The Spanish-American War

Chapter 7Section 2

Crisis In Cuba• Cuba is 90-100 miles

off coast of US• Cuba was controlled

by Spain, unhappy• Jose Marti led

revolution• Used guerilla tactics

and destroyed property, esp. US (?)

Spanish-American War• Valeriano Weyler “the

Butcher” sets up concentration camps

• Newspaper wars: Hearst vs. Pulitzer use yellow journalism to sell/persuade

• Fanned war fever• Americans

sympathize for Cuba

US Declares War• McKinley wanted to

avoid war with Spain• Spain made changes• De Lome Letter

angers Americans (Spanish minister to US)

U.S.S. Maine• USS Maine sent to

protect US citizens and investments

• Feb. 15, 1898 Maine blew up

• 260 men killed• Blame is given to

Spain

Spanish-American WarPhilippines

• “Remember the Maine”• April 20 1898 US

declares war• First battle in Philippines• George Dewey led US

forces/rebels• Within 2 months, Spain

surrendered in Philippines

Spanish-American WarCuba

• Blockade of Cuba sealed Spanish fleet

• Rough Riders led by Teddy Roosevelt

• Buffalo Soldiers and Rough Riders were key in Cuban Victory

• San Juan Hill• Spanish fleet destroyed

as it tried to break blockade

Treaty of Paris• “Splendid little war”

ends with US victor1. Spain freed Cuba2. Guam and Puerto

Rico were given to the US

3. Philippines sold to US for $20 Million

• Can we annex the Philippines?

Annex the Philippines• Debate occurred• McKinley- “nothing left to

do but to take them, and educate, uplift and Christianize them”

• Violated the Constitution (self gov’t)

• US annexed Philippines by the Treaty of Paris Feb 6, 1899

Filipinos Revolt• Filipinos rebel against

annexation• Emilio Aguinaldo led the

rebellion• “one leader for another”• 3 years of rebellion• 20,000 Philipinos/4,000

Americans dead• Cost US $400 Million• Became independent July

4, 1946

Puerto Rico• US forces occupy

island• Promise protection• Important location for

US• Foraker Act-ended

military rule, set up civil government

• 1917 become US citizens, control own gov’t

Cuba• Occupied by US troops

(Teller?)• Provided food, clothing,

schools, farms, medicine, sanitation, removal of disease

• US insists: Accept the Platt Amendment intoConstitution

Platt Amendment• Can’t make treaties that limited

independence• US had right to intervene in Cuba• Cuba could not go into debt• US could buy/lease land for naval/fueling

stations (Guantanamo Bay)• Accepted reluctantly and lasted for 31

years, Cuba becomes US protectorate (affairs partially controlled by stronger power)