The Spanish-American War

Chapter 7Section 2

Crisis In Cuba

• Cuba is 90-100 miles off coast of US

• Cuba was controlled by Spain, unhappy

• Jose Marti led revolution

• Used guerilla tactics and destroyed property, esp. US (?)

Spanish-American War

• Valeriano Weyler “the Butcher” sets up concentration camps

• Newspaper wars: Hearst vs. Pulitzer use yellow journalism to sell/persuade

• Fanned war fever• Americans

sympathize for Cuba

US Declares War

• McKinley wanted to avoid war with Spain

• Spain made changes• De Lome Letter

angers Americans (Spanish minister to US)

U.S.S. Maine

• USS Maine sent to protect US citizens and investments

• Feb. 15, 1898 Maine blew up

• 260 men killed• Blame is given to

Spain

Spanish-American WarPhilippines

• “Remember the Maine”• April 20 1898 US

declares war• First battle in Philippines• George Dewey led US

forces/rebels• Within 2 months, Spain

surrendered in Philippines

Spanish-American WarCuba

• Blockade of Cuba sealed Spanish fleet

• Rough Riders led by Teddy Roosevelt

• Buffalo Soldiers and Rough Riders were key in Cuban Victory

• San Juan Hill• Spanish fleet destroyed

as it tried to break blockade

Treaty of Paris

• “Splendid little war” ends with US victor

1. Spain freed Cuba2. Guam and Puerto

Rico were given to the US

3. Philippines sold to US for $20 Million

• Can we annex the Philippines?

Annex the Philippines

• Debate occurred• McKinley- “nothing left to

do but to take them, and educate, uplift and Christianize them”

• Violated the Constitution (self gov’t)

• US annexed Philippines by the Treaty of Paris Feb 6, 1899

Filipinos Revolt

• Filipinos rebel against annexation

• Emilio Aguinaldo led the rebellion

• “one leader for another”• 3 years of rebellion• 20,000 Philipinos/4,000

Americans dead• Cost US $400 Million• Became independent July

4, 1946

Puerto Rico

• US forces occupy island

• Promise protection• Important location for

US• Foraker Act-ended

military rule, set up civil government

• 1917 become US citizens, control own gov’t

Cuba

• Occupied by US troops (Teller?)

• Provided food, clothing, schools, farms, medicine, sanitation, removal of disease

• US insists: Accept the Platt Amendment into

Constitution

Platt Amendment

• Can’t make treaties that limited independence

• US had right to intervene in Cuba• Cuba could not go into debt• US could buy/lease land for naval/fueling

stations (Guantanamo Bay)• Accepted reluctantly and lasted for 31

years, Cuba becomes US protectorate (affairs partially controlled by stronger power)