The Spanish-American War

1. Goals: To understand the causes of the war To understand American military tactics in the war The Spanish-American War

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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!

6. Taking the fight across the globe • 1 May 1898 – Comm. George Dewey defeated the Spanish navy in Manila Bay in the Philippines • Filipino nationalist Emilio Aguinaldo led rebels to defeat the Spanish on land • The Spanish surrendered the Philippines to the United States

8. US Forces in Cuba • June 1898 – US troops land in Cuba • Guantanamo Bay was captured by US Marines OOHRAH! • US Army stormed Santiago • US military suffered from obsolete weapons, heavy wool uniforms, and contaminated food • US military was being trained and shipped out of Tampa, FL

10. Send in the Cavalry • African-Americans served in the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments • Theodore Roosevelt commanded the “Rough Riders”, a cavalry unit that relished the “strenuous life” • Rough Riders gained fame in the Battle of San Juan Hill outside of Santiago

11. Spain’s last breath • Spanish Navy made a desperate attempt to escape from Santiago’s harbor • US blockaded the harbor and destroyed the fleet • US forces also occupied Puerto Rico and fighting came to a close • Of the 3000 Americans who died in the war, only 380 died in combat (rest from disease)

12. 1898 Treaty of Paris • Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam • Spain sold the Philippines to the US for $20 million • Debate formulated over what to do with the newly acquired possessions • The US government felt it was their responsibility to govern the Filipinos • Many Americans felt this was imperialism

13. New Role in the World • US Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris by one vote • McKinley was re-elected president as Teddy Roosevelt became vice-president • This signaled America’s faith in imperialistic policies • The US now had an empire and a new status in world affairs (Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico)