Spanish American War

Mr. Williams10th Grade U.S. History

•Western Hemisphere was an “American Sphere of Influence”• A geographical area where an

outside nation exerts special economic or political control•Warned European powers to

keep their hands off or risk war

Monroe Doctrine

A Splendid Little War• “a splendid little war; begun with

the highest motives, carried on with magnificent intelligence and spirit, favored by that fortune which loves the brave.”

-Secretary of State John Hay

Spanish-American War•War offered Americans a chance to

wave the flag and mach in unison: NATIONALISM• Began with outrage over treatment

of Cuban revolutionaries by Spanish colonial regime in 1895• By 1898 one-third of the island’s

population had been wiped out

Yellow Journalism• Appealed and fed on public’s

appetite for violence and sensationalism• Joseph Pulitzer: New York World•William Hearst: Evening Journal“You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”-Hearst

Business Interest in Cuba•American business had more

than more than $50 million invested in Cuban sugar•As a result of the revolution

$100 million/ year in trade went down to $0

Roosevelt and Expansionists

•War with Spain opened up prospect of expansion into Asia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines• “We will have this war for the

freedom of Cuba….in spite of the timidity of commercial interests.”

Remember the Maine• February 15, 1898•Mysterious explosion

destroyed the Maine, killing 266 crew members•Congress declared war on

Spain in April

• 235,000 men enlisted shouting “Remember the Maine”• “In April, everywhere over this

good fair land, flags were flying…At the stations, crowds gathered to hurrah for the soldiers, and to throw hats into the air, and to unfurl flags.”

Battle of Manila Bay•5 days after McKinley signed

war resolution, U.S. navy under George Dewey destroyed Spanish fleet• Troops then dispatched to

secure Philippine Islands

• Emilio Aguinaldo: leader of a rebel army of Filipino patriots•Aguinaldo’s army captured

Manila while Dewey waged battle in the water• Spanish in Philippines

surrendered on August 14, 1898

Rough Riders• Teddy Roosevelt resigned his

post as Secretary of Navy• Formed a regiment composed

about equally Ivy League polo players, cowboys, ranchers and miners

Battle of San Juan Hill•8,000 soldiers fought to

control Kettle and San Juan Hill•Along with Rough Riders, also

Buffalo Soldiers: African American of 9th and 10th Cavalries

Impact of San Juan Hill• Six Buffalo soldiers and two

Rough Riders awarded Medal of Honor• Teddy Roosevelt catapulted into

national spotlight• Two weeks later in July, Spanish

troops surrendered in Cuba

Consequences of War• Spanish gave up Puerto Rico,

Guam, and for $20 million the Philippines• Cuba let go as well, but the Teller

Amendment which said U.S. “would leave the government and control of the Island to its people”

Annexation of the Philippines?• For: U.S. had duty to spread its

values overseas•President McKinley felt there

was a need “to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them”

• Located on route to China, Philippines would be useful as a place to refuel and resupply ships•Wanted to annex before they

fell into hands of Germany, Japan, or other nations

Against Annexation•Annexation would violate the

ideal of self-government, formed Anti-Imperialist League• This is the foundation of the

American system

What about the Filipinos?•Rebels enraged, Aguinaldo

warned that he was prepared to take military action• Fighting lasted 3 years, this

cost 4,000 U.S. lives and as many as 200,000 Filipino lives