1. Spanish-American War and Beyond
A war fought in Cuba in 1898

2. Spanish-American War and beyond
Why would we fight Spain?
Background:
Spain controlled Cuba and the Philippines through a dictatorship
A revolution in Cuba and the Philippines against Spanish rule grabs our attention
The U.S. has citizens working on sugar plantations in Cuba

3. Spanish-American War and beyond
Why go to war??
We would not help their revolution at first so the Cubans provoked us by burning our sugar plantations to get us involved. We must protect property and trade (Reason #1)
This opportunity could let the US gain a naval base in the pacific to continue our trade as well! (Reason #2)

4. Spanish-American War and beyond
How did Americans feel about a war with Spain?
Jingoism: A super sense of patriotism and demand for aggressive action

5. Spanish-American War and beyond
Spain does not want the U.S. to get involved because they could not win
Spanish leaders send a letter to President McKinley telling him to stay out of this conflict: De Lome Letter (Reason #3)
U.S. must respond and do something

6. Spanish-American War and beyond
The U.S.S. Maine is then sent to the harbor of Havana, Cuba to intimidate the Spanish
It blows up mysteriously in the middle of the night in the harbor killing 266 American sailors (Reason #4)
How did it blow up? Spain? Cuban Rebels? Accident?

7. Spanish-American War and beyond
The media immediately blames Spain and asks the gov’t to go to war!
Yellow Journalism: A type of writing that prints the most sensational, exaggerated, and distorted stories for emotional effect

8. Spanish-American War and beyond

9. Spanish-American War and beyond

10. Spanish-American War and beyond

11. Spanish-American War and beyond
After much thought and consideration, Congress declares war on Spain in 1898
The war lasted less than 4 months with a U.S. victory

12. Spanish-American War and beyond
The Treaty of Paris is signed in 1898
Results:
Cuba gains its independence
U.S. gets the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam

13. Spanish-American War and beyond
1901: The U.S. negotiates the rights to build a Panama Canal to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Reasons: Keep U.S. influence in Latin America and make a shorter route between the two oceans
The US stayed involved in world affairs until 1914, with the outbreak of World War I