Road to Road to Spanish American Spanish American

WarWar

HIS 207HIS 207

American involvement in the American involvement in the CaribbeanCaribbean

► America throughout the 19America throughout the 19thth century viewed century viewed the Caribbean as an “American Lake”the Caribbean as an “American Lake” Monroe DoctrineMonroe Doctrine

►Resented presence of foreign powersResented presence of foreign powers►Stability critical to American securityStability critical to American security

► Long-time interest in obtaining Cuba from Long-time interest in obtaining Cuba from the Spanishthe Spanish Several offers made to SpanishSeveral offers made to Spanish Heavy sugar and mining investments—US traded Heavy sugar and mining investments—US traded

more with Cuba than Spain did.more with Cuba than Spain did.

Cuba LibreCuba Libre

► Revolts throughout the 19Revolts throughout the 19thth century against century against SpanishSpanish Ruthlessly suppressedRuthlessly suppressed

► 1895 new revolt breaks out1895 new revolt breaks out Public support in America for revoltPublic support in America for revolt Guerilla War-damage to economic life of islandsGuerilla War-damage to economic life of islandsGeneral Weyler-detention “reconcentration” camp General Weyler-detention “reconcentration” camp

conceptconceptsimilar policy used later in Vietnam-”Strategic similar policy used later in Vietnam-”Strategic Hamlets”Hamlets”

American Public OpinionAmerican Public Opinion

►Shaped by popular press-Yellow Shaped by popular press-Yellow JournalismJournalism

►New element in American societyNew element in American society►Needed to see papers to make profitNeeded to see papers to make profit►““Circulation Wars”Circulation Wars”

William Randolph Hearst—NY JournalWilliam Randolph Hearst—NY Journal Joseph Pulitzer—NY WorldJoseph Pulitzer—NY World

American American

►Politicians attempt to gain advantage Politicians attempt to gain advantage by supporting Cuban insurrectionby supporting Cuban insurrection Some demand intervention by U.S.Some demand intervention by U.S.

►Opportunity for U.S. in CaribbeanOpportunity for U.S. in Caribbean

President Cleveland was firmly opposed to President Cleveland was firmly opposed to interventionintervention

President McKinley lacked the same President McKinley lacked the same firmness and clarity of positionfirmness and clarity of position

EventsEvents

►Two events would push the U.S. Two events would push the U.S. towards war with Spaintowards war with Spain DeLome Letter –Spanish minister to U.S.DeLome Letter –Spanish minister to U.S.

►Stolen letter from HavanaStolen letter from Havana►Highly critical of McKinleyHighly critical of McKinley►Americans viewed as national insultAmericans viewed as national insult

Sinking of USS MaineSinking of USS Maine►Sent to represent US interestsSent to represent US interests►Explosion of ship in Havana harborExplosion of ship in Havana harbor►Media portrayed it as Spanish treacheryMedia portrayed it as Spanish treachery

USS Maine prior to explosion in USS Maine prior to explosion in HavanaHavana

UltimatumUltimatum

►US gov. sends set of demands to US gov. sends set of demands to SpanishSpanish End reconcentration policyEnd reconcentration policy Grant general amnesty to rebelsGrant general amnesty to rebels Allow US to arbitrateAllow US to arbitrate

►Spanish willing to agree, just needed Spanish willing to agree, just needed time to sell to Spanish public.time to sell to Spanish public.

Move to warMove to war

►US public out of patienceUS public out of patience April 19 joint resolution April 19 joint resolution

►Proclaims Cuba is free and independentProclaims Cuba is free and independent►Gives President power to use military forces to Gives President power to use military forces to

liberateliberate

Teller Amendment—US refuses all claims Teller Amendment—US refuses all claims to Cuba after liberation.to Cuba after liberation.

McKinley signs the next day—McKinley signs the next day— Imposes a naval blockade. Imposes a naval blockade.

Unprepared Unprepared

►After declaring war, Congress decides to:After declaring war, Congress decides to: Double the size of the regular army Double the size of the regular army Authorize the President to call for 125,000 Authorize the President to call for 125,000

volunteers. Number eventually raised to volunteers. Number eventually raised to 267,000.267,000.►Over 1 million men offered their services. Over 1 million men offered their services.

►When war broke out 28,000 in armyWhen war broke out 28,000 in army Widely scattered around nationWidely scattered around nation Well trained, but ill-prepared for large unit Well trained, but ill-prepared for large unit

operationsoperations

Organization ProblemsOrganization Problems

► Army lacked the followingArmy lacked the following Mobilization PlanMobilization Plan Organized General staffOrganized General staff Plan for combined operations (army/navy), (cavalry, Plan for combined operations (army/navy), (cavalry,

artillery, infantry)artillery, infantry)

► National Guard consisted of 100,000 menNational Guard consisted of 100,000 men Mostly infantry and poorly trainedMostly infantry and poorly trained Each state had its own organization—in really each was a Each state had its own organization—in really each was a

separate small armyseparate small army Question of sending National Guard units overseasQuestion of sending National Guard units overseas Would be taken into army as volunteers, not whole unitsWould be taken into army as volunteers, not whole units

Confusion over mobilizationConfusion over mobilization

►Dispute between Commanding Dispute between Commanding General and Secretary of WarGeneral and Secretary of War

►Army sent to four different locationsArmy sent to four different locations►Camps were a disaster-Utter confusionCamps were a disaster-Utter confusion

1,000s lacked essentials1,000s lacked essentials►Basic clothing, food, sanitation was lackingBasic clothing, food, sanitation was lacking

►Tampa—primary embarkation pointTampa—primary embarkation point Only one pier and single track railroadOnly one pier and single track railroad

Loading TroopsLoading Troops

Camp in TampaCamp in Tampa

Loading troops at TampaLoading troops at Tampa

Lack of PlansLack of Plans

►Despite long period of troubled Despite long period of troubled relations, no war plans for Cuba exist at relations, no war plans for Cuba exist at start of war.start of war.

►Little intelligence about Spanish Little intelligence about Spanish strength in Cubastrength in Cuba Cuban resistanceCuban resistance Lacked basic mapsLacked basic maps

►No training or preparation for No training or preparation for amphibious warfareamphibious warfare Most difficult of all operationsMost difficult of all operations

Navy situationNavy situation

►Much better due to 1890’s construction Much better due to 1890’s construction and modernizationand modernization

► Institutes a naval blockade of CubaInstitutes a naval blockade of Cuba►Pressured to divide forces on Atlantic Pressured to divide forces on Atlantic

Coast by publicCoast by public Little chance of Spanish attackLittle chance of Spanish attack Station antique civil war vessels off major Station antique civil war vessels off major

cities cities

►Spanish fleet sneaks into Santiago harborSpanish fleet sneaks into Santiago harbor

Manila BayManila Bay

►Small American squadron in PacificSmall American squadron in Pacific Six ships—USS OlympiaSix ships—USS Olympia George DeweyGeorge Dewey

►With outbreak of war, ordered to With outbreak of war, ordered to attack Spanish in Philippinesattack Spanish in Philippines

►Defeats Spanish fleet without the loss Defeats Spanish fleet without the loss of a single ship or life in combat.of a single ship or life in combat.

►Must wait for reinforcements to take Must wait for reinforcements to take the islandsthe islands

Manila BayManila Bay

CubaCuba

►With Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor, With Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor, it becomes the objectiveit becomes the objective

►Marines establish advanced base at Marines establish advanced base at Guantanamo BayGuantanamo Bay

►Attempt at bombarding forts-navy failsAttempt at bombarding forts-navy fails►Mission turned over to armyMission turned over to army

Cuban CampaignCuban Campaign

► Embarkation was a disaster—amazing it Embarkation was a disaster—amazing it happened at all.happened at all.

► Took 4 days to load 17,000 menTook 4 days to load 17,000 men Should have taken 8 hoursShould have taken 8 hours

►No coordinated plan, no staff to direct loadingNo coordinated plan, no staff to direct loading►Men supplies and equipment loaded with no Men supplies and equipment loaded with no

regard to unloadingregard to unloading► Soldiers fought on the pier for supplies and Soldiers fought on the pier for supplies and

space on shipsspace on ships

LandingLanding

►Select site 18 miles east of Santiago—Select site 18 miles east of Santiago—Daiquiri.Daiquiri.

►Spanish lose great opportunity by not Spanish lose great opportunity by not opposing the landingopposing the landing

►Landing more disorganized than TampsLanding more disorganized than Tamps►No chance against determined No chance against determined

resistanceresistance►Troops land with and without suppliesTroops land with and without supplies

March on SantiagoMarch on Santiago

►General Shafter moves a force of General Shafter moves a force of approximately 6,000 toward Spanish approximately 6,000 toward Spanish strongholds outside citystrongholds outside city

►Expected to met about 12,000 Spanish Expected to met about 12,000 Spanish ringing the cityringing the city Size and location unclearSize and location unclear

►Americans wander blindly toward Americans wander blindly toward SantiagoSantiago

El Caney and San JuanEl Caney and San Juan

►Keys to Santiago defense was a series Keys to Santiago defense was a series of ridges known as San Juan and the of ridges known as San Juan and the village of El Caney.village of El Caney.

►Attack faces initial setbacksAttack faces initial setbacks Poorly coordinated, bad communicationsPoorly coordinated, bad communications Poorly equipped units-smoke gives away Poorly equipped units-smoke gives away

positionspositions Inaccurate artilleryInaccurate artillery Extreme heatExtreme heat

Destruction of Spanish FleetDestruction of Spanish Fleet

►Admiral Cervera’s fleet ordered to seaAdmiral Cervera’s fleet ordered to sea►Relieve pressure from Santiago and Relieve pressure from Santiago and

avoid capture. avoid capture. ►On July 3, Spanish fleet attempts to On July 3, Spanish fleet attempts to

out run the American fleet and escape out run the American fleet and escape to Cienfuegos.to Cienfuegos.

► In a dramatic running battle, the entire In a dramatic running battle, the entire fleet is destoyed. fleet is destoyed.

Surrender of SantiagoSurrender of Santiago

►With destruction of fleet, Santiago’s With destruction of fleet, Santiago’s fate is sealed. fate is sealed. No hope for resupply or reinforcementsNo hope for resupply or reinforcements

►Washington demands unconditional Washington demands unconditional surrender of Spanish forces in the surrender of Spanish forces in the region.region. Spanish ultimately agree. Spanish ultimately agree.

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

► Island quickly seized by General Island quickly seized by General Nelson Miles, old Indian fighter.Nelson Miles, old Indian fighter.

►Americans experience considerable Americans experience considerable popular support.popular support.

►Little bloodshed, no serious hardship, Little bloodshed, no serious hardship, plenty of fun.plenty of fun.

Army in CubaArmy in Cuba

► After Santiago, situation becomes deadly After Santiago, situation becomes deadly from disease. from disease. Malaria, typhoid and yellow fever.Malaria, typhoid and yellow fever. Situation so bad that many officers Situation so bad that many officers

recommended the evacuation of Cuba.recommended the evacuation of Cuba. 35,000 troops sent home through a camp at 35,000 troops sent home through a camp at

Montauk Point, NYMontauk Point, NY►Over 20,000 illOver 20,000 ill

Spurred the military to increase study into the Spurred the military to increase study into the health of its troopshealth of its troops

10 men died of disease for every man who died 10 men died of disease for every man who died in combatin combat

Junior OfficersJunior Officers

► Junior officers save the dayJunior officers save the day Overcome poor command decisionOvercome poor command decision

►New Technology appliedNew Technology applied Use of Gatling Guns as offensive weaponUse of Gatling Guns as offensive weapon Allows for establishment of fire supremacyAllows for establishment of fire supremacy

War in the PhilippinesWar in the Philippines

► 11,000 man force sent to Philippines to 11,000 man force sent to Philippines to seize islands.seize islands.

► Philippine independence movement, Emilio Philippine independence movement, Emilio Aguinaldo.Aguinaldo. Early cooperation becomes strainedEarly cooperation becomes strained Spanish willing to work with AmericansSpanish willing to work with Americans U.S. Gov trying to determine what to do with the U.S. Gov trying to determine what to do with the

islands.islands.►Need to remove insurgents from seize ring Need to remove insurgents from seize ring

around Manilaaround Manila►Mock capture of city devisedMock capture of city devised► Insurgents left with littleInsurgents left with little

Problems with conflictProblems with conflict

►War revealed glaring defects in military War revealed glaring defects in military structure and commandstructure and command Lack of planningLack of planning Poor coordination of servicesPoor coordination of services General confusionGeneral confusion Poor quality of equipmentPoor quality of equipment

►Post-war investigation, under General Post-war investigation, under General Granville Dodge, reveals need for major Granville Dodge, reveals need for major reform in army command structure. reform in army command structure.

Elihu RootElihu Root

►Appointed Secretary of War in 1899Appointed Secretary of War in 1899►Sets out to reform armySets out to reform army►Heavily influenced by military advisors Heavily influenced by military advisors

and ideas of Emory Uptonand ideas of Emory Upton►Seeks to create a unified command Seeks to create a unified command

structurestructure Creates a General Staff and an army Chief Creates a General Staff and an army Chief

of Staffof Staff Creates Army War CollegeCreates Army War College