Chapter 11: American Imperialism

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The Spanish American War

• Chapter 11 American Imperialism

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Cuba

• Last Spanish held territory in the Americas
• Since 1868 Cuban attempts to gain Independence

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US interests in Cuba

• Location- 90 miles from Florida
• 90 of Cubas exports go to US
• President McKinley unsuccessfully attempted to
  negotiate a peace treaty between Spain and Cuban
  independence groups

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Factors Leading to War

• De Lome Letter
• Spanish Minister to the US
• Private letter was published in New York Journal
  (February 1898)
• Critical of President McKinley
• Americans were insulted and angry

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Factors USS Maine

• Battleship USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor
  (February 1898)
• 260 Americans die
• Spain is blamed (underwater mine or saboteur)
• Remember the Maine
• Actually an accident boiler explodes or
  munitions ignited

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Yellow Journalism

• Shocking and dramatic newspaper stories
• Facts are less important than an exciting story
• Named after comic strip character Yellow Kid
• Increased public support for the war with Spain

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New York Journal

• William Randolph Hearst- owner of NY Journal
• You furnish the pictures and Ill furnish the
  war.
• Exaggerated reports of Spanish mistreatment of
  Cubans

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Splendid Little War

• Only15 weeks of fighting
• US beats one of the old major powers of Europe
  Spain

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Rough Riders

• Cavalry led by Teddy Roosevelt
• Yellow journalists focus on his victories
• Contributes to popularity offered VP of McKinley
• Buffalo Soldiers
• Segregated unit with white officers
• Elite cavalry that fought in the American West

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Treaty of Paris, Dec. 1898

• US gained Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines
• US pays 20 million for the Philippines
• Marked the end of the Spanish Empire in America
• Marked the beginning of the US as a colonial power

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Philippines

• Fought US for 3 years in a failed attempt for
  independence
• US brutally crushes the uprising
• Casualties
• 4,000 American soldiers
• 100,000 Filipinos die (mostly civilians)
• US gives the Philippines its independence in 1946