1. Aim: Was the Spanish-American War justified?

2. Spanish American War
Imperialism: a period of time when stronger countries were taking over weaker countries

3. What’s the situation before the war? Spanish-American War CAUSE #1
The United States trades with Cuba for SUGAR!
BUT… Spain controls Cuba
AND… Cuba wants independence from Spain
Spanish-American War CAUSE #1
USA promises to support Cuba’s independence
WHY??
In order to protect our sugar business!

4. U.S. Imperialism: CUBA
1895: Cubans declared their independence from Spain; To put down the revolution, Spain used brutal tactics (like starvation)

5. 1898: President McKinley is hoping to AVOID war!
CAUSE #2
YELLOW JOURNALISM
1898: President McKinley is hoping to AVOID war!
Extreme journalists call for war (YELLOW JOURNALISM) = sensationalized writing/pictures in media
Joseph Pulitzer
William Randolph Hearst

6. CAUSE #3: De Lome Letter (1898) Highly critical of McKinley
Spanish diplomat’s letter leaked to the press and printed on the front page of Hearst’s Journal…
Highly critical of McKinley

7. CAUSE #4: USS Maine Incident
While you watch:
What happened to the USS Maine?
What was the reaction by Americans? The President/Congress?
VIDEO
Feb 15, the USS Maine mysteriously blew up!
No one knows what caused the explosion
Yellow Journalists blamed Spain
Americans called for war!
April 20, 1898: the US declared war on Spain!

8. No mention of HIS PEOPLE
What’s missing?
No mention of HIS PEOPLE
THE MAINE??
MY FOUR REASONS FOR WAR!!!!
“Put an end to barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries” in Cuba!
Protect the lives and property of U.S. citizens living in Cuba!
End ”the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people”
End “the constant menace to our peace” arising from disorder in Cuba
Teller Amendment (April 1898)
The US has NO INTENTIONS of taking political control of Cuba
After war, Cuba governs THEMSELF
LISTEN & TAKE A PICTURE!

9. The Spanish American War
TWO FRONTS: CUBA and Philippines
War lasts from April to August 1898
Only 460 Americans die in battle
5,200 Americans die of disease
Theodore Roosevelt leads the Rough Riders through Cuba
US Navy battles Spanish ships in the Philippines and destroy Spanish fleet in the Pacific

10. War Ends – The Results
Armistice (ceasefire) in August 1898 and Treaty of Paris (December 1898)
America gains Guam, Puerto Rico, (and the Philippines)
Cuba became a “protectorate”(colony) of the United States

11. As a result of the Spanish-American War, Cuba was liberated and the USA annexed the Philippines ($20 million), Guam, and Puerto Rico

12. Outcome of the War Cuba gains their independence
America becomes a world power
Territories (US controls all 3):
Puerto Rico
Guam
The Philippines ($20 million)
TAKE A PICTURE!

13. U.S. Imperialism: PHILIPPINES
When the Philippines were annexed and not granted independence, the Filipino War began in 1899
Treaty of Manila was signed on July 4, 1946 giving the Philippines “FULL INDEPENDENCE” from the USA…
The Filipino-American War lasted 3 years and cost more American lives than the Spanish-American War

14. Entangle the US in political issues in Asia.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…"
Thomas Jefferson July 3, 1776
After the US acquired the Philippines, what argument could anti-imperialists make by looking at the Declaration of Independence?
Anti-imperialists…
Violated the principles of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration;
Entangle the US in political issues in Asia.

15. Cuba was independent, right?
Platt Amendment
We’ll remove our troops if you:
Never sign a treaty with a foreign power that harms your independence
Let the US intervene in your affairs to assure independence
Allow the US to keep naval bases in Cuba (Guantanamo Bay)