2.  Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Philippines are all Spanish colonies  Cubans were tired of the poor treatment and failing economy  Organized a revolt and began to fight against Spanish rule

3.  US business men were upset because of trade disruption  “Yellow Journalism” began to outrage US citizens with exaggerated claims of Spanish brutality in Cuba  Cuba wanted be independent

5.  President William McKinley - Doesn’t want a war  Public opinion forced US into action  McKinley demanded Spain stop its harsh treatment of Cubans  Sent the USS Maine to rescue US citizens from a riot in Havana that was led by Anti-American “Voluntarios”

6. USS Maine USS Maine Havana Harbor (Cuba) in 1898

9.  Was initially reported by William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers that the USS Maine was sunk as a Spanish conspiracy  Sinking was actually caused by a submarine mine  Took the lives of 250 men

10.  While all the revolts were taking place in Cuba  Rioting and fighting for independence was also happening in the Philippines  The US was also preparing to act on the problems in the Philippines

11.  July 3, 1898- war began with the Battle of Santiago de Cuba  Largest naval battle-ended in total destruction of Spanish Caribbean fleet  Americans took the town of Santiago

12.  Germany had interests in Manila and offered aide  US called Germany’s bluff and showed intention to fight  Germany backs down. August 13, 1898- US takes control of Manila unaware that the war ended a day earlier

13.  July 1, 1898 – San Juan Hill is captured  July 17 1898 - Santiago is held  August 12 1898 - Truce is signed  Secretary of State John Hay referred to the war as “a splendid little war”

14.  December 1898 – Paris  Philippines did not get their freedom and became an US colony  Filipinos were angry and felt betrayed  Spain had to give all its colonies to the US  Platt Amendment - gave the US the right to intervene into Cuban affairs