A Splendid little War

In the mid 1800’s, there was a movement in America to try to buy Cuba from Spain

Spain said NO WAY

President Franklin Pierce

Escalated by economic depression

American Interest ◦ Some Sympathies ◦ Annexation? ◦ Overseas investments

Jose Marti

General Valeriano Weyler ◦ Brought in by

Spanish to put down the revolution

Reconcentrado ◦ Concentration Camps ◦ Cut ties between

rural workers and revolutionaries

Drawings used to incense Americans

Style of writing that exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers

You Make the Call

April 20, 1898 ◦ US declared war on

Spain ◦ Spain agreed to most

demands from US willing to pay for the

U.S.S. Maine

Naval Blockade

Theodore Roosevelt ◦ Assistant Secretary of

the Navy ◦ Telegram 2/25/1898 Puts Dewey into

position to attack ◦ Prepared for Battle of

Manila Bay

After Dewey destroyed the Spanish Fleet, 11,000 American troops joined the Filipinos who had been fight for independence.

The Filipinos were lead by rebel, Emilio Aguinaldo.

By August 1898, the Spanish troops surrendered.

Naval Blockade – Admiral Sampson blockaded Cuba, sealing up the Spanish Fleet in Santiago Harbor.

Our Army wasn’t as prepared as our Navy. Over 125,000 men volunteered to serve but

were given mostly left-over Civil War equipment.

A total of 307,420 served in the war. Only 325 died in battle and 2,061died of disease or other causes.

Resigned in May, 1898

Created the “Rough Riders” ◦ First US Volunteer

Cavalry ◦ Second in command

under Leonard Wood

T.R.’s group took Kettle Hill which opened the way for the infantry to charge on San Juan Hill.

Roosevelt comes out of the war as a big hero.

The Spanish had been bottled up in Santiago Bay. On July 3rd, they made a run for it. American ships waiting for them, pursued and

destroyed the fleet

Americans defeat the rest of the Spanish fleet near the harbor of Santiago

Cease fire on August 12, 1898 Fighting lasted only 16 Weeks

Treaty of Paris Spain freed Cuba Spain turned over Guam, Puerto Rico in the West Indies

to the US Spain sold Philippines to US for $20,000,000