Why did the U S invade Cuba in

Why did the U. S. invade Cuba in April 1898? ? ? Note: US President Mc. Kinley went before Congress to ask for a declaration of war against Spain. The grounds for such intervention may be briefly summarized as follows: Document #1 “First, in the cause of humanity and to put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries now existing there. [in Cuba]. . . Second, we owe it to our citizens in Cuba to afford them that protection and indemnity (security) for life and property which no government there [in Cuba] can or will afford. . Third, the right to intervene may be justified (necessary) because of the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people, and by the wanton (random) destruction of property and devastation of the island. Fourth, and which is of the utmost importance. . a conflict [the war between Cuba and Spain] waged for years in an island so near us. . . is a constant menace (a threat) to our peace. . ” Source: Excerpt from President William Mc. Kinley’s War Message to Congress, April 11, 1898. Vocabulary • wanton: reckless, random • indemnity: security against damage, payment for loss • menace: threat • Justified: necessary, right.

Why did the U. S. invade Cuba in April 1898? ? ? Note: By the late 1800’s, the Spanish were losing control of their colony, Cuba. Concerned about this they moved Cubans to "reconcentration" camps where the Spanish claimed they would be better able to protect them. However, people around the world saw newspaper reports that described horrible conditions in the camps for the Cuban people, who were called "reconcentrados. " This account was forwarded to Washington D. C. by U. S. Consul-General in Cuba Fitzhugh Lee. Document #2 1 “[I] will relate to you what I saw with our own eyes [in Cuba]: Four hundred and sixty Cuban women and children thrown on the ground by the Spaniards, as animals, some in a dying condition, others sick and others dead, without the slightest cleanliness, nor the least help. . 5 The circumstances are the following: complete accumulation of bodies dead and alive, so that it was impossible to take one step without walking over them; the greatest want of cleanliness, want of light, air, and water; the food lacking in quality and quantity what was necessary to sustain life. . 10 From all this we deduct that the number of deaths among the reconcentrados has amounted to 77 per cent. ” Source: Excerpt from an unsigned enclosure included with a telegram sent by Fitzhugh Lee, U. S. Consul-General (person who overseas US interests in Cuba), November 27, 1897. Havana, Cuba. Vocabulary • Reconcentration camps: area converted into a prison. • reconcentrados: those Cubans who had been moved into the reconcentration camps.

Why did the U. S. invade Cuba in April 1898? ? ? Note: Senator Beveridge gave this speech while he was campaigning to become a Senator for Indiana. The speech helped him win the election and made him one of the leading advocates of American expansion. Document #3 1 5 “In Cuba, alone, there are 15, 000 acres of forest unacquainted (unused). There are exhaustless (several) mines of iron. . There are millions of acres yet unexplored. . It means new employment and better wages for every laboring man in the US. . . Ah! as our commerce spreads, the flag of liberty will circle the globe. . Fellow Americans, we are God's chosen people. . ” Source: Excerpt from Albert J. Beveridge’s Senate campaign speech, 1898. Vocabulary • unacquainted: unused • exhaustless: several.

Why did the U. S. invade Cuba in April 1898? ? ? Note: The following document is from the Journal, a newspaper that published stories that used a scandalous writing style. This story below became a popular example of ‘yellow journalism’. Document #4 “DESTRUCTION OF THE WAR SHIP MAINE WAS THE WORK OF AN ENEMY” “NAVAL OFFICERS THINK THE MAINE WAS DESTROYED BY A SPANISH MINE” George Eugene Bryson, the Journal’s special correspondent at Havana, says that it is the secret opinion of many Spaniards in the Cuban capital, that the Maine (an American battleship sent to protect US interests in Cuba) was destroyed and 258 men killed by means of marine mine or fixed torpedo. This is the opinion of several American naval authorities… Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt says he is convinced that the destruction of the Maine in Havana Harbor was not an accident… The suspicion that the Maine was deliberately (on purpose, intentionally) blown up grows stronger every hour. Not a single fact to the contrary has been produced. . Source: Excerpt from New York Journal and Advertiser, February 17, 1898 Vocabulary • Maine: American battleship that was sent to Cuba to protect US interests there. • deliberately: on purpose, intentionally.

Porque razón(es) los Estados Unidos invadió a Cuba en Abril de 1898? ? ? Note: el Presidente Mc. Kinley de los Estados Unidos hizo un discurso para pedir permiso de declarar guerra contra España e invadir a Cuba. Las razones del presidente para la invasión son resumidas como las siguientes; Documento #1 “Primero parar las barbaridades, el derramamiento de sangre, el hambre, y las horribles miserias que existen allí [en Cuba] en este momento…. Segundo, se lo debemos a nuestros vecinos en Cuba de darles la protección e indemnidad (seguridad) de vida que ellos no tienen…. Tercero, el derecho de intervenir puede justificarse (ser necesario) por el daño grave al comercio y a los negocios de nuestra gente, y por la destrucción sin sentido de la propiedad Americana y la devastación de la isla. Cuarto, y de suma importancia…Con tal conflicto [guerra entre España y Cuba] en una isla tan cerca de nosotros y con la cual nuestra gente tiene relaciones de comercio y negocio, y cuando la vida y la libertad de nuestros ciudadanos están en peligro constante…todas esas y otras cosas…representan una amenaza constante a nuestra paz. ” Fuente: Extracto del Mensaje de Guerra al Congreso del presidente William Mc. Kinley, abril 1898. Vocabulario • indemnidad: seguridad. • Justificarse: necesario.