The Spanish American War

1
The Spanish American War

• Why did the United States go to war against Spain
  in 1898, and why was the outcome significant?

2
The Spanish American War

• In 1890, Spains overseas empire had been reduced
  to Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and a few
  smaller Islands.
• The Cubans rebelled against Spain and Declared
  their independence in 1895.
• Spain sent troops to Cuba to crush rebellion.
• They used brutal methods to repress the uprising
  and the U.S. became concerned, because of the
  reports in newspapers (yellow journalism) which
  deliberately sensationalized the news, making it
  seem worse than it really was.
• The Spanish sunk a US ship, the U.S.S. Maine,
  triggering a firestorm of protests.
• President McKinley responded to the public by
  asking Congress for permission to intervene in
  Cuba.
• The War ended with U.S. occupation of the
  Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam.
• Marked the end of Spains colonial empire

3
When is it appropriate for the United States to
send soldiers to fight and face death on foreign
soil?
4
Choose your top 3 reasons from this list

• To assist an ally of the United States
• To protect territory that is close to U.S.
  Borders
• To stop human rights abuses
• To acquire resources
• To gain power
• To acquire territory
• To improve national security
• To spread or protect American values and moral
  beliefs
• To fight against tyrannical governments
• Under no circumstances is it ever appropriate
• Other (explain)

5
TURN and TALK

• Share your top 3 reasons with your partner and
  see if you can agree on 3 reason together.

6

• In 1898, the United States sent troops to Cuba
  and the Philippines to fight a war against Spain.
• Many Americans wondered whether the United States
  had a right to extend its power into colonial
  lands. Others saw it as an opportunity for the
  United States to advance as a world leader.
• In this lesson, you will learn how the war, and
  the debate that followed, marked a significant
  change in American beliefs about the nations
  foreign policy.

7
What is Yellow Journalism? What role did
competition for readership between newspapers
play in the U.S. decision to go to war?

• HEARST v. PULITZER

8
Yellow Journalism

• Journalism that exploits, distorts, or
  exaggerates the news to create sensations and
  attract readers.

9
With your Partner

• You will examine primary source images about
  important events prior to and during the
  Spanish-American War.
• You will then use these images to create a mock
  newspaper summarizing the events.

10
Instructions

• You will be creating the front page of a
  newspaper using images cut from the Notebook
  Handout and articles that you write as you
  respond to each section of the reading.
• To begin, set up your newspaper across two pages
  of your notebook as shown below.

11

• Who is being blamed in this song?
• What is he being blamed for?
• Why might an editor have wanted to start this
  war?
• What did the editor do to provoke this war?

12
Read Section 20.2Trouble Brewing in Cuba

• Next to the image for this section
• Write a letter to the editor expressing your
  feelings about the coverage in the New York World
  and New York Journal of events in Cuba
• Letter should include
• Thoughts on the accuracy of these stories
• Ideas on coverage of these events as an effort to
  keep Americans informed

13

• What do you see here?
• What seems to have happened?
• According to the headline, what is the cause of
  the explosion?
• How do you think Americans felt when they saw
  this image?

14
Read Section 20.3Americans call for War with
Spain

• Next to this image
• Write a lead story sensationalizing the
  publication of the de Lome letter and the
  explosion of the USS Maine in order to fuel
  public anger toward Spain
• Include in your story
• The basic details of each incident
• Attempts to encourage Americans to press the U.S.
  government into war with Spain
• The terms de Lome letter and USS Maine

15

• What do you see in this image?
• Which countries appear to be fighting each other?

16

• Where do you think this battle is being fought?
• Why do you think these two countries are fighting

17

• Who appears to be winning this battle?

18
Read Section 20.4Splendid Little War

• Next to this image
• Write a report from the battlefront as if you
  were a war correspondent
• Report must include
• Details of the various battles taking place in
  Cuba
• Reports of casualties
• The terms Rough Riders and San Juan Hill

19

• What do you see?
• Why might Uncle Sam need larger suit he is being
  fitted for?

20

• Based on what they are carrying, what do you
  think the men entering the room want?
• What is McKinleys response to these
  anti-imperialists?

21

• Does the cartoonist seem to be in favor of U.S.
  expansion? How can you tell?

22
Read Section 20.5A New Power on the World Stage

• Write a caption for the cartoon in which you
  describe the events that prompted the cartoonist
  to draw it
• Caption much include
• An explanation of each character in the cartoon
  and who each represents
• The terms Platt Amendment and Anti-Imperialist
  League

23
Processing - Class discussion

• Which of the reasons listed on the preview slide
  do you think best apply to the Spanish-American
  War? Why?
• Do you think the United States was justified in
  sending troops to Cuba and the Philippines to
  fight against Spain? Why or Why not?
• Did the U.S. actions in the Spanish-American War
  promote or hinder the advancement of the ideals
  of opportunity and democracy? In what ways?
• How did the Spanish-America War reflect the new
  role of the United States as a world power?