1. The Spanish-American War
Causes and Effects

2. Cuba: A Colony of Spain Cuba and Puerto Rico colonies of Spain
Cuba produced 1/3 of world’s sugar
1/3 of Cubans were enslaved on sugar plantations until 1886
Several rebellions against Spain and attempts to self-govern

3. U.S. Economy and Cuba Cuba exported sugar to U.S.
Americans invested $50 million in Cuba’s sugar plantations, mines, and railroads
U.S. imposes new tariff (import/export tax) on sugar coming from Cuba
Plummets the Cuban economy

4. Cuban Rebellion 1895 Financial crisis causes unrest Rebellion!
Rebels seized control of Eastern Cuba
Declared independence from Spain
Established the Republic of Cuba in September 1895

5. American Support for Cuba
Compared Cuban struggle against Spanish to American struggle against British (American Revolution)
Americans smuggle guns from Florida to Cuban rebels

6. Yellow Journalism
Sensationalist reporting- exaggerated or even made up to attract readers
Stories of Spanish atrocities (starving people, women and children killed, violence, etc.)
“Spanish feeding Cuban prisoners to sharks and dogs”
“Blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood!”

7. Rebels vs. Spain 200,000 Spanish troops sent to Cuba
Cuban hit-and-runs
Burned plantations and sugar mills
Attacked Spanish supplies and railroads
Rebels hoped the mass destruction would get the Americans involved
Spanish send Cubans to “reconcentration camps”
Thousands die of starvation and disease

8. American Response Outrage at atrocities
President McKinley won’t risk American lives and damage economy
No intervention
Cuban riots in Havana
McKinley sent battleship U.S.S. Maine to evacuate Americans living there

9. U.S.S. Maine Explosion Unknown cause
Yellow Journalists blame the Spanish
“Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!”
Americans demand a declaration of war
Americans prepare for war
$50 million from Congress
Jingoism-aggressive nationalism
Democrats support war, Republicans fear election results if McKinley doesn’t declare war

10. Spanish-American War Begins
Congress proclaims Cuba as independent nation
U.S. demands Spanish withdrawal from Cuba
McKinley authorized to use armed force against Spanish
Spain declares war on U.S.
U.S. declares war on Spain