Why does the United States care about

Cuba?Why is the United

States interested in Cuba?

What usually motivates the U.S.?

BACKGROUNDMonroe Doctrine – 1823•European nations interfering in North or South America viewed as acts of aggression•security of businesses and security of U.S. at stake in Latin AmericaCuba 1895•one of last Spanish Colonies in the Americas•concerned about Europeans taking over unstable governments in Latin America

U.S. INTERESTS Why is the U.S. so

concerned about Cuba?American Business•number of Americans did business in Cuba ($50 million)Plantations, Factories, Warehouses•businesses held numerous locations on the islandSugarU.S. bought most of it’s sugar from Cuba($100 million)

U.S. INTERESTS con’t.

Gulf of Mexico•strategically important•guarded entrance to Gulf of Mexico•“Whoever controls Cuba controls the Gulf of Mexico”

Cuban Independence•Americans sympathized with Cubans•Cuban’s fight for freedom similar to Americans fight for independence

CAUSES OF WARCuban Revolutions•series of unsuccessful revolts•Cuban nationalists fail to overthrow Spanish colonial rule 1868-1878•1895 renewed struggle

2 potential goalsforce Spain’s withdrawal ORpull in U.S. as an ally

•U.S. wanted Spain out – economic interests•Jingoism – intense form of nationalism calling for an aggressive foreign policy

CAUSES OF WAR

Yellow Journalism•most news from newspapers – no television or radio•New York City had 15 daily newspapers at one point•Yellow journalism – sensationalistic reporting, bold and lurid headlines of crime, disaster and scandal

CAUSES OF WAR

Cuban Revolutions•American journalists supported war•Citizen demand for war with Spain grows quickly•Presidents Cleveland and McKinley•Spain sends Spanish General Weyler and over 100,000 troops to crush revolt•Called Weyler the Butcher by American press •thousands of civilians forced into armed camps with nearly 1/3 dying from starvation or disease•American press runs with this story•Increases U.S. support for war

CAUSES OF WARAmerican Imperialism•Imperialists demand action•Economic interests needed protection•strong sense of nationalism (jingoism)•need to prove military strength to rest of world•moral duty of United States to spread Christianity

CAUSES OF WAR

DeLome Letter•Hearst felt U.S. should intervene in Cuba•President McKinley reluctant to get involved•Spanish Diplomat wrote highly critical letter of McKinley calling him weak•Hearst buys letter from Cuban spy and published it•“worst insult to the United States in its history”•Americans outraged and began to rally behind support for a war with Spain

CAUSES OF WARU.S.S. Maine•U.S.S. Maine sent to Havana Harbor•Maine to sit in harbor and protect American lives and property•February 15, 1898 – one week after De Lome letter – U.S.S. Maine suddenly explodes•260 Americans killed on board•Spanish blamed by yellow journalists – no proof•“Destruction of the War Ship Maine Was the Work of an Enemy” New York Journal headline•“Remember the Maine, To hell with Spain”•1976 – U.S. Navy confirmed spontaneous combustion in a coal bunker adjacent to a powder magazine

U.S.S. Maine con’t.•McKinley demanded Spain grant Cuba independence•Spain refused•April 25, 1898 U.S. declared war on Spain•first major war since the Civil War•first major foreign war since U.S. gained her independence

So, why was the U.S. interested in Cuba?Monroe Doctrine

American Businesses/Factories

SUGAR!!!

Location, Location, Location!!

Sympathy Vote

So, what were the causes of the Spanish-American War?Cuban Revolutions

American Imperialism

Yellow Journalism

DeLome Letter

U.S.S. Maine

WAR IN CUBA• Cuba much more troublesome for

U.S.• U.S. not as prepared as it should

have beenuniforms and supplies left

over from Civil War• Most lethal enemy in Cuba not the

Spanishtropical diseases5000 Americans typhoid,

malaria, dysentery• Volunteer force arrived in Cuba end

of June• Rough Riders (volunteers) led by

Teddy Rooseveltmade up of athletes, cowboys, ranchers, African AmericansSan Juan Hill

War in the PhilippinesFirst shots fired May 1, 1898 Manila

Bay, Philippines• Under Spanish control since

1500’s• Teddy Roosevelt – Asst. Secretary

of Navyexpansioniststrategic value

• T.R. wanted to show off U.S. Navyordered fleet to Philippines

• Spanish fleet pounded by U.S.• Fight on land much longer

terrain, guerilla forces• Filipino Rebels join U.S.

fighting for independence for over 2 years

• Manila August 13, 1898

TREATY OF PEACEParis December 10, 1898

Avowed purpose of the war – Cuban Independence

Terms of the Treaty• Recognition of Cuban Independence• U.S. Acquisitions

Puerto Rico (Caribbean)Guam (Pacific)Philippines return payment of $20 million to Spain

Effects• Insular (Island) Cases 1901-1903

Question: Does the Constitution follow the flag?Ruling: constitutional rights not automatically extended

power to grant such rights belongs with Congress

EFFECTS con’t.• Teller Amendment guaranteed U.S. respect for Cuba’s

independence BUT………..withdrawal of U.S. troops conditional upon Cuba’s

acceptance of the Platt Amendment1) never sign a treaty w/foreign power2) permit U.S. to intervene in Cuba’s affairs (preserve

independence and maintain law and order3) allow U.S. to maintain naval bases in Cuba

(Guantanamo Bay!)• Acceptance of Platt Amendment made Cuba a U.S.

Protectorate – country under control and protection of another country

Platt Amendment eventually repealed but U.S. maintained Guantanamo Bay

The Philippine Question: Annexation

FAVOR ANNEXATION(imperialists)

FAVOR INDEPENDENCE(anti-imperialists)

•Imperialism made the U.S. stronger•benefits for those under U.S. control•duty of U.S. to spread values overseas•“educate, civilize, christianize”•economic value – natural resources•strategic value – refuel and resupply ships

•Heavily populated area-feared increase in immigration-hurt American workers•different race/culture•concerned about controlling overseas territories•feared involvement political conflicts of Asia•violation of Declaration of Independence (life, liberty, happiness)•racial issues at home that needed to be addressed

ANNEXATION OF THE PHILIPPINES• Senate required 2/3 majority to ratify

• Treaty of Peace ratified February 6, 1899• narrowly approved by the Senate 57-27• Filipinos Outraged! – gained independence from

Spain only to be controlled by another country• Filipinos warned they would take military action

against the United States if annexation approved• Philippine Insurrection cost thousands of lives

on both sidesguerilla fighting

finally ended 1902 with U.S. vowing to “prepare the islands for independence”• July 4, 1946 – U.S. granted full independence to

the Philippines