1. Spanish-American War A Splendid Little War

2. Spanish Cuba ► Cuba wanted independence from Spain ► The US had been interested in Cuba for many years; the US had offered to buy Cuba from Spain, but were denied; when Cuba rebelled against Spain, the US initially stayed out ► yellow journalism: exaggerated, sensationalist news reporting

3. Pulitzer (left) and Hearst (right) were the owners of the 2 most “yellow journalized” papers: The New York World and The New York Journal; these 2 were in constant competition to sell out the other

4. ► Americans began to support the Cubans in their struggle for independence ► the press invented many stories, but there was harsh treatment of Cubans by the Spanish; Cubans would not accept Spanish concessions

6. America Gets Involved ► de Lome letter: insulting letter from the Spanish ambassador (2/9/1898) ► February 1898: the US ship, Maine, exploded in Havana Harbor; Spain was blamed

8. ► April 1898: POTUS McKinley declared war against Spain ► Teller Amendment: addition to the declaration of war stating Cuba would be free following war

10. The USS Maine entering the Havana Harbor; it had been sent there to monitor the evacuation of Americans from Cuba during the revolution

16. At the outbreak of war, the US had the advantage: proximity, a superior navy, and the Spanish troops were tired from fighting the Cubans (the 2 nd revolution was in its 4 th year)… both sides suffered from the tropical climate (disease)

17. At the outbreak of war, the US established a blockade around Cuba and sent a fleet (located in British Hong Kong) to Spanish-controlled Philippines; the fleet seized control of Guam on its way to the Philippines.

18. Manila Bay in the Philippines ► US ships poised to hit Spanish controlled Philippines ► George Dewey, commander of naval forces, attacked the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay ► Quick, morale boosting victory

19. Manila 1898

21. Dewey’s defeat of the Spanish fleet in the Philippines occurred so quickly, that the US was not ready for land war, and so it waited; a Filipino revolutionary leader, Aguinaldo started another guerilla war for independence against the Spanish that helped the US gain the Philippines

22. The Cuban Campaign ► The US army was not as prepared as the navy ► Lacked troops, training, and equipment ► Unsanitary conditions created epidemics

23. US troops in Cuba

27. Spanish fortification in Cuba

28. Spanish troops in Cuba

30. ► Victory in Cuba relied on taking Santiago; this relied on the capture of San Juan Hill ► Teddy Roosevelt and a volunteer cavalry called the Rough Riders were credited with taking San Juan Hill and the largest victory in the Cuban campaign ► The capture of Kettle Hill was the real victory

31. Teddy Roosevelt and his volunteer cavalry, The Rough Riders Pictured on horseback during training, not during battle

32. An American artist’s rendition of the charge on San Juan Hill

33. Another artistic representation of the Rough Riders on San Juan Hill; the Rough Riders’ horses did not make it to Cuba (they were stuck in Florida) making this piece entirely inaccurate

34. The 9 th and 10 th Cavalries (black regiments) were more responsible for the San Juan Hill victory than the Rough Riders; approximately 25% of the soldiers in the Spanish-American War were black volunteers

35. End of War ► America invaded and held Puerto Rico (part of the Spanish empire) ► US pleased with low casualties and quickness of war ► August 12, 1898: armistice after 16 weeks of fighting

36. Puerto Rico was an “easy grab” near the end of the Spanish American War

37. Treaty of Paris ► Cuba independent ► Puerto Rico & Guam to the US ► US annex the Philippines & pay Spain $20 million