1. Causes of the Spanish-American War
U.S. presidents from Jefferson to McKinley saw the benefits for the U.S. of gaining Cuba
The Spanish American War to assist Cuba’s independence was the most popular war since the American Revolution
Cuba & Puerto Rico were last remnants of Spain’s empire

2. Causes of the Spanish-American War
By the 1860s, the only remaining pieces of the Spanish Empire were Cuba, Puerto Rico, & Philippines
José Martí led Cubans in revolt against Spain in 1895
Spanish General Weyler used a reconcentration policy (torture & destruction of the Cuban food supply) to try to end the Cuban independence movement

3. Evidence of Spanish Mistreatment of Cubans
General Weyler’s Reconcentration Policy

4. American Involvement
Presidents Cleveland & McKinley both remained neutral regarding Cuban independence until:
Newspapers used sensationalist “yellow journalism” which boosted U.S. sympathy for Cuba
In 1898, the USS Maine, sent to protect U.S. interests in Cuba, exploded in Havana harbor

5. Jingoism is chauvinistic patriotism, usually with a hawkish political stance. In practice, it refers to sections of the general public who advocate bullying other countries or using whatever means necessary to safeguard a country's national interests

7. Pulitzer’s The World & Hearst’s New York Journal

8. The Spanish-American War
In April 1898, Congress declared war on Spain, but added the Teller Amendment to the war declaration stated that the U.S. had no plans to annex Cuba
The war led to patriotic outburst:
Ex-Confederates served & symbolically united North & South
Women & African-Americans volunteered in mass numbers
“Populists, Democrats, & Republicans are we.
But we are all Americans to make Cuba free.”

9. Spanish-American War was fought in 2 theaters: Cuba & the Philippines
Even the elite joined: Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in Cuba
“What a splendid little war.”
—John Hay, Secretary of State
under President McKinley
The war lasted only 113 days & resulted in 5,500 deaths (mostly from disease, only 379 died in battle)

10. Results of Spanish-American War
U.S. & Spain signed the Treaty of Paris on Dec 10, 1898:
Cuba gained independence
U.S. gained Puerto Rico & Guam
What to do with the Philippines? The U.S. did not want it, but Germany did, so the U.S. annexed the Philippines

11. The Situation in the Philippines
In August 1898, many Filipinos rejoiced at the collapse of Spanish power and assumed that independence would soon follow.
Despite Filipino aspirations, Dewey advised Washington that the native republican element was a minority and a strong hand was needed to prevent the islands from falling into other hands

12. The Situation in the Philippines
Source Link:
The Situation in the Philippines

13. There was heated argument in the United States about whether or not to take the Philippines. As one story has it, President McKinley told a group of ministers visiting the White House how he came to his decision:
“Before you go I would like to say just a word about the Philippine business. . . The truth is I didn't want the Philippines, and when they came to us as a gift from the gods, I did not know what to do with them.
I sought counsel from all sides -- Democrats as well as Republicans -- but got little help. I thought first we would only take Manila; then Luzon, then other islands, perhaps, also.
I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight; and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night. And one night late it came to me this way -- I don't know how it was, but it came:
1) That we could not give them back to Spain -- that would be cowardly and dishonorable.
2) That we could not turn them over to France or Germany, our commercial rivals in the Orient -- that would be bad business and discreditable.
3) That we could not leave them to themselves -- they were unfit for self-government -- and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain's was; and
4) That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also died. And then I went to bed and went to sleep and slept soundly.

14. The Filipinos did not get the same message from God.
In February 1899, they rose in revolt against American rule, as they had rebelled several times against the Spanish.
Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino leader, who had earlier been brought back from China by U.S. warships to lead soldiers against Spain, now became leader of the insurrectos fighting the United States.
He proposed Filipino independence within a U.S. protectorate, but this was rejected.

15. The U.S. did not deem Filipinos “ready” for self-rule
War in the Philippines
The U.S. did not deem Filipinos “ready” for self-rule
Filipinos welcomed war with Spain & aided the U.S. in the Pacific, but they grew angry when the U.S. refused to grant independence
Emilio Aguinaldo led a guerilla-style rebellion that lasted 3 years:
Cost 4,300 U.S. lives & between 50,000 & 200,000 native lives
The U.S. resorted to Weyler-style brutality: torture, starvation, rape

16. The insurrection raged for more than two years, exacting a far higher toll than the Spanish-American War.
More than 120,000 American soldiers served in the conflict; at least 4,200 were killed. More than 16,000 Filipino fighters died.
Atrocities were common and committed by both sides. Further, a terrible toll was taken among the civilian populace with an estimated 200,000 succumbing to famine and disease.

17. War in the Philippines
McKinley appointed William Taft to the Philippine Commission:
Built schools, roads, & bridges
Improved taxes & sanitation
Created local governments that honored Filipino culture
Aguinaldo was captured & urged an end to the fighting
The Philippines was granted independence on July 4, 1946

18. The “American Empire” in 1900
The Platt Amendment created a new Cuban constitution but forced Cuba to give up land for U.S. naval bases, pay off U.S. war debts, Cuba could not sign a foreign treaty that hurt the U.S., & the U.S. could intervene in Cuba at any time
How should the new lands in the new “empire” be governed? Citizenship? Voting?
Hawaii, Alaska, & Puerto Rico were made territories with appointed governors & granted U.S. citizenship
The navy controlled Guam & Samoa

19. U.S. Imperialism: PUERTO RICO
Foraker Act of 1900, gave the Puerto Ricans a limited degree of popular government
The Jones Act of 1917, granted them U.S. citizenship. The American regime in Puerto Rico worked wonders in education, sanitation, transportation, and other improvements.
Puerto Rico is still a U.S. territory; Lots of poverty & unemployment

20. Our Sphere of Influence
Examine this political cartoon
Our Sphere of Influence

21. What are the major differences between Manifest Destiny and U. S
What are the major differences between Manifest Destiny and U.S. imperialism?
What are the major similarities between Manifest Destiny and U.S. imperialism?

22. What the US has fought for

24. Controversy of Puerto Rico and Philippines
Insular Cases 1901
"Does the Constitution follow the flag?"
Beginning in 1901 with the Insular Cases, the Supreme Court declared that the Constitution did not extend to the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

26. Conclusions: The USA as a New World Power

27. Impact of Spanish-American War
Just as the Depression of 1893 led to a shift in domestic policy, the Spanish-American War led to shift in U.S. foreign policy:
The U.S. gained overseas territories & was recognized as a legitimate “world power”
Increased the power of the American president