1. Call to Order Imagine that someone calls you and tells you that they have just fought a “splendid little war”. What type of war do you think they would be fighting? Why might they describe it as “splendid”?

2. Objective  HWBAT evaluate whether the Spanish-American War deserved to be called “A Splendid Little War”.  Why was it called the Splendid Little War?  Did it deserve its name?

3. Causes of the Spanish American War  HUMANITARIAN: Americans sympathized with the Cuban Revolution because they felt like it was like their own. They also had seen pictures of Cubans in military camps, where 30% of Cubans died from starvation.  EXPANSIONIST: Americans realized they could seize land from Spain, who was weak. New colonies = new naval bases.  ECONOMIC: Spain had imposed taxes on Cuba and Cuba had experienced an economic collapse.  Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine  Yellow Journalism  Jingoism = intense patriotism

4. Effects of the Spanish-American War  United States defeats Spain in less than four months  2,446 Americans died (400 in combat, the rest from disease)  Spain recognizes Cuba’s independence. United States begins to control Cuban politics and economy.  Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam become United States territories.  United States is recognized as a world power.

5. Coding your notes  Put a star next to “immediate causes”  Put an underline under “underlying causes”  Put a plus sign next to positive effects of the war for the U.S.  Put a minus sign next to negative effects of the war for the U.S.

6. Song, Rap, Poem, or Formal Letter  Secretary of State John Hay wrote to the President saying that the war had been a “splendid little war”. Finish his letter in either the form of a song, rap, poem, or formal letter. Explain:  What had caused the war  What the effects of the war were  Why it should be called “splendid and little”