Spanish American War

Events of the War & The Post War Period

“A Splendid Little War” ~ Sec. of State John Hay

The War Begins• Theodore Roosevelt –

– Assistant Secretary of the Navy – Cabled Dewey w/ order to attack

Spanish Fleet in Philippines if war broke out

• Manila Bay (May 1, 1898)– Dewey’s squadron of 6 new warships

launches surprise attack– Spanish fleet of 10 destroyed (old,

wooden, rotting)– 400 Spanish Casualties – No U.S. battle casualties (1 from

sunstroke)• Results

– Major U.S. victory– Dewey has to wait for troops before

invasion– With help of Filipino rebels, Manila is

captured in August

TR & the “Rough Riders”

• Theodore Roosevelt – Resigns as Asst. Sec.

of Navy– Organizes “Rag Tag”

Volunteer Regiment– Mostly cowboys, but

some wealthy thrill seekers, convicts, etc.

– Achieved rank of Lt. Colonel

– Bending of rules? glasses

War in Cuba• American fleet set up naval

blockade of Cuba– Spanish fleet of 10 sent (old,

rotting)• U.S. Ground Forces

– Land outside of Santiago– July 1, 1898

• Battle of San Juan Hill– TR & Rough Riders (along

with “Buffalo” Soldiers charged up hill (no horses)

• Battle of El Caney– Both U.S. victories

• Spanish Navy – Caught in Harbor, U.S. sinks

every ship• Puerto Rico

– With victory in sight, US moves to occupy Spanish controlled island

August 12, 1898 – Spanish sign armistice

ending the fighting

Results & Treaty• U.S. Readiness for War– Understaffed,

unorganized, untrained, poorly equipped, not enough food

– BUT – Spanish even less prepared

• U.S. Casualties– 400 in battle– 5,000 to disease

(malaria, typhoid, dysentery, yellow fever)

• Treaty of Paris– Point of Contention –

Philippines– U.S. receives

• Cuban independence• Islands of Guam, Puerto

Rico, and Philippines

– Spain receives:• $20 Million

Puerto Rico, Cuba, & the Philippines After the War

• Puerto Rico– Becomes U.S.

protectorate– Set up civil gov’t

– gradually give more control to Puerto Ricans

– 1917 – given American citizenship

– Statehood in future?

• Cuba– Installed military

gov’t• Helped

modernize nation

– New Constitution (1901)• Platt

Amendment – Gave U.S. a military base (Guantanamo), land restrictions, & more

• Philippines– Annexed by U.S.

• Filipinos thought U.S. would treat them as Cuba

– Jan 23, 1899 • Declared independence

• Emilio Aguinaldo elected President

– Americans send reinforcements• Fighting former allies

• 2 years of harsh guerilla fighting

– March 23, 1901 – rebellion put down after capturing Aguinaldo

Philippines get independence - July

4, 1946

Filipino Insurrection (1)

Filipino Insurrection (2)

Filipino Insurrection (3)

Spanish-American War VS. Iraq War

• What are some similarities or differences between the 2 wars in the time:– Leading up to the War?• How/why we got involved, role of the media, etc.

– During the fighting of the war?• U.S preparedness, success/length of war, etc.

– After the war?• Gains, handling of territories, problems with

occupation, etc.