Section 2 – pg 556 The Spanish-American War Chapter 16 Section 2 – pg 556 The Spanish-American War

Pg 556 War Clouds Loom Cuba had been under Spanish rule since Columbus in 1492 Located 90 miles off the coast of Florida 1868: Cubans began an uprising that was put down 10 years later

Rebellion in Cuba Pg 556 1895: rebellion rose again The Spanish began a new policy of reconcentration The forced movement of a large # of ppl into detention camps for military or political reasons In the camps, food was scarce and sanitation was poor 200,000 Cubans died

Cuban exiles in the US asked the US to help the rebels Pg 556 Cuban exiles in the US asked the US to help the rebels Led by José Martí, who was killed in a skirmish in Cuba

Americans React Many Americans were sympathetic to Cuban rebels Pg 556 Asked the US gov’t to intervene to kick out the Spanish Others wanted the US to intervene to safeguard American investments in Cuba Americans had $50 million invested in Cuban sugar and rice plantations, railroads, and iron mines

President Cleveland ignored the call to intervene McKinley became president in 1897, also tried to stay neutral Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) and his rival, William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) focused on Cuba “Feeding prisoners to the sharks” Land of “blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood” Daily horror stories fed American outrage against Spain Pg 557

“Remember the Maine” Pg 557 Early in 1898, fighting broke out in Havana, Cuba’s capital President McKinley ordered battleship Maine to Havana to protect American lives and property On Feb 15, at 9:40 pm: great explosion sank the Maine and killed 260 men We still don’t know what caused the explosion The Press blamed Spain Americans demanded revenge, “Remember the Maine”

The United States Goes to War Pg 558 The United States Goes to War At first President McKinley favored a peaceful settlement with Spain Feared that war would disrupt the US economy Finally gave into public pressure April 11, 1898, asked Congress to declare war on Spain Congress said yes 9 days later

Surprise in the Philippines Pg 558 Surprise in the Philippines Assistant Secretary of the Navy ,Theodore Roosevelt, wanted to expand naval power After the Maine blew up, he telegraphed Commodore George Dewey, head of the Pacific fleet, to strike the Philippines when war broke out May 1, Dewey and a small fleet of warships sank the entire Spanish squadron at Manila Bay Americans did not lose a single ship

Fall of Manila Many Filipinos were also rebelling against the Spanish Pg 558 Fall of Manila Many Filipinos were also rebelling against the Spanish Dewey enlisted Emilio Aquinaldo, a rebel leader, to help him seize Manila from the Spanish Soon the US was in control of the entire Philippine Islands Unfortunately, Aquinaldo wanted independence for the islands and later fought against the US

Pg 558 War in the Caribbean Main fighting took place in Santiago and at sea American forces arrived in Santiago in late June Troops were poorly trained and equipped but eager to fight Rough Riders, led by Teddy Roosevelt, had a successful charge up San Juan Hill on July 1st

US ships trapped the Spanish fleet in the Santiago harbor Pg 558 US ships trapped the Spanish fleet in the Santiago harbor The 24,000 Spanish soldiers at Santiago surrendered 2 weeks later After the Spanish surrendered Cuba, American troops invaded Puerto Rico and quickly took it under US control

Pg 559 An American Empire December 1898, Spain and the US signed a peace treaty Spain accepted Cuba independence Gave Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands of Guam and Wake to the US The US paid $20 million

Pg 559 Debating the Treaty Many Americans argued that taking colonies violated the principle of the Declaration of Independence – that all ppl had a right to self gov’t Said having colonies brought the risk of future wars Expansionists argued that it gave the US important bases and provided new business opportunities Argued that the US had a duty to spread the ideas of democratic gov’t to the other parts of the world The Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899

Governing Cuba and Puerto Rico Pg 560 Governing Cuba and Puerto Rico The US replaced Spain as the rulers of Cuba, making them not truly independent 1902, Congress forced Cuba to include the Platt Amendment in its new constitution Limited Cuba’s power to make treaties or borrow money Gave the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs Allowed the US to keep a naval base at Guantanamo Bay Made Cuba a protectorate of the US An independent country whose policies are controlled by an outside power

1917: Puerto Ricans were made US citizens Pg 560 Foraker Act of 1900 set up a gov’t in Puerto Rico, w/ a US appointed governor Gave Puerto Rico limited self rule The US developed their economy and educational system 1917: Puerto Ricans were made US citizens

Revolt in the Philippines Pg 560 Revolt in the Philippines When the US took over the Philippines, Emilio Aquinaldo renewed the fight for independence 3 year long war: 4,000 Americans and 20,000 Filipinos died 1901:Aquinaldo was captured and the fighting ended The Philippines did not gain independence until 1946