America Claims an Empire Unit 2 Spanish American

America Claims an Empire Unit: 2 Spanish. American War

Cuba

Cuban Political and Economic Instability w Cuba’s first war for independence from Spain failed but forced Spain to abolish slavery. w American capitalists invest in Cuba’s sugar plantations. – 1884 – Tariff abolished = sugar production skyrocketed. – 1894 - Tariff restored = Cuba’s economy ruined. w 1895 – Cuba’s second war for independence – Guerrilla warfare and destruction of property with the hopes of provoking U. S. intervention.

Jose` Marti w Leader of Cuban revolt against Spain. w Cuba Libre – a free Cuba (similar to Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” battle cry)

Threat of War Escalates w Spanish General V. Weyler’s response to guerrilla warfare – 300, 000 Cubans in concentration camps. w Yellow journalism – legitimate stories of Cuba’s hardships mixed with sensationalized accounts. – Pulitzer & Hearst

Threat of War, cont. w The De Lome Letter – De Lome (Spanish minister to the U. S. ) writes letter criticizing Mc. Kinley’s policy regarding Cuba. – Letter was leaked. w The U. S. S. Maine – Mc. Kinley sent U. S. S. Maine to protect Cuba. – On February 15, 1898, explosion sank ship killing 260 men. – Yellow journalists held Spain responsible.

U. S. S. Maine

War Breaks Out w w “Remember the Maine!” war cry. April 20, 1898, U. S. declares war against Spain. Fighting started in the Philippines. Pacific fleet defeats Spanish in two months. George Dewey w In Cuba, the Rough Riders, led by Leonard Wood and Teddy Roosevelt, converged on Santiago. w Battle of San Juan

War, cont. w U. S. navy destroyed Spanish fleet 2 days after Battle of San Juan Hill. w Treaty of Paris of 1898 – August 12, 1898, U. S. and Spain signed armistice. – Cuba is independent. – Puerto Rico and Guam belong to U. S. – U. S. pays $20 million for the Philippines.