The SpanishAmerican War A War on Two Fronts

The Spanish-American War

A War on Two Fronts -U. S. Navy blockaded Cuba -why? -commodore George Dewy (Hong Kong) was ordered to attack the Spanish fleet located in their colony the Philippines -why?

The Battle of Manila Bay -May 1, 1898 - George Dewy destroyed all 8 severely outgunned Spanish warships -20, 000 troops sailed from San Francisco to the Philippines -picked up Guam on the way -Dewy contacted Emilio Aguinaldo- and asked to lead a rebellion against the Spanish – U. S. will help -Rebels took control of most of the islands and U. S. Manila

American Forces in Cuba -June 14, 1898 17, 000 forces landed east of Santiago in Cuba -US wanted to seize Spanish shore-based guns that occupied Santiago Harbor – flee and U. S. fleet waiting for them

American Forces in Cuba -U. S. troops advancing towards Santiago was the “Rough Riders”- group of flamboyant cowboys, miners, law officers -“Rough Riders” command by Colonel Leonard Wood & Theodore Roosevelt was 2 nd in command

American Forces in Cuba -July 1 U. S. troops attacked the village on El Caney – Northwest of Santiago -others attacked -Kettle Hill- “Rough Riders” - all black 9 th & 10 th Cavalry -1/4 of troops were African American -4 Medals of Honor -San Juan Hill- Rough Riders helped others seize

American Forces in Cuba -Spanish commander flees after victory in El Caney & San Juan Heights -U. S. fire on Spanish while leaving = they surrender -U. S. also occupies nearby Puerto Rico

An American Empire -December 10, 1898 - U. S. and Spain sign the Treaty of Paris -Cuba = independent nation -U. S. acquired Puerto Rico & Guam -annex Philippines for $20 million

The Platt Amendment -1900 - Cuba wrote a constitution - they left out the U. S. -1901 - U. S. wanted Cuba to make provisions-Platt Amendment -The Platt Amendment stated that: 1. Cuba could not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territory 2. The U. S reserved the right to intervene in Cuba 3. Cuba was not to go into debt 4. The U. S could buy or lease land on the island for naval & refueling stations

The Platt Amendment -Cuba needed to sign or U. S. would not leave -In 1903, Cuba signed = Protectorate- a country whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power

Governing Puerto Rico -1900 congress passed the Foraker Act- ended military rule & set up a civil gov’t in Puerto Rico -1917 -Puerto Ricans granted the right to U. S citizenship & elect their own governor

Filipinos Rebel -Filipinos outraged by the Treaty of Paris -Emilio Aguinaldo -believed that the U. S. had promised independence -In Feb. 1899 Filipinos revolted -Emilio Aguinaldo turned to guerrilla tactics = U. S forced Filipinos to live in designated zones where starvation and diseases killed thousands -U. S. set up a similar gov’t that was in Puerto Rico -Philippines became an independent republic on July 4, 1946.