War with Spain

The Beginning

• U.S. wants war• “Remember the Maine!”

• Spain tried to avoid it• Agrees to 6 month cease fire in Cuba

• U.S. people favored war still

• McKinley gets permission to declare war on Spain

War in the Philippines

• Fist battle takes place in Philippines• Spain thought Cuba would be first place

• George Dewey (Commodore in Navy) gives orders to open fire on Spanish fleet in Manila• Destroyed Spain’s naval fleet

War in the Caribbean

• U.S. blockades Cuba

• We now know that U.S. navy is superior to Spanish navy• A lot of volunteers sign up for war• Lack of weapons

• Unfit clothing for Cuban weather

Rough Riders

• U.S. forces land in Cuba (June 1898)• 4 African-American regiments

• Rough Riders -> volunteer Calvary under command of Leonard Wood and Teddy Roosevelt

• First significant battle at Kettle Hill• Wanted to take San Juan Hill

• 2 days later Spain tries to escape Cuba• Naval battle in which U.S. wins

• July 25 -> U.S. enters Puerto Rico

Treaty of Paris

• Fighting in war last only 15 weeks

• U.S. and Spain meet in Paris• Spain gives island of Guam and Puerto Rico to U.S.

• Spain sells Philippines to U.S. for $20 mil

• Does U.S. have right to annex the Philippines?• Cultural superiority steps in as answer

• Americans present moral arguments against the annexation of the Philippines

• U.S. grows into empire