The Spanish-American War April 25 1898- August 12, 1898

Causes of War Cuban independence Under Spanish rule Rebellion b/c of lack of reforms (1895) under leadership of Jose Marti (had been exiled to US. With others who planned and trained Cuban troops before war) Americans were sympathetic to Cuban independence and wanted to protect their SUGAR interests

General Weyler Y Nicolau To quell rebellion, Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler Y Nicolau (the Butcher) Got name in Ten Years War (1868-1878) b/c of ruthless suppression. Rounded up peasants and put into concentration camps! Thousands died of starvation and disease.

Response to Weyler Brutality of Weyler angered Americans and the press sensationalized the stories of atrocities Weyler was recalled by the Spanish Government.

The media supported this idea Causes of War Imperialism Manifest Destiny – United States had the right to expand its territory. The media supported this idea

The Media William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer promoted manifest destiny and war. Published sensational stories (mostly lies) about Cuba calling for the U.S. to take the Cuban side. – Yellow Journalism

CALLS FOR WAR Pres. McKinley didn’t want to intervene 1897 asked Spanish if US could help negotiate to end conflict, if not solved US would intervene

The USS Maine Sent to Havana to protect U.S. citizens in Cuba. Underwater explosion (Feb. 15 1898) destroyed Maine and killed 266 soldiers. Papers blamed the Spanish and the national battle cry became – “Remember the Maine!”

The USS Maine

Declaration of War Even though Spain had agreed to a peace plan President McKinley asked Congress to grant the U.S. permission to intervene in Cuba. He said it was “in the name of humanity.” April 20 1898 Congress recognized Cuba’s independence and agreed to send U.S. Military to secure it.

Fighting in Cuba The Caribbean Theater U.S was unprepared for war in Cuba. (Army worse than Navy) Soldiers had little training and bad/no supplies. (wool uniforms…) Conditions unsanitary and more killed by disease not fighting

Blockade of Cuba Needed to cut supplies off from Spain. Then Spain could not maintain itself. Spanish Navy had to be destroyed

Santiago Aim was to take the area north of Santiago. This would allow the U.S. to aim guns down on the Spanish. Had to capture El Caney and San Juan Hill El Caney was taken with one U.S. division (Video Clip)

San Juan Hill Theodore Roosevelt led a Calvary unit known as the Rough Riders (about 1,000 men) volunteers The men had to charge Kettle Hill to San Juan hill and flanked the Spanish fortification. They had to do this on foot b/c their horses had not been shipped to Cuba.

Roosevelt called the day of the battle – the greatest day of his life.

Rough Riders on San Juan Hill

The Philippines The Pacific Theater The Philippines was a Spanish colony and the U.S. had to wipe out naval bases on this Island as well as Cuba Roosevelt cabled Commodore George Dewey to attack the Philippines if the U.S. went to war. On May 1 1898, Dewey’s fleet sailed into Manila Bay, and destroyed the Spanish fleet within hours.

Battle of Manila Bay

A Filipino rebellion against the Spanish had been in progress when Dewey landed in Manila. Dewey used the rebels, led by Emilio Aguinaldo to help him defeat the Spanish on land

Emilio Aguinaldo

Defeat and Peace Treaty The Spanish surrendered in the Philippines on August 14 1898 and in Cuba on July 17, 1898. Peace treaty was signed on December 10, 1898 in Paris

Cuba Conditions of Peace Spain leaves Cuba under temporary U.S. control. U.S. could not take over Cuba b/c of Teller Amendment, which in order for the U.S. to declare war it was prevented from taking over Cuba McKinley took steps to keep Cuba in US control

Cuba Conditions of Peace Platt Amendment (Orville Platt) Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation that would weaken its independence Cuba had to allow the US to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba Cuba’s debts had to be low US had right to intervene and protect Cuba independence Spain ceded Puerto Rico, and Guam to the U.S.

PUERTO RICO How to govern Puerto Rico? 1900 congress passed Foraker act Puerto Rico have small elected gov’t but governor and executive council appoint. By US pres. Who had final say in everything (protectorate) Puerto Rican’s not Amer. Citizens (supreme court rule) so not same rights as citizens Later 1917 granted them American citizenship and more political freedom/control

Results of War Ended Spain’s colonial Empire The U.S. emerged as a world power and a military power U.S. established rule in the Philippines 5400 American soldiers died 400 in battle And the rest from disease and food poisoning

Conditions of Peace Spain gave up the Philippines in return for a U.S. payment of $20 million.

The Philippines Debate on annexation of the Philippines For annexation: Filipinos were not ready for self-government and if the U.S. did not help some other European country would. Against annexation: region was not vital to U.S. interests and was against principles of democracy

U.S. maintained military presence in the Philippines Tensions intensified with U.S. troops and Filipino rebels War with Filipino rebels lasted more than 2 years – very bloody Filipino troops used guerrilla warfare to battle the U.S.

Results of Filipino insurrection 200,000-600,000 Filipinos died (most b/c of disease and famine) Fewer than 5,000 U.S. soldiers died. Revolt was subdued in 1901 when rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo, swore allegiance to the U.S. Philippines gained independence from the U.S. in 1946 (July 4)

Sites http://www.spanam.simplenet.com/ http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=03A9F000 http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/ http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/spanam/eve-pge.htm