1. The Spanish- American War

2. Warm-Up 1) Look at the headlines for this newspaper.
2) What do you notice about the headlines?
3) Rewrite the headlines (and subtitles) to make them less sensational?

3. America and Cuba Cuba had sugarcane plantations and lots of slaves
US heavily invested in Cuba (sugar, mines, railroads)
Cuban rebels declared independence – US declares neutrality

4. Why did the US go to war with Spain?
By 1898 only Cuba and Puerto Rico left of Spain’s colonies
Americans regarded Spain as tyrants
***War leads to America being an imperial power***

5. What is yellow journalism?
News stories that were sensational, bias and often made up
Yellow journalism helped generate support in the US for Cuban rebels
Turn and Talk: Does this still happen today? Examples?

6. USS Maine
President McKinley tries to negotiate a peace – USS Maine off the Cuban coast
USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor, No one know why
Jingoism – aggressive nationalism
Congress declares war

9. The War Itself Spain and US fight on 2 fronts (Pacific and Atlantic)
2 front war new to US
In the Pacific US quickly dominated and captured many islands (Philippines and Guam)

10. America in Cuba US Army was made up of a lot of volunteers.
Cowboys, miners police officers
The “Rough Riders” and Theodore Roosevelt
US capture Cuba and Puerto Rico and wins the war

11. What was the Platt Amendment?
After US wins the war it promises Cuba its independence (Puerto Rico?)
Platt Amendment was attached to Cuban constitution giving America right to protect Cuba and “keep order”
Basically made Cuba a protectorate of US

12. Questions for when you read “An American Empire!”
1. What was the debate over annexation? Who do you think is right?
2. What did the Platt Amendment specify?
3. What happened to Puerto Rico following the war?
4.What was the response to the US being in the Philippines?