Spanish American War

The Cuban Rebellion

• Cuba colony of Spain• Sugar cane in Cuba made

Spain very wealthy– Produced 1/3 of world’s

sugar cane

• 1868 Cuban rebels declared independence and launched guerilla war against Spanish authorities

Cuban Rebellion con’t• Cuban Rebellion failed• Many leaders fled to US• Jose Marti brought together

Cuban exiles living in the US– Raised funds, purchased

weapons, and trained troops to launch 2nd invasion

• New rebellion began in February 1895

• September 1895 rebels seized control of eastern Cuba, declared independence and established the Republic of Cuba

America Supports Cuba

• 1) Compared Cuban’s struggle to American Revolution

• 2) Yellow Journalism – sensationalist reported where writers often exaggerated or made up stories to attract readers– Dramatic stories of Spanish

atrocities were published in New Journal (Hearst) and New York World (Pulitzer)

– Newspapers tried to compete with one another

America Supports Cubans con’t• 3) General Weyler appointed

as governor of Cuba (Feb. 10, 1896)– His harsh policies earned him

the nickname ‘The Butcher’– He forced Cuban villagers into

‘reconcentration camps’ to keep them from aiding rebels

– 1/3 in the camps died of starvation and disease

• 4) deLome letter (Feb. 8) – intercepted a letter from Spain’s ambassador to the US that ridiculed President McKinley for being weak’– Americans outraged at the

insult

Explosion of the Maine• Feb. 15, 1898• USS Maine exploded in Havana

Harbor• Still unsure if spontaneous

combustion of coal bunker or mine

• Americans believed it was an act of sabotage and demanded we go to war

• April 19 Congress declared Cuba an independent nation, demanded Spain withdraw, and authorized the President to use force

• April 24 Spain declared war on the US

A War on Two Fronts: Philippines• Philippines was a Spanish colony• Commodore Dewey ordered to attack

Spanish squadron in Philippines so it could not travel east and attack the US

• Battle of Manila Bay – May 1, 1898 – Dewey and his 4 ships opened fire on 8 Spanish warships

• Quick victory surprised US officials• American ground troops not yet

there to help• While waiting on American troops

Dewey contacted Filipino revolution Emilio Aguinaldo for help– Aguinaldo took most of Filipino islands

while US took the Philippine capital of Manila

– Philippines surrendered August 14, 1898

A War on Two Fronts: Cuba• Americans not prepared for war

– Lacked resources to train and equip troops

– Most died in training camps due to unsanitary conditions causing disease epidemics

• Rough Riders – mix of cowboys, miners, and law officers who were volunteer fighters– Second in command – Teddy

Roosevelt

• Buffalo Soldiers – all black Calvary Regiments – ¼ of American troops in Cuba were African American

Cuba con’t• July 1, 1898 American troops

attacked El Caney, San Juan Heights, San Juan Hill, and Kettle Hill

• Spanish commander in Santiago harbor panicked and ordered fleet out of harbor on July 3rd

• American warships attacked Spanish fleet as they were trying to leave

• 2 weeks later the Spanish troops in Santiago surrendered and American troops soon occupied Spanish colony of Puerto Rico

• August 12 – Spain agreed to ceasefire

American Empire

• Debate over what Americans should do over newly acquired land

• Teller Amendment – said once Cuba was free the US would leave and it would get independence

• US annexed Guam and Puerto Rico

American Empire: What to do with the Philippines?

• For annexation:– Military: Pacific Naval base– Economic: Trade stop on

way to China, and large market

– Ideology: Teach less civilized people American values (education, Christianity)

• Against annexation:– Competition from cheap

Filipino labor would drive down US wages

– Believed imperialism violated American principles

Treaty of Paris

• December 10, 1898 – • Cuba would become

independent nation• US acquire Puerto Rico

and Guam• US pay 20 million for

Philippines

Cuba and the Platt Amendment• President McKinley wanted to

make sure Cuba was tied to the US

• Cuba created own constitution with attached conditions

• Platt Amendment:– 1) Cuba could not make treaty

with any other nation that would weaken its independence

– 2) Cuba had to allow the US to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba

– 3) Cuba had to keep debts low to prevent foreign countries from enforcing payments

– 4) US had the right to intervene to protect Cuban independence and keep order

Governing Puerto Rico• Foraker Act (1900) – established

civil government for the island– Elected legislature– Governor and executive council

appointed by US President– Not US citizens so no

constitutional rights

• Congress gradually allowed Puerto Ricans gradual self-government– 1917 – granted Puerto Ricans

American citizenship– 1947 – Puerto Ricans allowed to

elect their own governor– Continued debate over whether

Puerto Rico should be a state, gain independence, or continue as commonwealth

Rebellion in Philippines• Filipinos furious over annexation• Aguinaldo called his troops to attack

American soldiers• Philippine –American War lasted 3 years• 4300 American troops died• 50,000 – 200,000 Filipino deaths• Bad: developed reconcentration camps for

Filipinos to separate civilians from rebels but thousands died from disease and starvations

• Good: Tried to win Filipinos over by improving transportation, education and healthcare

• Aguinaldo captured in March of 1901• He told guerillas to surrender• July 4, 1902 US declared the war over• US started giving Philippines more freedom

– 1930s- elect their own Congress and President– 1946 – granted independence to Philippines