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Causes of the Spanish-American War

Causes of the Spanish-American War. US History | Spiconardi | . The Cuban Revolution. Cuba had been under the control of the Spanish since 1492. From 1868 to 1878, Cubans fought for independence, but were crushed.

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Causes of the Spanish-American War

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  1. Causes of the Spanish-American War US History | Spiconardi |

  2. The Cuban Revolution • Cuba had been under the control of the Spanish since 1492. • From 1868 to 1878, Cubans fought for independence, but were crushed. • In 1895, under the leadership of José Martí, Cubans once again rebelled against the Spanish and sought U.S. assistance. Marti was an expatriate who gathered Cuban-Americans to return to Cuba to fight for independence

  3. The Cuban Revolution • Causes of Revolution • Economic • Spain increased taxes on Cuba • U.S. placed a tariff on Cuban sugar • Cuba’s economy suffers • Cuban revolutionaries destroy American sugar plantations and mills in Cuba This upset American business interests. Many called for the U.S. to become involved.

  4. The Cuban Revolution • In order to suppress the rebellion, the Spanish instituted a policy of reconcentration • Reconcentration The Spanish forced Cuban rebels into detention camps and fortified towns • The prisoners starved to death and many died due to the spread of disease

  5. American Reaction President McKinley being sworn in as the 25th President of the United States • Americans were sympathetic to the suffering of Cubans • Many Americans called for U.S. intervention to protect trading interests • President Cleveland was against U.S. involvement, but his pro-imperialist successor President McKinley • What other imperialist issue did these two presidents disagree on? The outgoing president Cleveland

  6. Yellow Journalism • Yellow Journalism Reporting the news in a sensational way that often bends the truth to sell more papers and shape public opinion • William Randolph Hearst • Publisher of the New York Journal • Joseph Pulitzer • Publisher of the New York World “…blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood.” “FEEDING PRISONERS TO THE SHARKS”

  7. Examples of Yellow Journalism

  8. The DeLôme Letter • A personal letter from Spanish Minister to the United States from published in the New York Journal • “…McKinley is: weak and catering to the rabble, and besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party.” The New York Journal ran a headline: THE WORST INSULT TO THE UNITED STATES IN ITS HISTORY Someone who believes in extreme patriotism and aggressive foreign policy

  9. Sinking of the Maine • The Spanish were unable to control the Cuban rebellion, so McKinley sends the battleship Maine to Cuba to protect American citizens • Then on February 15…

  10. Sinking of the Maine

  11. Sinking of the Maine • An explosion kills 266 of the 354 crew members on board • Spain was blamed, despite lack of evidence, for setting a mine that cause the ships explosion • Americans increase the public pressure to go to war with Spain

  12. War! • On April 11, 1898, McKinley asks Congress to use military force against Spain for four reasons • “The cause of humanity” • “Protection of American life and property” • “Very serious injury to the trade of our people” • “Constant menace to our peace” • On April 19, Congress declared Cuba independent and granted the president’s request for force

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