Spanish American War The U S Navy showed

Spanish American War The U. S. Navy showed its strength as it bombed a massive Spanish fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The 1800’s had brought electrifying changes to American life, but as the old century slipped away, it brought one last thing…war with Spain.

• In 1492 Spain was the world’s mightiest empire. • By 1898 their empire had dwindled to a few islands: Puerto Rico and Cuba in the Caribbean, and a handful in the Pacific; handful including the Philippines and tiny Guam in Micronesia.

• Almost every other former Spanish territory had fought for and gained its independence. • In 1895 the people of Cuba, longing for liberty, began to fight for independence. With Cuba just ninety miles from the U. S. mainland, our leaders watched cautiously.

Many spies captured by Spanish troops during their fight for independence were executed without a trial. Pictures like this aroused American opinion against Spain. Cubans had been unhappy with Spanish rule for some time. Americans were sympathetic towards the Cuban’s, who had endured Spain's cruel treatment and harsh attempts to put down the Cuban revolt.

This cruel treatment increased support in the U. S. for Cuba's struggle for independence. President Mc. Kinley, however, had personally seen so much death and destruction during the Civil War that he was hesitant to get involved.

Cuban Rebels fought for their independence from Spain

Concentration camp victims in Cuba. The Cuban Rebellion so widespread that to restore order Spanish troops put many Cuban civilians in “concentration camps”. Although the Spanish were successful in moving the large numbers of Cuban civilians they failed to provide them with the necessities of life. As a consequence hundreds of thousands of Cuban died of disease and hunger. The inhumanity of the Spanish toward the Cubans won the sympathy of U. S. population to the Cuban cause of independence.

Reasons for the Spanish American War n n American support of Cuban rebels to gain independence from Spain We see a similarity to our revolution

Sweet Teeth n The United States had great business interests in Cuba and Puerto Rico. n Several big American sugar plantations were located on both islands. n The sugar trade was a very profitable business for the United States.

Sweet Teeth n To protect their sugar plantations, the U. S. sent a battleship, the U. S. S. Maine, which anchored in Havana Harbor, Cuba.

Reasons for the Spanish American War n Protection of American Business Interests in Cuba (i. e. sugar cane)

Battleship Maine Late in the day on February 15, 1898, the ship exploded and sank killing 274 men. It was easy to blame Spain. “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!” screamed the newspaper headlines, but the cause of the sinking remained a mystery.

U. S. S. Maine

U. S. S. Maine

U. S. S. Maine

Was an underwater land mine planted by the Spanish in Havana Harbor responsible for the destruction of the U. S. S. Maine as this New York newspaper shows, or could it have been an accidental fire?

Reasons for the Spanish American War n Rising tensions as a result of the sinking of the U. S. S. Maine in Havana Harbor

Tensions Rise The sinking of the U. S. S. Maine and the threat to U. S. business interests (sugar), led to a declaration of war against Spain on April 25 th 1898.

The Yellow Journalists Should the United States have gone to war with Spain? • Some historians believe that the Spanish American War was stirred up by two rival newspaper men who wanted to sell more newspapers. • The two top-selling newspapers of the time were Joseph Pulitzer’s World, and William Hearst’s Journal. • Each paper tried to outdo the other with bold headlines, gruesome stories, and bloody photos.

The Yellow Journalists • As the Cubans fought for independence, both newspapers printed sensational stories about starving children and innocent people being executed. • Both men wanted war, knowing it would increase sales of their newspapers.

Yellow Journalism The nickname “Yellow” Journalism came from this popular cartoon of the Yellow Kid, who wore a yellow gown and appeared in a comic strip featured in William Hearst’s New York Journal newspaper.

Pulitzer and Hearst, the two newspapers tycoons, squared off against one another in this political cartoon that pokes fun at the two men. They are dressed exactly like the Yellow Kid.

Reasons for the Spanish American War n Exaggerated news reports of events (yellow journalism)

A Splendid Little War Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt President Mc. Kinley Admiral George Dewey

• In the Pacific, the U. S. Navy, led by Commodore George Dewey, took Manila, the capital of the Philippines on April 30 th. • By December 10, 1898 the war with Spain was over. The Battle of Manila Bay

Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders, a regiment of over 1, 250 men. Some were Buffalo Soldiers, while others were veterans of the Plains Indian Wars. Some even came from wealthy families and were simply seeking adventure. America’s first victory over Spain came in June, 1898, with the capture of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Followed by an attack on Santiago. It was here that a feisty young Lieutenant Colonel named Theodore Roosevelt led an attack by soldiers from two African American regiments and a horseback unit nicknamed the Rough Riders in the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Disc 2 52: 30 – 121: 57 (29: 27 min)

Stab at an Empire Over 3, 000 men had died in the Spanish American War, however, 90% of those deaths were from tropical diseases, such as yellow fever carried by mosquitoes. People wondered if the war was worth the loss of life. The war itself had only lasted four months, and is often referred to as “a splendid little war, ” because of how short it was; and because of the territories gained by the U. S. all over the world. The Spanish American War marked the emergence of the United States as a world power. There was no doubt that the United States had taken its place among the world’s strongest military powers.

What We Gained in the End • America’s intervention in Cuba helped them gain their independence from Spain. • We also took possession of Guam and Puerto Rico. Spain, which was in deep financial trouble, sold us the Philippines for $20 million dollars (considered a great deal).

Results of the Spanish American War n The United States emerged as a world power

Results of the Spanish American War n Cuba gained independence from Spain

Results of the Spanish American War n The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico

Reasons for the Spanish American War n n n n Protection of American business interests American support of Cuban rebels to gain independence from Spain Rising tensions as a result of the sinking of the U. S. S. Maine in Havana Harbor Exaggerated news reports of events (yellow journalism) Results of the Spanish American War The United States emerged as a world power Cuba gained independence from Spain The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico