1. America Claims an Empire
Unit:2 Spanish-American War

2. Cuba

3. Cuban Political and Economic Instability
Cuba’s first war for independence from Spain failed but forced Spain to abolish slavery.
American capitalists invest in Cuba’s sugar plantations.
1884 – Tariff abolished = sugar production skyrocketed.
Tariff restored = Cuba’s economy ruined.
1895 – Cuba’s second war for independence
Guerrilla warfare and destruction of property with the hopes of provoking U.S. intervention.

4. Jose` Marti Leader of Cuban revolt against Spain.
Cuba Libre – a free Cuba (similar to Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” battle cry)

5. Threat of War Escalates
Spanish General V. Weyler’s response to guerrilla warfare – 300,000 Cubans in concentration camps.
Yellow journalism – legitimate stories of Cuba’s hardships mixed with sensationalized accounts.
Pulitzer & Hearst

6. Threat of War, cont. The De Lome Letter The U.S.S. Maine
De Lome (Spanish minister to the U.S.) writes letter criticizing McKinley’s policy regarding Cuba.
Letter was leaked.
The U.S.S. Maine
McKinley sent U.S.S. Maine to protect Cuba.
On February 15, 1898, explosion sank ship killing 260 men.
Yellow journalists held Spain responsible.

7. U.S.S. Maine

8. War Breaks Out “Remember the Maine!” war cry.
April 20, 1898, U.S. declares war against Spain.
Fighting started in the Philippines.
Pacific fleet defeats Spanish in two months. George Dewey
In Cuba, the Rough Riders, led by Leonard Wood and Teddy Roosevelt, converged on Santiago.
Battle of San Juan

9. War, cont.
U.S. navy destroyed Spanish fleet 2 days after Battle of San Juan Hill.
Treaty of Paris of 1898
August 12, 1898, U.S. and Spain signed armistice.
Cuba is independent.
Puerto Rico and Guam belong to U.S.
U.S. pays $20 million for the Philippines.