The Spanish American War

1
The Spanish American War

• Chapter 14 Section 2

2
Reviewing the Main Idea

• Why did the United States declare its
  independence from Britain?
• What other reasons might make nations want to
  fight for their freedom?

3
Major Causes of the War

• 1. Cuban rebellion against Spain
• 2. American desire to protect sugar investments
  in Cuba.
• 3. Yellow Journalism spurs anger towards Spain.
• 4. The explosion of the USS Maine.

4
1.Reasons for rebellion

• Cuba was one of Spains oldest colonies in the
  Americas.
• The Spanish enslaved a large portion of the
  population to work in sugar plantations. Cuba
  produced 1/3 of the worlds sugar.
• Why was Cuba so valuable to Spain?
• American tariff on Cuban sugar leaves the economy
  devastated
• What is a tariff?
• Cuba declares independence in 1895.

5
2. Yellow Journalism Spurs Support for war

• Yellow Journalism When stories are exaggerated
  or made up to attract readers. Think the
  tabloids!
• Americans are reading this journalism in popular
  newspapers The New York World and the Journal.
  These papers are owned by the famous William
  Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Many accuse
  them of pushing for war!

6
Describe the cartoon
7
3.The US declares War!

• 1897 William McKinley becomes president. He does
  not want to get involved in the war, but wants to
  help negotiate peace.
• Wyler is removed as Governor and the Spanish
  offer the Cubans autonomy if they remain part of
  the Spanish empire.
• The Cubans refuse!
• McKinley sends the USS Maine to Havana in case
  Americans need to evacuate the island.

• On February 15, 1898 the Maine exploded in Havana
  Harbor. To this day nobody knows exactly why.
• What do you think the yellow journalists said
  caused the explosion?
• Remember the Maine becomes the slogan for those
  who want war.
• On April 19, 1898 The United States declared war
  on Spain.

8
Was war justified?

• Jingoism-Feeling of strong nationalism. We had
  to get revenge for the USS Maine!
• What do you think?
• Where do you think the fighting will take place?

9
Remember the Maine

• Lend your ear to the whisper, it floats from
  afar,It has traveled from where, underneath her
  lone star,The fair isle of Cuba impatiently
  waitsThe summons to enter our circle of
  states.From the depths of her anguish the throes
  of her pain,That whisper comes to us, "Remember
  the 'Maine'."Lend your ear to the whisper, it
  tells of the brave,Who with sword yet in sheath,
  know not even a graveCan we say had that sword
  but been wakened in time,That back from the
  shot-riven air and the grimeOf the conflict, our
  sons might have reached us again,While their
  foemen would ever "Remember the 'Maine'."Lend
  your ear to the whisper, nay lend more your
  hand,'Twill be needed, if men yet remain in this
  land,That so proudly lays claim to the title of
  free,And that now in its sorrow is summoned to
  be A saviour, if not an avenger how plain
  Comes the message, O brothers "Remember the
  'Maine'."Lend your ear to the whisper, 'tis
  growing more strong,'Tis a whisper no longer,
  'tis sweeping alongThrough the length and the
  breadth of this land of the free,From city to
  mountain, from mountain to sea,And the voice of
  America tells thee, O Spain,That the men of our
  country "Remember the 'Maine'."-Arthur H.
  MacOwen 1898

10
The Fighting Begins

• The US Navy surrounds Cuba, while Commodore
  George Dewey was ordered to attack the Spanish in
  the Philippines (a Spanish Colony)
• Why attack the Philippines?
• The US very easily defeats the Spanish in the
  Philippines with the help of Emilio Aguinaldo, a
  revolutionary who wanted independence for the
  Philippines.
• The US is also able to take control of the
  Spanish possession Guam

11
Fighting in Cuba

• Both sides were not prepared to fight this war.
• Many die from disease rather than in battle.
• Many thought the fate of the war would be
  determined at sea.
• Rough Riders mix of cowboys, miners, and law
  officers under the command of Theodore Roosevelt
  accomplish major victories and force the Spanish
  fleet to flee. ¼ of the troops were African
  American and four received the medal of honor for
  their bravery.
• Spanish troops surrender and American troops move
  into the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico.

12
Conditions of Peace

• Cuba will gain its independence
• The US will annex Guam and Puerto Rico
• What should happen to the Philippines?
• Who do you think should have control over the
  Philippines?
• This question causes a huge debate.

• 1.Some argued that it would be good for the US
• Sell US goods
• Military ports in pacific
• 2. Others felt it went against what America stood
  for
• Liberty and Justice for all
• President McKinley eventually decides to annex
  the Philippines
• Why do the Philippines feel betrayed?

13
The Platt Amendment

• The United States promised Cuba independence
  under the following conditions
• 1. Cuba cold not make any treaty with another
  nation that would weaken its independence.
• 2. Cuba had to allow the US to buy or lease naval
  stations in Cuba.
• 3. Cubas debts had to be kept low to prevent
  foreign troops from enforceing payment.
• 4. The US would have the right to intervene to
  protect Cuban independence and keep order.

14
Puerto Rico

• The Foraker Act (1900) established a civil
  government for the island, that gave the
  President (of the US) final authority. Citizens
  of Puerto Rico were not considered US citizens.
• In 1917 Puerto Rico citizens were granted United
  States citizenship. The debate began over
  whether or not to make Puerto Rico a state.
• This debate is still taking place today!

15
The Philippine Insurrection

• What was it? A three year war over control of
  the Philippines between the US and the
  Philippines.
• Many losses on both sides due to disease and
  combat.
• William Howard Taft, the governor of the island,
  tries to improve education, transportation, and
  healthcare to help ease tension.
• By 1902 the fighting was over, and in 1946 the
  United States granted independence to the
  Philippines.