“A splendid little war”

Secretary of State John Hay

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (April-August 1898)(April-August 1898)

The United States Becomes A World Power

CAUSESCAUSES

Monroe Doctrine Keep European influences out of our

hemisphere

American Imperialism Enhance American Empire (Puerto Rico,

Guam, Philippines)

Yellow Journalism Sensationalized media used specifically to

instigate pro-American feelings and stir up support for war

BEGINNINGSBEGINNINGS Cuba

Owned by Spain• Spanish empire

declining U.S. trading partner

• $100M per year Cubans trying to gain

independence• 1860’s failed• Try again in 1890’s

THE CUBAN THE CUBAN INSURRECTIONINSURRECTION

Cuba has small army Uses guerrilla warfare Burn sugar fields

General Valeriano Weyler Sets up concentration camps

• All “non-combatants”

• Famine, disease

American opinion of Spanish actions is low

American press sends reporters to Cuba to investigate

THINK OUT LOUD

Why would the U.S. be concerned with what was happening in Cuba?

What would the U.S. have to gain?

AMERICA GETS INVOLVEDAMERICA GETS INVOLVED William Randolph Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer

Circulation war between their two competing newspapers• Hearst=New York Journal

• Pulitzer=New York World NEED to sell newspapers

• What kind of news sells?

• Spanish Oppression of Cubans “Yellow Journalism”

• Give the public what they want, sensationalize it

• Money and entertainment– Remington (artist)

– Evangelina Cisneros (niece of a rebel leader)

What is YOUR reaction to the drawing?

““REMEMBER THE MAINE”REMEMBER THE MAINE”

Maine sent down as a “goodwill mission”

Intimidate Anchored in Port of

Havana Feb. 1898 Maine

mysteriously blows up• 260 Americans killed

War doesn’t start immediately

THINK OUT LOUD

Can you think of another event where the U.S. was attacked and it started a war?

How ‘should’ the U.S. respond to attacks like this?

WHO DONE IT?WHO DONE IT? Newspapers (“Yellow Journalism”)

Blame Spanish--”Remember The Maine…To Hell With Spain”

• Spanish don’t want war

• U.S. makes demands to get rid of Weyler and end concentration camps (March 1898)

• Spanish comply with EVERYTHING except independence for Cuba

Found out later that it was a boiler that exploded

• Truth mattered little--most Americans want war

THINK OUT LOUD

Write your OWN (YELLOW JOURNALISM) headline about the Terror Attack on 9-11-01.

DE’LOME LETTERDE’LOME LETTER De’Lome Spanish

embassador (D.C.) Writes a personal letter

to friend in Cuba Letter is intercepted and

finds its way to front page of Hearst’s paper

• Letter blasts McKinley

• Criticizes America Last straw

• War declared April 1898– Teller Amendment

– U.S. will not take Cuba

WAR BEGINSWAR BEGINS Teddy Roosevelt=

Asst. Sec. Of Navy TR cables China and

tells Admiral Dewey to attack Spanish fleet in Philippines

This is where war actually starts (Battle of Manila Bay)

“You may fire when ready, Gridley” Admiral Dewey

Spanish lose 400+ men (we lose 2)

THINK OUT LOUD

Talk to your neighbor and compare the American “body count” during the Battle of Manila and the War in Iraq.

WAR IN CUBAWAR IN CUBA Over in 10 weeks

Men form their own regiments

• “Rough Riders” formed by Teddy Roosevelt

• Cowboys, a sheriff, Indian fighters, ex-cons, polo players, football players

• Have to get to Tampa Bay where boats leave

• Land, wander around looking for Spanish

• Battle of San Juan Hill– American victory

RESULTS OF THE WARRESULTS OF THE WAR U.S. acquires Guam, Puerto Rico and the

Philippines Philippines cost $20 million

Hawaii We don’t get it from the Spanish but it is

annexed as a result of the war

Platt Amendment Give Cuba its independence

• Cuba not allowed to make treaties that would compromise their independence