Sea Power and Maritime Affairs

1
Sea Power and Maritime Affairs

• Lesson 5.7 The U.S. Navy and American
  Imperialism, 1898-1914

2
Enabling Objectives

• Know the influence of mass media in U.S.
  relations with Spain and the effect of the
  destruction of the USS Maine on public opinion.
• Comprehend the impact of the Mahanian Doctrine on
  the naval strategy and conduct during the
  Spanish-American War.
• Comprehend some reasons for the acceleration of
  the U.S. Navy expansion following the war with
  Spain.
• Know the effect of the Progressive Era in
  domestic politics on the Navy during the period
  1900-1914.

3
Remember the Maine!!

• Cuban Revolution 1895-1898
• USS Maine Explosion - February 1898
• Destroyed by underwater mine with 260 dead.
• 1975 Rickover proved it was caused by an
  internal explosion.
• President William McKinley
• Congress declares war on Spain in April 1898.

William McKinley 25th POTUS
4
You May Fire When Ready, Gridley

• Battle of Manila Bay
• 1 May 1898.
• Admiral Dewey
• 4 cruisers, 2 gunboats and a revenue cutter.
• Gunnery and fire control drills on the way to
  Manila.
• Admiral Montojo
• 2 cruisers (1 modern 1 immobile) 5 other
  ships at Manila.
• Spanish use shore guns to augment anchored fleet.

5
Advancement to Cuba

• Adm Pascual Cervera
• Commander
• Spanish Fleet

Adm Schley CDR North Atlantic Flying Squadron
Adm Sampson CDR North Atlantic Squadron
6
Battle of Santiago

• Spanish governor orders fleet to flee harbor on 1
  July 1898
• Spanish losses
• 160 killed, 1800 captured
• American losses
• 1 killed, 1 wounded

Battle of San Juan Hill
7
U.S. Empire Established
8
Mahan Vindicated

• Spanish American War vindicated Mahans theories.
• Guerre de course no longer a single viable way of
  fighting a naval war.
• Battleships enshrined as principal warship.

9
Big Stick Diplomacy1901-1909
The Great White Fleet - 1907

• Speak softly but carry a big stick
• Steam, armor, and rifled breech-loading guns
• 4 1st Class Battleships Indiana, Massachusetts,
  Oregon, and Iowa
• 2 2nd Class Battleships Texas and Maine
• 12 Armored Cruisers

10
Naval Aviation
1903
1910
1911
11
Panama Canal

• Panama Canal Zone ceded to U.S. after Panamanian
  Revolution against Colombia in 1903.
• Construction of the canal begins in 1904.
• Completed in 1914.
• U.S. undisputed control of Caribbean Sea.

Construction of locks on the Panama Canal, 1913
12
Battle History Video

• 1865-1890
• Chapter 1 Born Into War
• Time 2540 - 4434

13
Enabling Objectives

• DESCRIBE the influence of mass media in U.S.
  relations with Spain and the effect of the
  destruction of the USS Maine on public opinion.
• EXPLAIN the impact of the Mahanian Doctrine on
  the naval strategy and conduct during the
  Spanish-American War.
• EXPLAIN some reasons for the acceleration of the
  U.S. Navy expansion following the war with Spain.
• DESCRIBE the effect of the Progressive Era in
  domestic politics on the Navy during the period
  1900-1914.

14
Discussion
Next Time The U.S. Navy and World War I,
1914-1918