Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War

Objectives 1. Contrast American opinions regarding the Cuban revolt against Spain. 2. Identify events that escalated the conflict between the United States and Spain. 3. Trace the course of the Spanish-American War and its results.

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War *By the end of the 19th Century, Spain – once the most powerful nation on earth – had lost most if its colonies. It retained only the Philippines, Guam, a few outposts in Africa , Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War I. Cubans rebel against Spain A. American interest in Cuba has been long founded 1. 1854 – diplomats recommended to President Franklin Pierce to purchase the island from Spain 2. Spain refused B. Cubans rebel in 1868, for ten years 1. Had American sympathizers 2. Unsuccessful revolt 3. Revolt did force Spain to abolish slavery in 1886 4. American capitalists invest millions in Cuba’s sugar plantations

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War C. Second war for independence 1. Jose Marti organizes a revolution in 1895 a. Uses guerilla tactics b. Deliberately destroys American- owned sugar mills in an attempt to provoke American involvement 2. American public opinion was split a. Some wanted to support Spain and protect American investments b. Others supported Cubans; Cuba Libre! (Free Cuba!)

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War II. War Fever Escalates A. 1896 Spain begins rounding up Cubans in rural areas and placing them in concentration camps 1. 300,000 filled the camps B. Headline Wars 1. Spain’s actions fueled a war between American newspapers 2. New York Journal (William Randolph Hearst) and New York World (Joseph Pulitzer) printed exaggerated accounts of atrocities of the war 3. Sensational style of writing increased American sympathy (for Cubans) a. Known as yellow journalism – exaggerate the news to lure readers 4. Newspapers fanned war fever a. Hearst sent artists to draw sketches that matched stories b. artists reported that war between U.S. and Spain was very unlikely c. Hearst responded, “you furnish the pictures and I will furnish the war”

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War C. The DeLome letter 1. McKinley becomes president in 1897 2. Preferred to avoid war; use diplomatic means to resolve crisis a. Spain agrees to limited self government for Cuba 3. Letter uncovered from Spanish minister to the U.S. Enriqe DeLome a. In the letter, DeLome calls McKinley “weak” D. The U.S.S. Maine explodes 1. McKinley orders the U.S.S. Maine to bring home American citizens a. Only a few days after publication of letter 2. U.S.S. Maine was blown up while in the harbor (1898) a. 260 American men die 3. No one knew why the ship exploded a. American newspapers blame Spain b. Hearst offers $50,000 reward for capture of Spaniards responsible

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War III. War with Spain Erupts A. On April 11, McKinley asks Congress for authority to use force against Spain 1. April 20, 1898 U.S. declares war on Spain B. War in the Philippines 1. First battle of the war with Spain 2. Commodore George Dewey gave the command to attack the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay a. Within hours every Spanish ship was destroyed 3. Filipinos supported Dewey and wanted freedom 4. Spain surrenders the Philippines in August, 1898

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War C. War in the Caribbean 1. Spanish fleet sailed in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba a. American navy far superior D. Rough riders 1. American army begins to converge on port city of Santiago a. 17,000 men b. Four African American regiments and the Rough Riders 2. Rough Riders were volunteer cavalry a. Led by Theodore Roosevelt and Leonard Wood b. Even though they were cavalry, they went into battle on foot because their horses did not arrive in time! 3. Rough riders played an key role in the victory on Kettle Hill a. This allowed for an infantry charge on San Juan Hill (most famous battle of the war) b. Rough riders did not participate in this charge but are given credit for the victory 4. Roosevelt becomes a hero 5. Spanish fleet destroyed in the harbor 6. U.S. invades Puerto Rico

1. Armistice – cease fire – signed on August 12 Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War E. Treaty of Paris 1. Armistice – cease fire – signed on August 12 2. Dec. 10, 1898 – treaty is signed a. Spain freed Cuba b. Spain turns Guam and Puerto Rico over to the U.S. c. Spain sells the Philippines for $20 million to the U.S.

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War F. Debate over Treaty: Not what to do with the Philippines??? 1. Arguments on whether U.S. had rights to annex the Philippines a. Imperialism was the issue b. McKinley claims there was “nothing left to do but educate the Filipinos, uplift and Christianize them” i. **Filipinos had been Christian for centuries 2. Some felt treaty violated the Declaration of Independence – denying self government 3. Booker T. Washington claimed the U.S. should settle racial issues at home before taking on social issues elsewhere 4. Samuel Gompers (AFL) feared Filipino immigrants would compete for American jobs 5. Senate approved the treaty in 1899

Chapter 10 – America Claims and Empire Section 2 – The Spanish American War