US COMMAND AND CONQUER

A Splendid Little War

Recap

Monroe Doctrine Latin America: sphere of influence

Minor purchases Alaska

Minor Hostilities Japan China

Latin America

1891 – Baltimore Affair or Scare: 2 US sailors stabbed in front of, wait for it, a bar in Valparaiso, Chile.

Ultimately, US forces Chile government to pay families of the sailors $75,000.

US sends troops to Rio in 1895 to protect US shipping interests from minor civil war uprising in Brazil.

Venezuela Boundary Dispute – US forces England into arbitration over land issues with Venezuela.

Pacific Things

US/Germany almost go to war over…Somoa.Agree to share the island – American Somoa.Hawaii – Trade treaties with England and France

from 1840’s to 1890’s.US sugar planters, led by Sanford Dole, led a minor

revolt/revolution against Queen Liliuokalani (tried to behead the planters)

Planters demand annexation (legal claim of ownership over a territory).

President Cleveland tries to restore the Queen in 1894

Annexed in 1898 because of Nationalism/Imperialism feelings caused by the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-America War

Jose Marti – Cuban poet who wrote of anti-imperialism thoughts. Caused a riot against Spanish rule. Urges US to do something.

Spain’s “Reconcentration Policy” – rounding up 100,000’s “revolutionaries” and placing them in concentration camps.

Estimated 200,000 civilians died.

Media

Google: Malaysia airplane. See what happens.William Randolf Hearst – New York Morning Journal.Joseph Pulitzer – New York WorldSensationalism -- stories that are beyond belief or

full of emotional hyperbole.Jingoism – See above, but with a pro-US (or any

home country) bent or angle. Newspapers sell when there is a war or conflict.Pulitzer/Hearst – Write sensationalist stories about

Cuban revolution. America do something!Sympathy for Cuba causes Political/Military

intervention.

Splendid Little War

Riots in Havana, Cuba in early 1898 cause President McKinley to send USS Maine to the harbor to protect US interests.

USS Maine explodes. Newspapers? Field day.“Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain.”Dupuy de Lome Letter – Spanish Ambassador

to US writes a letter that is stolen by the press.President McKinley is “weak and a bidder for

the admiration of the crowd.” Ouch.

Meanwhile…

Secretary of the Navy, T. Roosevelt, orders the pacific fleet to get ready to destroy the Spanish fleet in Manila, Philippine Islands.

US declares War in April, 1898.George Dewey leads the attack in May. Destroys the

Spanish Fleet. Cuba: Voluntary Calvary (Rough Riders) led by T.

Roosevelt gets lots of publicity.Leads Rough Riders up San Juan Hill!Would have been killed if not for the Buffalo Soldiers

(African-American troops) protecting the RR’s flank.US Navy destroys Spanish fleet in Santiago, Cuba on

July 3. War over.Treaty of Paris ends the war.

US gets…

Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.Spain gets $20 million dollars.Philippines were supposed to become

independent (Filipinos fought with Americans against Spain).

McKinley: “unfit for self-government”Rebellion against US occupation begins.Emilio Aguinaldo: Phil’s a republic.

Teller Amendment

Attached to the Declaration of War with Spain is the Teller Amendment:

1. US will not annex Cuba after the war2. But…US military will oversee Cuban affairs for 3

years after the war

Platt Amendment

Cuba drafts a constitution. US inserts Platt Amendment writing into Cuban constitution.

1. Cuba may not make foreign treaties without US permission

2. US gets 2 navy bases on the island (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba)

3. US may intervene in Cuba’s affairs if it is in US interest.