The Spanish-American WarChapter 16 Section 2

Words to Know

•Yellow Journalism: The publishing of exaggerated or made-up news stories to attract readers and influence their ideas.

•Imperialism: The policy of one nation gaining control over other lands and using them to build an empire.

Late 1800s• Spain no longer a world

power:▫ Empire grown smaller▫ In Americas, only Cuba

and Puerto Rico under Spain’s control

• American leaders interested in affairs of Cuba:▫ 90 miles off coast of

Florida• 1868: Cubans rebel against

Spain:▫ Some Cuban leaders flee

to NYC

Cubans Revolt against Spain• Many Americans sided

with the Cubans:▫ Reminded people for

their fight for independence

▫ US newspapers practiced yellow journalism

Explosion of the Maine•1898: Fighting

began in Havana, Cuba▫Pres. McKinley sent

US battleship Maine to Havana

▫McKinley wanted to protect Americans in Cuba

▫2/15/1898: the Maine exploded in Havana Harbor 260 sailors killed

Explosion of the Maine cont.•Most Americans

blamed Spain▫Believed bomb was

planted on the ship▫Americans’ had

much anger towards Spain

▫4/25/1898: US declares war on Spain Year later it was

determined that the explosion was an accident

War• Spanish-American war

lasted less than 3 months

• War was fought in the Philippines and Cuba

• Spanish Fleet was destroyed in Manila Bay (Phil)▫ Commodore George Dewy

• Dewey sent weapons to Emilio Aquinaldo▫ Filipino leader▫ US and Filipino forces

won almost all the islands

Cuba• Theodore Roosevelt

led the “Rough Riders”

• Won at San Juan Hill

• US Navy defeated Spanish fleet at Santiago

• Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1898▫ Gave US control of

Cuba and Puerto Rico▫ Philippines

US a World Power• Victory over Spain made

the US a world power• Some Americans wanted

the US to have an Empire like GB.▫ Others were against

imperialism

Responsibilities• US had to make decisions

about how they were going to govern their new areas▫ Often the decisions did

not please the people living in those areas

Responsibilities• Cuba:

▫ Large US Naval base built at Guantanamo Bay

Responsibilities• Puerto Rico:

▫ Jones Act of 1917 made it a US territory

▫ Appointed a governor▫ Could have reps. In

Congress, but couldn’t vote

Responsibilities• Philippines:

▫ US govt. was set up there

▫ Filipino troops fought US troops for years to gain control

▫ Filipinos lost their fight in 1901