THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, 1898America will fight for colonies!

CAUSES OF THE WAR Spain was doing a

terrible job controlling it colonies (the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico)

America had interest in Cuba (sugar plantations) Cuba was constantly

rebelling against Spain for their freedom

Spain retaliates by cutting Cuban rebels off from food… thousands die of disease

and starvation

America relates to the Cubans because of the American Revolution but doesn’t get

involved immediately… neutrality

YELLOW JOURNALISM Exaggerated atrocities Practiced by William

Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, especially about Cuba

Increased the American public dislike of the Spanish government in Cuba…rallying support for Spanish American War

Compared Cuban rebels to the patriots of the American Revolution

JINGOISM

Attitude of extreme nationalism

Started by William Randolph Hearst after President McKinley was insulted by the Spanish ambassador

IMPACT OF YELLOW JOURNALISM AND JINGOISM

Led to US government giving Spain an ultimatum to fix things with Cuba or get ready for American involvement

Cubans wanted independence not reform Spain not willing to back

down and neither is Cuba US sends the USS Maine to

Cuba to protect American citizens in Cuba

USS MAINE EXPLODES The USS Maine exploded in the Havana Harbor

266 killed The Spanish are blamed

McKinley doesn’t declare war…just an investigation Investigation showed that a mine had destroyed the ship

Jingoists and Yellow Journalists demand war

AMERICA DECLARES WAR

After USS Maine investigation President McKinley declares war

Teller Amendment: declared that the US had no intentions of annexing/colonizing Cuba, just helping them gain independence

THE PHILIPPINES Filipinos were fighting

for their freedom from Spain just like Cuba was

Under the control of Commodore Dewey, the American navy crushed a Spanish fleet in Manilo Bay in May

By August the Spanish had surrendered

ROUGH RIDERS Led by future

president Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba

Unit consisted of rugged westerners and upper class easterners

Made famous after the battle of San Juan Hill

“SPLENDID LITTLE WAR” Termed used by Secretary of States John Hay Called it this because it only lasted for 4

months showing how easy it was for AmericaOnly 380 die in battle2,200 die from disease (malaria)

EFFECTS OF THE WAR What will US do with

Spain’s former colonies? Treaty of Paris: officially

ended the war Spain gave US all of

Puerto Rico and Guam Sold Philippines to America

for $20 million Big debate of Philippines

but US needed it for trade with China, a stepping stone

After war, America is a world power and model imperialists

ANTI-IMPERIALISM LEAGUE

Formed over the debate of the Philippines

Included Mark Twain and William Jennings Bryan

Argued that imperialism was a crime and undemocratic because US did not treat colonists well

Challenged the Treaty of Paris