Tell me about the Spanish-American War….

Eagle soar on high, and sound the battle cry!

How proudly sailed the warship Maine,

a Nation’s pride, without a stain! A wreck she lies, her sailors

slain. By two-faced butchers, paid by

Spain!

Eagle soar on high, And sound the battle cry

Wave the starry flag! In mud it shall not drag!

Cuba was colonized by Spain - think 1492

By 19th century, only Cuba and PR still Spanish colonies

1868-1878 Cuban insurrection – Cuban rebels fight for independence

February 24, 1895 another insurrection led by Jose Marti 1896 – General Weyler (Spanish)

Reconcentration & military rule

U.S. had business interests in Cuba-$50 million mining & sugar

to “protect” American business interests & Cuban property

Hit and run guerilla attacks on state property during fighting (hurt economy)

US sympathetic with rebels Rebels placed in jail, some Americans News papers run stories about rebels

(NYJ) - "Death of Rodríguez“ – firing squad Remember the penny press???

Yellow Journalism - Sensationalist news… (more on that later)

McKinley takes office 1897: “independent Cuba, annex

Hawaii, Panama Canal”▪ What does this tell us??

Jan 25, 1898 USS Maine goes to Havana So, why did we send an

American battle ship to Cuba????

De Lome letter (published Feb 9, 1898) Written by DeLome, Spanish Ambassador to

the US (sent to Foreign Minister of Spain Intercepted by rebels and published by Hearst

Press, NY Journal "weak and catering to the rabble and,

besides, a low politician who desires to leave a door open to himself and to stand well with the jingos of his party."

Feb 15, 1898 Maine explodes lose 260 men

What will happen next???

DESTRUCTION OF THE WAR SHIP MAINE WAS THE WORK OF AN ENEMY

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Convinced the Explosion of the War Ship Was Not an Accident.

The Journal Offers $50,000 Reward for the Conviction of the Criminals Who Sent 258 American Sailors to Their Death. Naval Officers Unanimous That the Ship Was Destroyed on Purpose.

 

MAINE’S HULL WILL DECIDE

Divers to Find Whether the Force of the Explosion Was from the Exterior or Interior.

SHE WAS AFLOAT FOR AN HOURSpontaneous Combustion in Coal Bunkers a

Frequent Peril to the Magazines of Warships – Hard to Blow Up the Magazine.

NAVAL OFFICERS THINK THE MAINE WAS DESTROYED BY A SPANISH MINE.

Do you know what happened to the Maine? What evidence do you have for your answer? Give

an example where the reporter uses solid evidence to support a claim made in the article.

What effect might the Journal article have had on its readers?

What effect might the Times article have had on its readers?

Which article would people be more likely to remember and believe?

How significant do you think the Maine explosion was to the American people at this time? Why?

This song was rushed into print between the sinking of the Maine (an American ship) on February 16, 1898 and the declaration of war on April 25, 1898.

Eagle soar on high, and sound the battle cry!

How proudly sailed the warship Maine, a Nation’s pride, without a stain! A wreck she lies, her sailors slain.

By two-faced butchers, paid by Spain!

Eagle soar on high, And sound the battle cry

Wave the starry flag! In mud it shall not drag!

Who sunk the Maine? What does this song reveal about American attitudes?

Yellow journalism Sensationalized, exaggerated

and sometimes even manufactured (made up) stories

New York Journal & New York World

http://www.authentichistory.com/1898-1913/4-imperialism/2-saw/1-prelude/18980000_Uncle_Sam_Tell_Us_Why_Are_You_Waiting-George_J_Gaskin.html

A month after the Maine Explosion, McKinley declares: Cuba independent & demands a complete

withdraw of Spanish troops (Teller Amendment)

Called for unconditional compliance from Spain by April 23

Denies any desire by USA to keep Cuba April 22nd McKinley blockades Cuba’s

coastline If you were Spain what would you do?

Would you have declared war on the USA too?

The Spanish-American War Begins…. Any predictions?

Decreased army after Civil War - 26,000 regulars Mobilization Act

US afraid attack on Florida & West Coast

May 1 - take Philippines within 6 hours Commodore Dewey takes Manila

Bay (water) without losing a man!

Emilio Aguinaldo returns and leads land victory

Filipino freedom fighter Declares independent Philippines on

June 12 August American army captures

Manila (Upset Filipinos and later leads to war

with the Philippines)

Commodore Dewey captures Manila Bay without losing a man

Early June take Guam & the Spanish do not realize! Captain Henry Glass on his

way to Manila stops in Guam

June 20 – handed over by Spanish Governor ▪ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4h8kqRE29s

Fighting begins in Cuba June 20, 1898

17,000 American troops to Santiago

July 1 - 8,000 storm - Kettle Hill then San Juan Hill – Santiago falls Rough Riders, led by Teddy

▪ Cowboys, Indians, Wild West types, Ivy League athletes and sportsmen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhkCWpbZyJU

Buffalo Soldiers (9th/10th cavalries)

Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt "We disembarked with our rifles, our

ammunition belts, and not much else," he remembered. "I carried some food in my pocket, and a light coat which was my sole camp equipment for the next three days.“

July 3 - Destroy Spanish Fleet – Santiago Bay

Spanish flee Cuba July 25 , Gen’l Nelson Miles to Puerto

Rico 3,300 soldiers

Aug 12, 1898 cease fire A four month war!

274,000 served – under 2,456 died 385 killed in action, rest died of

disease & food poisoning!

Why did Spain fall so easily??

“War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed” Guess who said this? Do you agree? Did we wait until “every agency” was

exhausted before entering into the Spanish-American War?

Independence to Cuba – Teller Amendment

Puerto Rico Guam Philippines purchased for $20

million

By 1903 Teller revised - Platt Amendment: naval bases, intervene, limit foreign interaction

Explain the title What is the author’s message? Give 3 specific citations from the text and

images

June 15, 1898: Anti-Imperialist League

Specific focus annexation PhilippinesEconomic, racial, moral to legal

reasons Notable members:

Andrew Carnegie Mark Twain Samuel Gompers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHLzCgfqJK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xKCH86n2aY&feature=relmfu