

• Worried about US influence in Latin America- saw it as harmful.

• 1895- War launched by Cuban refugees in US

Jose Marti

Wars for Independence

• Marti shot in Cuba by Spaniards in 1895, but his life became inspiration for independence

• Guerrilla War- means “little war” in Spanish- “hit and run” style of fighting

• Rural Cubans herded into barbed wire cages.

Yellow Journalism

• Yellow Journalism- sensational and exaggerated brand of reporting designed to sell newspapers

• Pulitzer and Hearst competed for readership and $ in US

• Their newspapers helped start the war with Spain

William Randolph Hearst

Joseph Pulitzer

Drive for War

• Insulting letter about President published in papers

• As fighting raged on, US sent USS Maine to Havana to protect American businesses

• USS Maine blows up in Havana Harbor- most likely an accident

Yellow Journalism