Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War America at war Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War

Spanish-American war

US remained neutral even having feelings of sympathy for Cuba’s fight Background Spain controlled Cuba Began as a Cuban nationalist revolution angry over being repressed by a colonial power US remained neutral even having feelings of sympathy for Cuba’s fight US began to take interest in the war in Cuba due to its’ interests in the country ($50 million in Cuba) and war was ruining their investments & business interests

Explosion of the uss maine Causes Yellow Journalism The delome letter Explosion of the uss maine

Yellow journalism exaggeration of the truth written by American journalists (William Randolph Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer); both fighting for more circulation, each newspaper tried to outsell the other by writing about the atrocities during the Cuban Revolution (both real and imagined) *example: Cubans were forced into concentration camps by the Spanish

The delome letter using yellow journalism, a letter was leaked by the New York Journal written by the Spanish ambassador in Washington, Dupuy de Lome discussed President William McKinley in unflattering terms. The letter described McKinley as weak and the American people became infuriated.

Explosion of the uss maine Washington sent the battleship Maine to Cuba in what was called a “friendly visit” but in actuality to protect and evacuate Americans in situation in Cuba became too dangerous. *February 15, 1898: the Maine mysteriously exploded in Havana harbor, killing a total of 260 sailors. *Both Spain and US did an investigation finding two different reasons for the explosion: Spanish explanation: due to an internal problem and was an accident US explanation: the explosion had been caused by a submarine mine *Americans wanting to go to war believed the least likely explanation (“Remember the Maine. To hell with Spain.”) in 1976 it was concluded by the US that in fact the explosion was a spontaneous combustion, supporting the Spanish explanation in 1898.

April 11, 1898: President McKinley sent a war message to Congress Americans were giddy about war Ended August 1898 (Treaty of Paris)

effects Cuba gained its independence US gained Guam and Puerto Rico US took control of the Philippines from the Spanish (had to pay $20 million for the Philippine Islands) United States now controlled an empire and became a world power Ended American isolationism

Philippine-American war

Background As a result of the treaty of paris 1898, the philippines were part of the united states Ethnically diverse Over 7 million people Lush islands bigger than the British isles Assumed they would be granted their freedom like the Cubans

To convert Filipinos from Spanish Catholicism Causes To convert Filipinos from Spanish Catholicism To “civilize” the Philippines Trade profits Major cause of debate on senate floor and around the world between imperialists and anti-imperialists

War Led by Emilio Aguinaldo 1899-1901 Guerilla warfare Sordid atrocities including concentration camps and the “water cure” (forced water down throat until they yielded information or died) Captured Aguinaldo in 1901 Over 200,000 Filipino deaths; 4234 American deaths

Results Civil governor William howard taft sent to Philippines in 1901 Poured millions into islands to improve roads, sanitation, and public health Important economic ties Made English a second language and set up a good school system Philippines gained their independence july 4, 1946 More immigrants to the US than any other Asian nation