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Goals: To understand the causes of the war To understand American military tactics in the war. The Spanish-American War. Cuba Libre !. Americans were heavily invested in Cuban sugar plantations 1895 – Jose Marti led rebels to call for independence Guerilla tactics against Spanish forces
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Goals: To understand the causes of the war To understand American military tactics in the war The Spanish-American War
Cuba Libre! • Americans were heavily invested in Cuban sugar plantations • 1895 – Jose Marti led rebels to call for independence • Guerilla tactics against Spanish forces • Spanish General Weyler herded rural population into concentration camps • America saw Cuba as its “little brother” and sympathized with the Cuban rebels
Yellow Press Inflames Opinion • Many journalists increased the public’s dislike of Spain, called yellow press • Many publications compared Cuban rebels to patriots of the American revolution • Under the Monroe Doctrine, the US warned Spain to establish peace quickly…or else • US sent the USS Maine to Havana to protect American citizens in Cuba
Remember the Maine!!! • American jingoism (extreme nationalism) began to develop • The USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor • 266/350 on board died and the American public cried for revenge on the Spanish • 1898 – McKinley called for an investigation of the explosion • It was determined it was a mine, but no signs pointed to Spain
The Stars and Stripes to War • Americans implored “Remember the Maine!” • Spain agreed to close the concentration camps to keep America out of it • April 11, 1898 – McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain to end the Cuban crisis • Congress made clear with the Teller Amendment that the US had no interest in annexing Cuba • The Navy was sent in and the fight was on!
