1. Section 2 – pg 556 The Spanish-American War
Chapter 16
Section 2 – pg 556
The Spanish-American War

2. Pg 556
War Clouds Loom
Cuba had been under Spanish rule since Columbus in 1492
Located 90 miles off the coast of Florida
1868: Cubans began an uprising that was put down 10 years later

3. Rebellion in Cuba Pg 556 1895: rebellion rose again
The Spanish began a new policy of reconcentration
The forced movement of a large # of ppl into detention camps for military or political reasons
In the camps, food was scarce and sanitation was poor
200,000 Cubans died

4. Cuban exiles in the US asked the US to help the rebels
Pg 556
Cuban exiles in the US asked the US to help the rebels
Led by José Martí, who was killed in a skirmish in Cuba

5. Americans React Many Americans were sympathetic to Cuban rebels Pg 556
Asked the US gov’t to intervene to kick out the Spanish
Others wanted the US to intervene to safeguard American investments in Cuba
Americans had $50 million invested in Cuban sugar and rice plantations, railroads, and iron mines

6. President Cleveland ignored the call to intervene
McKinley became president in 1897, also tried to stay neutral
Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) and his rival, William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) focused on Cuba
“Feeding prisoners to the sharks”
Land of “blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood”
Daily horror stories fed American outrage against Spain
Pg 557

7. “Remember the Maine” Pg 557
Early in 1898, fighting broke out in Havana, Cuba’s capital
President McKinley ordered battleship Maine to Havana to protect American lives and property
On Feb 15, at 9:40 pm: great explosion sank the Maine and killed 260 men
We still don’t know what
caused the explosion
The Press blamed Spain
Americans demanded
revenge, “Remember the
Maine”

8. The United States Goes to War
Pg 558
The United States Goes to War
At first President McKinley favored a peaceful settlement with Spain
Feared that war would disrupt the US economy
Finally gave into public pressure
April 11, 1898, asked Congress to declare war on Spain
Congress said yes 9 days later

9. Surprise in the Philippines
Pg 558
Surprise in the Philippines
Assistant Secretary of the Navy ,Theodore Roosevelt, wanted to expand naval power
After the Maine blew up, he telegraphed Commodore George Dewey, head of the Pacific fleet, to strike the Philippines when war broke out
May 1, Dewey and a small fleet of warships sank the entire Spanish squadron at Manila Bay
Americans did not lose a single ship

10. Fall of Manila Many Filipinos were also rebelling against the Spanish
Pg 558
Fall of Manila
Many Filipinos were also rebelling against the Spanish
Dewey enlisted Emilio Aquinaldo, a rebel leader, to help him seize Manila from the Spanish
Soon the US was in control of the entire Philippine Islands
Unfortunately, Aquinaldo wanted independence for the islands and later fought against the US

11. Pg 558
War in the Caribbean
Main fighting took place in Santiago and at sea
American forces arrived in Santiago in late June
Troops were poorly trained and equipped but eager to fight
Rough Riders, led by Teddy Roosevelt, had a successful charge up San Juan Hill on July 1st

12. US ships trapped the Spanish fleet in the Santiago harbor
Pg 558
US ships trapped the Spanish fleet in the Santiago harbor
The 24,000 Spanish soldiers at Santiago surrendered 2 weeks later
After the Spanish surrendered Cuba, American troops invaded Puerto Rico and quickly took it under US control

13. Pg 559
An American Empire
December 1898, Spain and the US signed a peace treaty
Spain accepted Cuba independence
Gave Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands of Guam and Wake to the US
The US paid $20 million

14. Pg 559
Debating the Treaty
Many Americans argued that taking colonies violated the principle of the Declaration of Independence – that all ppl had a right to self gov’t
Said having colonies brought the risk of future wars
Expansionists argued that it gave the US important bases and provided new business opportunities
Argued that the US had a duty to spread the ideas of democratic gov’t to the other parts of the world
The Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899

15. Governing Cuba and Puerto Rico
Pg 560
Governing Cuba and Puerto Rico
The US replaced Spain as the rulers of Cuba, making them not truly independent
1902, Congress forced Cuba to include the Platt Amendment in its new constitution
Limited Cuba’s power to make treaties or borrow money
Gave the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs
Allowed the US to keep a naval base at Guantanamo Bay
Made Cuba a protectorate of the US
An independent country whose policies are controlled by an outside power

16. 1917: Puerto Ricans were made US citizens
Pg 560
Foraker Act of 1900 set up a gov’t in Puerto Rico, w/ a US appointed governor
Gave Puerto Rico limited self rule
The US developed their economy and educational system
1917: Puerto Ricans were made US citizens

17. Revolt in the Philippines
Pg 560
Revolt in the Philippines
When the US took over the Philippines, Emilio Aquinaldo renewed the fight for independence
3 year long war: 4,000 Americans and 20,000 Filipinos died
1901:Aquinaldo was captured and the fighting ended
The Philippines did not gain independence until 1946