Spanish American war
U.S. foreign policy regarding domination of the American continent in 1823. If European nations tried to colonize land/interfere in North/South America viewed as act of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention. Monroe Doctrine
Cuban rebellion Cuba= Spanish colony First rebelled in 1868, again in 1895 Cubans wanted US to intervene, US refused Destroyed American sugar plantationsUS business owners pressured gov’t to act Cuban rebellion
US papers competing for readers Sensationalized headlines about events in Cuba Created more support among Americans for war Yellow journalism
February 15, 1898 Explosion sunk USS Maine 250 US Sailors killed Americans blamed Spain USS Maine
Philippines Rebellion in Philippines (also Spanish colony) Good place for US base to protect Asian trade Teddy Roosevelt (Asst. Secretary of Navy) wants war McKinley still doesn’t…. Tries to avoid it….doesn’t work. Philippines
War lasted a few months (May- December) Called “Splendid little war” Treaty of Paris Spain recognized Cuba’s independence Spain gave up Phillippines, Puerto Rico, Guam to US War/results
Justifying US colonialism “We could not leave them to themselves– they were unfit for self government, and they would soon have anarchy and misrule worse than Spain’s was. There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them.” -President McKinley Justifying US colonialism